San Francisco’s public health insurance plan, approved by the city’s voters in 2006, is demonstrating the benefits of having a model that covers everyone. And city employers are giving the plan a thumbs up. Though the city’s model is not single payer, it goes farther than the federal healthcare law passed last year because it uses a public option. San Francisco’s system is rather similar to public/private models used in some European countries. The lesson here is: Contrary to what opponents of health reform say, public health plans are popular and good for business.
Sylvia@californiaonecare.org