Governor Schwarzenegger keeps trying and we hope he “will be back” to finish the job.  Insurance should be accessible and affordable.  He is on the right track – no pre-existing conditions, a basic menu of guaranteed benefits, profit restrictions on health insurance (like a regulated public utility), inability to cancel coverage except for non-payment.  Patients unable to afford coverage will be directed to government based services (i.e. Medicaid, or Medi-Cal in California, Medicare and the like).  Only through initiatives of this type can the health insurance crisis be brought under control . . . jomaxx 

UPI reported that the “state of California is nearing a compromise on legislation that would tighten controls on individual medical insurance policies.” The measure “aims to restrict profit on individual policies, mandate a minimum for benefits, and regulate insurance companies’ ability to cancel plans retroactively.” But, the “plan falls short of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) original plan of providing insurance for five million uninsured Californians.” . . . see link to full UPI article @ http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2008/08/04/California_insurance_bill_nears_completion/UPI-65931217862591/

Sarah Rubenstein wrote that “[s]tates face a Catch 22 when it comes to health policies that people buy on their own.” If they “[r]equire plans to provide certain benefits or bar them from rejecting individuals for coverage,…the result will be that the insurance gets more expensive.” If, however, the states “[g]ive insurers lots of latitude about who and what to cover,” then “cheaper plans are available — but often not for the older and sicker patients who need coverage most.” . . . see link to full NYT Health Blog post @ http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/08/04/california-takes-another-crack-at-insurance-reform/