Yesterday, Health Access was proud to be with over 50 organizations to launch the Care4All California campaign, to achieve universality, affordability, and accountability in our health care system.
This new health reform campaign builds on the years of progress under California’s implementation and improvement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). California has attained the largest drop of the uninsured rate of all 50 states – and last year’s coalition and organizing efforts to prevent the repeal of the ACA and dramatic cuts to Medicaid shows that Californians want to protect the care they have. The new campaign will support a package of over 20 policy proposals – legislative and budget, Assembly and Senate – to advance to the goal of universality, affordability and accountability in our health system.
The campaign includes patient and health advocates, labor unions, women’s groups, communities of color, people of faith, immigrant communities, consumer groups, progressives, and other groups united to set ambitious health care goals for California.
The Care4All California campaign challenges California to apply the same bold leadership that capitalized on the Affordable Care Act to achieve the nation’s biggest reduction in the number of uninsured. With 93% of Californians covered by health insurance, universal access is within our grasp. California can – and must – move forward to close the remaining coverage gaps, while lowering the cost of care, achieving greater equity, and improving quality. The campaign has outlined a path forward that is attainable despite unwilling federal partners in Washington, DC.
The Care4All California plan – contains at least 20 pieces of legislation and budget items, spanning Assembly and Senate authors, includes:
1) Advance California to universality and affordability in coverage, by expanding Medi-Cal to remove key exclusions for income-eligible Californians, based on immigration status, as well as age, and increasing affordability assistance in Covered California, on a sliding scale up and down the income ladder, to lower both premiums and costs sharing like deductibles in a high cost-of-living state.
2) Contain costs while holding the health care establishment accountable for improved quality and reducing healthcare disparities, through increased oversight over the industry, including on issues of industry consolidation, rising health insurance premiums, and other cost drivers.
3) Stop the sabotage of President Trump’s administrative attacks on the ACA from eroding existing coverage and consumer protections, loosen standards on health plans, and undermine our insurance market, public programs, and health system.
To learn more about the campaign and get involved go to: www.care4allca.org
The Care4All California campaign includes the following organizations: ACCE, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network – CA, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, APLA Health, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California, Black Women for Wellness, California Black Health Network, California Coverage and Health Initiatives, CA Federation of Teachers , California Immigrant Policy Center, California Labor Federation, California LGBT HHS Network, California Physicians Alliance, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Catholic Charities – Diocese of San Diego, Children Now, Children’s Defense Fund CA, The Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers, Community Health Councils, Congress of California Seniors, Consumers Union, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, Disability Rights California, EQCA, Friends Committee on Legislation of California, Greenlining Institute, Health Access, Justice in Aging, La Maestra Community Health Centers, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Lutheran Office of Public Policy, Mi Familia Vota – California, National Association of Social Workers – CA, National Health Law Program, National Immigration Law Center, Next Gen America, PICO California, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Prevention Institute, Project Inform, Public Law Center, Reform CA, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, SEIU California, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, The Children’s Partnership, Voices For Progress, Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Young Invincibles.