The estimated cost of a long-discussed universal health care system for California is over-stated and speculative, according to at least one local supporter. Mindy Oberne is chair of Nevada County’s chapter of “Health Care for All California”. A state financial analysis released earlier this week for the Senate Appropriations Committee estimated $400 billion. The report said California would have to come up with an additional $200 billion per year, likely in new tax revenues. That’s higher than what’s proposed for the state’s General Fund budget. But Oberne says there are a number of ways of saving money, including from our insurance plans…

click to listen to Mindy Oberne

Oberne says supporters are waiting for a study to come out, commissioned by the bill’s co-author, that will better specify costs and savings. The single-payer legislation has to be approved by the full Senate by June 2nd, in order to advance to the Assembly. Oberne is confident in passage…

click to listen to Mindy Oberne

Employers currently spend between $100 to $150 billion per year for employee health plans, which also could be available to offset costs, according to the analysis. And that could reduce new state spending to between $50 and $100 billion a year.