“Guarantee Issue” is the promise that every Californian will be able to buy insurance on the individual market—which is a cornerstone of the Governor's comprehensive health care reform. Today, thousands of Californians cannot get affordable, non-employer based health insurance. This contributes to medical debt and the hidden tax that insured Californians pay to subsidize care for the uninsured. Guarantee issue, paired with the individual mandate, protects California against these threats to our physical and economic well-being.

Every single person living in California has access to care—the 6.5 million uninsured simply get theirs in our emergency rooms, the single most expensive place to see a doctor. Last year, 27 hospitals in San Diego County reported losing $620 million in uncompensated care. At Scripps Mercy, the uncompensated care total was almost $50 million. The Governor’s comprehensive health care reforms address this broken system.

California’s broken health care system hurts the 20 million Californians who buy insurance or get coverage through their jobs. Billions of dollars in unpaid medical bills are passed on to insured Californians. Higher deductibles, higher premiums and higher co-pays are the result. When health care providers shift costs, those with insurance pay. Why? Providers set prices for the insured that are higher than their costs. In short, the insured pick up the difference.

Every business that offers health coverage to employees pays a hidden tax in the form of higher premiums to subsidize health care for those who can’t, or won’t get health insurance. Insured individuals and employers offering coverage pay approximately 17 percent higher premiums to offset the uninsured and the effects of Medi-Cal under-funding.

Medical debt is a significant contributor to personal bankruptcy, and hundreds of thousands of Californians cannot obtain affordable, non-employer based health insurance. Families struggling with medical bills, parents unable to secure coverage for their children, individuals ruined financially because they became sick—this is the human face of California’s health care crisis. Governor Schwarzenegger’s reforms address the issues of bankruptcy and coverage by making health care more affordable and guaranteeing coverage for every Californian.

Telemedicine—the diagnosis and treatment of patients linked to their doctors by video, audio and the internet—is just one application of Health Information Technology (HIT). Last year, the governor launched an HIT initiative to reduce patient and provider costs, improve health care in underserved communities, reduce errors and improve information sharing, and bring greater accessibility, transparency and accountability to our health care system.

Californians should be rewarded for taking steps to improve their health. Chronic illness is a major driver of high health care costs. Healthy Action Programs reward people who take preventative health actions-such as participating in smoking cessation programs, managing their diabetes, and getting cancer screenings and immunizations. Rewards include vouchers and credits for health-related goods, services and items, such as gym and Weight Watchers memberships.