San Francisco to Offer Universal Health Coverage for Uninsured

This week, Democratic Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco announced the nation's first universal health coverage program to be offered by a major US city. The new program will provide healthcare services for the city's 82,000 uninsured residents.

Beginning in 2007, San Francisco Health Access Plan will provide access to a primary physician, urgent and emergency care, lab services, radiology, prescription drugs and more. Services will be provided regardless of immigration or employment status.

The controversial program, which is not an insurance plan, will be paid for by three sources:
- plan participants will pay a nominal amount, based on their income;
- businesses with more than 20 employees will pay a charge per uninsured employee;
- the city and county of San Francisco.

Said Mayor Newsom in announcing the plan, "Rather than lamenting that we live in a country with 45.8 million Americans who don't have health insurance... San Francisco is doing something about it. San Francisco is moving forward to fulfill its moral obligation."

In April 2006, Republican Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts signed into law a broad new program requiring all citizens to buy health insurance or face harsh financial penalties. The bipartisan program's aim is not to provide health services, but to mandate that the state's 500,000 uninsured obtain health insurance. You can read the details at Pros & Cons of Massachusetts' Mandatory Health Insurance Program.

Healthcare will be a major issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. While very different, both the Newsom and Romney plans are interesting and likely viable approaches, worthy of further study and debate as the programs are implemented in 2007.