Equity Rule

Universal Health Care Initiative – Massachusetts

A bill to create the Advisory Committee on Consolidated Health Care Financing was passed and funded in the summer of 2000. It was part of compromise legislation drawn up as a result of the statewide ballot initiative for a universal program. (For more about the ballot initiative, see Medical Student JAMA, October 1, 2003.) The committee’s mandate was to analyze a financing system for health care "accessible to every resident of the commonwealth". A final report was published in December 2002.… Read More

Universal Health Care Initiative – Maine

DIRIGO HEALTH is Maine’s universal access to health coverage plan. The new law is a plan to provide affordable health insurance to small businesses and individuals and to control health care costs. The legislation offers a phased-in approach with an ultimate goal to ensure that all of Maine’s citizens have access to health care by 2009.… Read More

Health Care Security Act – Connecticut

The Connecticut Health Care Security Act is a good single-payer model for other states to follow.

TheAct would have insured payment for all medically necessary services, medications, and long term care for all residents of the State of Connecticut. The bill sought to put decisions about health care in the hands of licensed health caregivers and their patients without insurer pre-approval.

Single Payer Health Care – California

The California Health Insurance Reliability Act is based on a model released in January 2005 by the Lewin Group, an independent health care analysis firm. It would provide all state residents with full coverage of medical, dental, vision, and hospitalization services, and pharmaceutical benefits, through a statewide, single payer system.

The Lewin Group study was commissioned by California Health and Human Services, in accordance with a bill passed by the state legislature in 1999 that required a study of universal health coverage options. Nine proposals were studied â€“ three single payer models and six proposals that increase coverage through public program expansions, employer incentives, or combination approaches.

Universal Health Care Initiative – San Francisco

In 1998, San Franciscans passed Measure J with a 65 percent majority vote and made it city policy to provide affordable, preventive healthcare to the uninsured. In 2006, the city passed the San Francisco Universal Healthcare Initiative, with aims at giving an estimated 82,000 uninsured San Franciscans access to healthcare regardless of income, immigration status, or medical condition. Launched in July of 2007, Healthy San Francisco enrolled 3,100 people and has 14 city health clinics and 8 community affiliated clinics as of October of 2007. … Read More

Health Care Security Act – New York City

Enacted in August 2005, the New York City Health Care Security Act requires any grocery store with 35 or more employees or any retailer larger than 10,000 square feet to contribute $2.50 to $3.00 towards health care for each hour an employee works.

CityCouncilors said the measure was necessary to prevent employees from having to rely on public health programs paid for by the city and state. The law will expand health care for up to 6,000 employees in the grocery industry and protect coverage for 21,000 employees now receiving health care through their employers.

Mile-Based Auto Insurance – Oregon

In 2003, Oregon’s Governor signed a bill into law (see HB 2043 or the PDF version) that gives insurers a tax credit until 2006 of up to $300 per policy for enrolling consumers in mile-based insurance programs.… Read More

Mile-Based Auto Insurance – Texas

On January 23, 2002, the Texas Department of Insurance Commissioner approved rules to enable insurers to offer automobile insurance plans that allow consumers to purchase insurance coverage on a per-mile basis. Texas is the first state to approve such a plan for private passenger automobiles. The Commissioner’s order implements legislation approved during the 2001 session (H.B. 45) of the Texas Legislature.… Read More

Insurance Rate Regulation – California

California Insurance Code Section 1861.05

Approvalof Insurance Rates. (a) No rate shall be approved or remain in effect which is excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory or otherwise in violation of this chapter. In considering whether a rate is excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory, no consideration shall be given to the degree of competition and the commissioner shall consider whether the rate mathematically reflects the insurance company’s investment income.