The year 2007 was hailed by many as California's "Year of Health Reform." After intense legislative development and negotiations throughout the year, broad efforts to expand coverage stalled in January 2008. This site, established to track the policy debate, offers historical analysis and insights on the proposals.
ABX1 1 (Núñez/Perata) Creates an individual mandate with some exceptions, requires employers to "pay or play" on a sliding scale, expands eligibility for public programs, and subsidizes coverage for low-income Californians. (Introduced in the special session; rejected in the Senate Health Committee on January 28.)
ABX1 2 (Governor Schwarzenegger's Plan)
Creates an individual mandate, requires employers to "pay or play," expands eligibility for public programs, and subsidizes coverage for low-income Californians. (Written into legislative language in the special session; has not been introduced as a bill.)
AB 8 (Núñez)
Employers must "pay or play," and workers whose firms pay a fee instead of covering health expenses must enroll in a new purchasing program. Expands eligibility for public programs and reforms the private insurance market. (Vetoed on October 12; consideration of Governor's veto pending.)
ABX1 8 (Villines)
Makes regulatory changes to expand coverage options and consumer choice, offers tax incentives to support purchase of coverage. (Introduced as a bill in the special session; failed in committee).
CalCare Plus
Encourages expanded use of clinics, gives tax incentives for Health Savings Accounts, and makes regulatory changes. (Became a legislative package in the special session; ABX1 23, one part of the package, passed in the Senate Health Committee on January 16.)
SB 840 (Kuehl)
Creates a single-payer system to cover all Californians, replaces private insurers with a state-administered system, and requires all Californians and employers to pay into the system. (Did not pass during the 2007 legislative session; not under consideration in the special session.)
