Coastsiders organize health insurance reform forum

There will be a free public form on Health Insurance Reform: A Coastside Perspective this Saturday, June 30, from 2 to 4pm at the Depot (near the Johnson House), 110 Higgins Canyon Rd, Half Moon Bay. The event is organized by the American Association of University Women and the Coastside Democrats.

What will it cost you to cover your family? What benefits will be available? Will everyone be covered? How will undocumented workers get treated? Will children’s health coverage improve? Will provider income go up or down? Could crowding and delays increase? How will new health care improvements be funded? Who will pay for prescription drugs?

Panelists will include:

 

• Maya Altman, Executive Director of Health Plan of San Mateo, expert on countywide insurance programs

 

• Claudia Chaufan MD, PhD, Board Member of California Physicians Alliance

 

• State Senator Leland Yee, Senate Assistant President pro Tempore and member of the Senate Health, Human Services, and Appropriations committees

• Jesse Melendrez, HR manager for Nurserymen’s Exchange, will address Coastside employers’ concerns.

   

• Moderated by Richard Watters, Health Care for All Peninsula Chapter

Major Plans explored:

 

• Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal would mandate private coverage for all adults with an employer-financed fund to cover low-income Californians;

 

• Senator Kuehl’s SB 840, a universal, single-payer plan, would eliminate most private insurance coverage;

 

• Senator Perata’s SB 48 and Assemblyman Nunez’s AB 8 would require businesses to spend a % of payroll on employees’ health insurance or pay into a state fund to expand services.