In light of the Trump Administration pledging to repeal the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare), competing interests are offering new, divergent ideas for its replacement.
In Sacramento on Friday, Senators Ricardo Lara (D- Bell Gardens) and Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced the Californians for a Healthy California Act (SB 562) which would offer a single-payer, universal plan specific to the Golden State. In D.C. yesterday, California Congressman Darrell Issa (R) released a draft proposal to repeal Obamacare. Highlights of the bill include the elimination of the mandate requiring Americans to buy health insurance, and access to purchase the same health plans offered to federal employees, including coverage for pre-existing conditions.
How do these options stack up against each other, the ACA, and other visions for health insurance?
Guests:
Shana Alex Charles, assistant professor, Department of Health Sciences, California State University, Fullerton
John R. Graham, senior fellow specializing in Healthy Policy at the Pacific Research Institute, a nonprofit think tank focused on free-market policy advocacy