90 percent of Californians have health insurance. To reach 100 percent, Governor Newsom proposes expanding Medi-Cal to all income-eligible residents, which would turn California into a multi-payer universal coverage system not unlike the systems of Netherlands and most of Europe.*
In contrast, three state legislators have introduced AB 1400, a bill to establish what they characterize as a single-payer system. But unlike other single-payer systems, their system would be governed by providers. That’s like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
If AB 1400 becomes law, a majority of the board in charge of all of California’s health care spending would be recipients of that spending. Obviously that makes no sense. Single-payer systems can work (see eg, Canada), but not if governed by providers.*
*For a comprehensive review of health care systems around the world, we recommend Which Country Has the World’s Best Health Care? by Ezekiel J. Emanuel.
