Jul 17, 2018
Gavin Newsom, who is favored to be California's next governor, is cooling expectations about universal health care in California. He recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that a single-payer system could take years to implement since it would require several approvals from the Trump Administration. “It’s not an act that would occur by the signature of the next governor,” Newsom told the Sacramento Bee. “But, he added, “I believe inevitably this country will end up with a single-payer financing system.”
His talk was much more optimistic before S.B. 562 failed in the legislature. At that time, he told the Los Angeles Times, "There’s no reason to wait around on universal healthcare and single-payer in California…If we can’t get it done next year, you have my firm and absolute commitment as your next governor that I will lead the effort to get it done. We will have universal healthcare in the state of California." As for public opinion, 53% of California’s likely voters favor a single-payer state plan. However, support declines to 41% if the plan requires raising taxes, Seventy-seven percent of Democrats are in favor; 74% of Republicans are opposed; and independent likely voters are divided. Notably, 66% of Democratic likely voters would favor a single-payer system even if it means higher taxes, according to a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California.
The fight for single payer marches on with incremental steps for now. If passed, Assembly Bill 2472 would require Covered California to study creating a public health insurance option to compete with private insurers on the exchange. Meanwhile, insurers, doctors and nurses are spending millions on lobbying and donations to lawmakers' campaigns in the current legislative session.
