Prop. 72 calls for health care changes

By Ashley D. Wuytens
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

Proposition 72, one of 16 measures on the November ballot involves health care coverage requirements for the state of California.

On Nov. 2, a yes vote on Prop. 72 would initiate changes to the current California health care system. Employers would be required to provide health coverage for their employees and their dependents by either paying a fee to the state in order to purchase private health insurance or arranging coverage directly from a health insurance provider. The state would also establish a new program to help lower-income employees to pay their share of the health care premiums.

Voting yes on Prop. 72 would uphold the Insurance Act of 2003 according to heathvote2004.org. Those currently covered under the Insurance Act (SB2) are eligible employees who have worked for their employer for a minimum of three months and at least 100 hours a month. Businesses with 200 or more employees would have to start participating by Jan. 1, 2006. Businesses with 50 or more employees would not start until Jan. 1, 2007. Businesses with less than 20 employees are exempt from SB2.

Voting no on Prop. 72 would continue to allow employers to choose whether they provide health insurance to their employees and their dependents. The state would not establish a program to help low-income employees.

Prop. 72 would keep private health coverage within reach of working families. It would also require large and mid-sized companies to pay for private coverage.

"Doctors, nurses and consumers agree: With premiums rising and employees losing health insurance Prop. 72 provides needed protection," according to yesonprop72.com.

However, Prop. 72 will create a government-run healthcare system funded by an estimated $7 billion in new taxes on employers and workers by 2007 according to noprop72.com. One could potentially be forced to get rid of an existing health care plan and have to choose the government's plan. Educators, charities, taxpayers and doctors say no to Prop. 72.

"I am going to vote against this proposition because I have worked hard to be at the job I am at now, and they offer great health care," said Amy Barr, a CSULB graduating political science major. ""Health care is a privilege and a benefit that you have to achieve."

According to a current Los Angeles Times poll, this referendum is supported by 51 percent of voters, 29 percent oppose it and 20 percent are still undecided.

The NFIB, the Voice of Small Business, said that Prop. 72 will move the California health care system toward the costly and inefficient socialized medicine plans of Europe and Canada. All it does is force millions of Californians to buy into a broken system and strips the power to choose appropriate healthcare, although supporters believe that a new government bureaucracy will make better healthcare decisions than each individual Californian according to (www.nfib.com/object/I0_17679.html).

Many small businesses have already had to leave California and move to different states where taxes are lower. This referendum to the Insurance Act of 2003 could lead more businesses out of the state, which would hurt the state's economy. The major contributors that funded this referendum and made it possible to be on the ballot Nov. 2 are the California Restaurant Association, McDonald's Corp., Macy's West Inc., Autozone, Nordstrom, Office-Depot, Robinson's May, Sear's Roebuck and Co., Target Corp., Yum Brands Inc., Wendy's International and Darder Restaurants according to heathvote2004.org.