California Leads the Way
By William D. Novelli, Chief Executive Officer
May 2007
This can be a pivotal year in fixing our broken health care system so that everyone has affordable, quality coverage. It’s probably the most important thing America can do to improve the quality of life, make U.S. companies more competitive in world markets and help control rising medical costs.
We are pursuing a three-pronged strategy of:
- First, seeking legislation that’s attainable in this session of Congress. The most likely is reauthorizing and expanding SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
- Second, going into full campaign mode with our Divided We Fail program that calls on all candidates running in the 2008 elections—starting now, with the presidential candidates—to outline and defend their plans to make health care more affordable and accessible.
- And third, concentrating on California, where a proposed state health care overhaul has refocused the country on the need for reform. While reform is gaining ground in many states, California is the big prize.
With 36 million people, it is by far the largest state. It has a disproportionate number—6 million—of uninsured. With a Republican governor and Democratic legislature, California can show how elected officials can work across party lines to solve complex, urgent problems—something we haven’t seen in Washington.
True reform would aid California tremendously and could be the dynamite that breaks the national logjam. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata have produced promising ideas. The governor’s plan would achieve universal coverage through public program expansions and insurance market reforms. Costs would be managed through better quality of care, technology and prevention. People with coverage would keep it. Insurers could not deny coverage because of age or health status.
No state, company or individual alone can sustain the soaring cost of health care. Schwarzenegger’s plan recognizes this and offers ways to pay for reform. It’s a share-the-pain approach, with individuals, health providers and business all contributing. The details of reform in California will be hammered out in coming months. AARP, with more than 3 million members in the state, will play an aggressive role in helping make true reform a reality.
Among our goals are:
- Meaningful, affordable coverage for all, including those ages 50 to 64, who often are turned down because of preexisting conditions or who don’t have other access to coverage.
- An emphasis on preventive care to improve people’s lives and contain health costs. We don’t intend to tackle this effort alone. We’re working with many committed organizations, with the governor, legislators and other state officials. To achieve reform, we must cover the entire state, so we’ll need many AARP volunteers. Californians who want to learn about volunteering can contact our state office toll free at 1-866-448-3615 or go to www.aarp.org.ca.
As California’s leaders address reform, we will keep the public informed and involved, contribute to policy debates and encourage all sides to work together to find solutions. In 2007 we can make major, lasting achievements in health care. Divided we fail. Together we can do anything.
