Catastrophic Insurance Bill

The Legislature is finally recognizing the fact that a large percentage of Californians cannot get health insurance, and the Robbins bill is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, only one step on a long road.

As you correctly pointed out, the main problem with this bill is the cost to the policyholder: $2,400 a year. The bill will appeal to those with no catastrophic insurance and a middle-class income, but would have little interest to those who are near, or below, the infamous poverty line. Many of the uninsured workers have jobs which pay very little: $5 an hour for a 40-hour week and a 50-week year = $10,000. To ask somebody to put a quarter of his gross earnings into medical insurance is a bit bizarre.

We are slowly, gradually, inexorably moving to having a society wherein every citizen can presume adequate medical care--without having to be either wealthy or indigent. The Robbins bill is a tiny move in that direction. If Robbins does want to make his mark in the history of California, and the United States, he should restructure his bill so that it could include everybody who is not presently insured. And to pay for this? I support Proposition 99 raising the tobacco tax, and I would recommend a similar proposition for alcohol. That’s a start.

CLEMENT SALVADORI

Laguna Beach