jtrent238 test blog: California Today: Weighing single-payer health care

January 31, 2022

By Soumya Karlamangla

California Today, Writer

It's Monday. A bill proposing a single-payer health care system for California faces an important vote today. Plus, what we know about the "stealth" Omicron variant.

A volunteer optometrist gave an eye exam during a free clinic in 2012 in Oakland.Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

For years, the single-payer health care movement has found traction in California.

In 1994, a proposal that would have replaced private health insurance with a government-run system made the ballot, though it failed to garner enough votes. In 2017, a similar overhaul passed in the State Senate. The following year, Gov. Gavin Newsom made a campaign pledge to create the nation's first single-payer system at the state level.

Now, yet another such proposal is being put to the test in the Golden State.

Assembly Bill 1400 would create CalCare, a publicly financed health care system that would provide coverage to all Californians, similar to the way medical treatments are delivered in Britain or Canada. The bill must garner a majority in a State Assembly vote today to have a chance of survival.

The proposal from Assemblyman Ash Kalra, a Democrat, would create a nine-person board to govern CalCare and would eliminate the many fragmented ways in which California residents currently receive health care — and the co-pays and deductibles that often go along with them.

If enacted, the changes would make California the only state in the nation with a single-payer health care system. Vermont approved one in 2011, but the plan fell apart before it was implemented.

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There's an asterisk next to California's big plans, though. A.B. 1400 doesn't include any information about how the state's new health care system would be financed.

A recent legislative analysis estimated it could cost between $314 billion and $391 billion annually. Supporters say that price tag, while high, would still be lower than what employers and Californians currently pay for private insurance.

Still, the state would need funding to get the system up and running. And the details for how California will come up with that money aren't included in A.B. 1400 — they're in a separate, accompanying bill that has yet to come up for a vote.

That bill, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11, proposes a tax hike on businesses, large companies and the wealthiest Californians to fund the single-payer system.

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It faces many obstacles to approval. It would need to pass the Senate and Assembly and then go before voters, something that Kalra said was not likely to happen before 2024, The Los Angeles Times reported.

In other words, no matter what happens today, supporters of single-payer health care in California still have a long road ahead of them.

For more:

Newsom campaigned on single-payer but now appears to be backing away from the idea, CalMatters reports.
Newsom has proposed his own plan for expanding health care.
Could California's single-payer proposal reignite a national debate on health care reform?

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The latest on Omicron and the pandemic

The "stealth" Omicron variant isn't a cause for alarm, but it could slow case decline.
The pandemic has changed children. Some can't shake that feeling of instability. Others are taking on adult responsibilities. And anxiety is all around.
Where to get free N95 masks in Southern California, from KCAL9.
The latest coronavirus case map of the United States.

The Los Angeles Rams are headed to the Super Bowl after they held off their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17, in a hard-hitting N.F.C. championship game on Sunday.Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The rest of the news

The show must go on: After many major events were canceled over the last two years, the Super Bowl, Coachella and more are still happening in 2022 — though there may be adjustments.
Employment director retires: California's troubled unemployment benefits department will soon have its third director in the past two years, The Associated Press reports.
Obituaries: Esteban Torres, a California Democrat who dedicated his life to fighting poverty and served as an advocate for Latinos, died at 91.Gary Hart, a former California secretary of education who served under Gov. Gray Davis, died at 78, The Associated Press reports.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Arson in San Diego: The authorities concluded that a fire that damaged the home of two California politicians this month was done purposefully, NBC reports.
Earthquake: A 4.1-magnitude temblor rattled parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties on Sunday.
Record traffic deaths: 2021 was Los Angeles's deadliest year for traffic fatalities in nearly 20 years. LAist analyzes why.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Grief support: From hospice workers to funeral directors, "last responders" are working with families who have lost loved ones to Covid, The Bakersfield Californian reports.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Stolen benefits: A Northern California man has been charged with stealing the identities of three people to obtain more than $1 million in pandemic relief, The Associated Press Reports.

David Malosh for The New York Times

What we're eating

Cheesy kimchi noodles.

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse at Pescadero, Calif.Seth Kugel for The New York Times

Where we're traveling

Today's travel tip comes from Mildred Thompson:

"A sneaky favorite of mine is Pescadero, a tiny coastal town 14 miles from Half Moon Bay, one of my all time favorite places. I stumbled upon Pescadero by just taking a drive along beautiful Hwy 1, enjoying the amazing ocean views. The beach is lovely.

The small town is rich in character with an old western-type feel. Two highlights: Duarte Restaurant serves friendly yummy food. But, if you want to grab a delicious basket of food to take to the beach: Arcangeli's Market will not disappoint. There's homemade hot artichoke bread, garlic herb bread, shelves of artichoke related dips, sauces, a deli, and freshly made pies. If you want to pause from the rigors of daily life, take a stroll through this lovely town for instant revitalization!"

Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We'll be sharing more in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

Tell us

We're adding to our California Soundtrack, a playlist of songs that are about or evoke the Golden State.

If you have a suggestion, please email me at CAtoday@nytimes.com with the name of the song and a few sentences about why you think it should make the cut.

And before you go, some good news

A lucky Californian just became a millionaire.

The California State Lottery announced that a single ticket sold at a Chevron gas station in the San Fernando Valley matched all six numbers drawn Friday for the $426 million jackpot prize.

Lottery officials say the ticket holder, who has one year to come forward, can choose between a lump-sum payment of approximately $293 million, or the entire jackpot amount in graduated payments over 29 years, The Associated Press reports.

Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Soumya

P.S. Here's today's Mini Crossword, and a clue: Opera solo (4 letters).

Mariel Wamsley and Jonah Candelario contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at CAtoday@nytimes.com.

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