title: A proposal to cover the uninsured in California.
abstract: The lack of health coverage for millions of Californians is a major societal problem. In the absence of federal action, we propose a state-based approach that leverages existing systems to create near-universal coverage within two years. We describe several subsidized benefit options for low-income uninsured Californians, emphasizing preventive and primary care, and we propose catastrophic coverage, at a minimum, for higher-income uninsured Californians. Proposed financing mechanisms include a health care sales tax and an "in-lieu" payroll tax.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Oakland, California, USA.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Halvorson
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Crosson
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zatkin
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000191:economics; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D013221:State Health Plans; D014481:United States; D019472:Universal Health Insurance