Universal Healthcare - Overpromise, under-deliver, and hike taxes

Consumer Advocates to CA Legislative Analyst: Consider Massachusetts Financial Meltdown in Review of Health Care Legislation

"The only publicly available current analysis of ABX1 1, by Assemblycommittee staff, contains no predictions for either cost increases orexpected revenue increases/decreases. Massachusetts, however, is alreadystruggling to control much higher than expected costs. ... Massachusettsestimates that the cost of subsidized plans by the end of the first year,July 2008, will be $147 million, or 30%, over budget. A similar increase in California (with at least 12 times the number of uninsured), would be $1.75billion."

"FTCR also pointed to much lower than predicted employer contributionsin Massachusetts, as well as higher premium costs and lower benefits thanexpected. FTCR said that at a minimum, the Legislative Analyst's Officeshould recommend that ABX1 1 be amended to include premium regulation rulesthat currently apply to auto and other property/casualty insurancecompanies before forcing Californians to purchase their product."

This analysis is well worth the read.