CA's Universal Health Care Bill Flops: Readers Weigh In

CALIFORNIA — A bill that would have eventually brought government-funded, universal health care to California's nearly 40 million resident faced fierce opposition from insurance companies — and from Patch readers.

In a recent non-scientific survey of 3,459 respondents — an overwhelming 72.9 percent of participants said they didn't think the state should pay for everyone's health care. More than 4 percent were unsure and 22.8 percent said the government should fund health care.

The poll is meant not to be a scientific poll but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

READ MORE: CA Universal Health Care Bill Fails To Gather Enough Support

California Democrats failed to gather enough support Monday to pass AB 1400, which would have empowered state agencies to enforce a universal health care system and set its rules — but it was unclear how much that system would cost or how the government would pay for it. Democrats had filed another bill that would impose hefty new taxes on businesses and individuals, hoping to separate the two issues.

The bill had until midnight to pass on Monday but it never came up for a vote after its Democratic author, Assemblymember Ash Kalra, realized it would not pass.

We asked readers whether they thought the nation should adopt universal health care:

• 66.9 percent said "no."
• 28.6 percent said "yes."
• 4.5 percent said "not sure."

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said he was "deeply disappointed" that Kalra decided not to call the bill for a vote.

"With time, we will have better and more successful legislation to bring us closer to this goal," Rendon said. "I expect more and more of my colleagues to sign on, so we can make California a health care justice leader."

Cost remained the centerpiece for Monday's debate since the proposed law could have cost taxpayers at least $356.5 billion per year. California's total operating budget is roughly $262 billion this year.

READ MORE: CA Could Give Fast Food Workers More Power, Streamline Pay

The California Nurses Association decried the decision and said it provided "cover for those who would have been forced to go on the record about where they stand on guaranteed health care for all people in California."

"Nurses are especially outraged that Kalra chose to just give up on patients across the state. Nurses never give up on our patients, and we will keep fighting with our allies in the grassroots movement," the association said in a news release.

We asked readers to share additional thoughts on the bill or the idea of universal health care in California:

Prefer freedom of choice of health plans. Government should NOT be involved with our choices.

While universal healthcare is a laudable goal, we will need to reach that goal with baby steps. Doubling California's operating budget in one year is too extreme, even for those that support the goal.

The state is paying - tax payers are. If its my money, I want to chose where I spend it. CA can't even run EDD without fraud, why would we trust them to run our medical insurance?

Every other developed country does it. Their mortality rates are higher and medical spend lower.

Just not sure it is financially feasible. Knowing how some state projects end up experiencing massive cost overuns, I would like more assurances about how much it will really cost to cover everyone, including those residing here illegally.

No one is denied health care in the US. I don't want to see another beaurocratic boondogle created for ANY reason.

We cannot get people back to work now. This will make it worse.

It works in so many other european countries and if government could regulate high prices then why can't it work in US?

WE are overtaxed and already the highest cost of living in the country. This is nuts.

The state government is already overwhelmed with inefficiency (DMV, Unemployment, etc) just wait for healthcare rationing...

The Associated Press contributed to this report.