PLATFORM : Full Coverage Now
The nation’s senators must meet the challenge and deny the push from small-employer groups to put off universal coverage until the year 2000.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein has said that insurance reform and voluntary purchasing cooperatives will be the avenue to universal coverage by the year 2000. In fact, California enacted legislation for a voluntary Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative in July, 1993. By some estimates, the HIPC might reduce the number of uninsured by 100,000, or about 2% of the 6 million uninsured.
Even if the U.S. Senate passes a reform requiring that no one be excluded because of a pre-existing condition, that would still leave 5.5 million Californians uninsured.
The most cost-effective and efficient method of achieving universal coverage is through an employer mandate. Such a mandate builds on the current system and requires fair participation by all employers.
The League urges Feinstein to be the stateswoman she is and not just another politician, and vote to achieve comprehensive reform this year.
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