"More than 60 emergency rooms have closed over the past decade because they didn't want to keep treating people without insurance. Unpaid medical bills mean billions of dollars in hidden taxes for the rest of us because those services all have to be paid for. So we pay higher deductibles, costs for treatment, premiums and co-pays," said Gov. Schwarzenegger "Companies stop offering coverage, which leads to more people without insurance and the whole cycle keeps repeating.
A recent New America Foundation white paper estimates the average family pays about $1,186 a year in "hidden taxes" through health insurance premiums to cover the uninsured. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic illnesses - such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes - are responsible for $445 billion in direct medical costs and $409 billion in lost productivity nationally.
The Governor's health care reform proposal will reduce the hidden tax, lower costs, support better care and create a healthier California through three essential elements of reform:
- Prevention, health promotion, and wellness
- Coverage for all Californians
- Affordability and cost containment
A proposal where everyone works together could minimize the time wasted assigning blame and refusing responsibility.
"My proposal is a beginning. I look forward to a vigorous and open debate. Everything will be on the table and I want to hear from everyone. If we have the will - and I believe that we do - we can heal our broken system," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. (January 2007)
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