Sacramento—The California Teachers Association is calling on the Senate Health Committee to support Senate Bill 840, the universal healthcare measure that would provide comprehensive and affordable healthcare coverage to all Californians. CTA is a co-sponsor of the single-payer measure by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), entitled the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, that is being heard today.
SB 840 would provide medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage for every Californian, and would eliminate the bloated administrative costs and clinical waste that currently account for up to 50% of current health care costs. The measure would provide better, more efficient coverage and be a cost savings to many employers, including school districts that could use the savings to provide additional classroom resources.
“SB 840 is the healthcare solution California needs now,” said CTA President Barbara E. Kerr. “With so many Californians, including too many of our students, living without any health insurance, and with skyrocketing premium costs devouring family and school district budgets, we urge the legislature and the governor to act swiftly to pass this measure. Protecting the health of students and of all Californians should not continue to be a political football. SB 840 is a long overdue solution.”
SB 1014, the companion bill also by Sen. Kuehl that details how SB 840 will be funded, is also being heard today.
If approved by the committee, the bills will next go to Senate Appropriations for fiscal review.