California Senate Approves Universal Healthcare Bill Amid Funding Concerns

California's proposed universal healthcare legislation recently cleared the Senate, sparking debate even among Democrats. Notably, Senator Ben Hueso criticized the bill for lacking details on funding and service delivery, stating, "We are not debating single payer today because we are not debating a funding source. This bill leaves the financial and operational specifics to the Assembly." While most Democratic senators supported the bill, concerns about how the state would finance the system—estimated to cost over $400 billion—were raised across party lines. The legislation aims to replace California's private health insurance market with a government-run single-payer system, covering all residents regardless of immigration status or income. Although the bill outlines the system's structure, it omits specific funding strategies. A study commissioned by the California Nurses Association estimated the cost at an additional $106 billion, proposing funding through increased sales and corporate taxes. Critics, however, questioned the assumptions behind the study, especially regarding expected existing federal and state healthcare funding, which could be reduced due to upcoming federal ...