More than 5 million Californians--nearly one out of every five--do not have health insurance. Studies consistently show the uninsured have worse access to healthcare and worse health outcomes. They often face increased financial challenges, including bankruptcy. The cost of caring for those without health insurance makes healthcare cost more for everyone in California—including employers and individuals.

At Kaiser Permanente our mission is to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. With over 8.5 million members nationwide and six million members in California alone, Kaiser Permanente is deeply committed to the health of Californians. As the nation’s largest not-for-profit, integrated healthcare organization, Kaiser Permanente has an experienced understanding of all aspects of our nation’s healthcare system, and a long-standing reputation as a thought leader on major health policy issues.

Kaiser Permanente has advanced a proposal to cover the uninsured in California that offers significant benefits to consumers, employers, providers, working families, and the safety net, while providing health coverage for up to 85 percent of all uninsured Californians. The proposal gives everyone a role, ensuring that individuals, providers, health plans, employers, and the state have both responsibilities and benefits. This proposal expands and improves overall efficiency and quality in the healthcare system. The total cost to cover California’s uninsured under this plan would be $7.4 billion.

While Washington struggles to find an answer to this problem, the recent adoption of a universal coverage initiative in Massachusetts demonstrates that state-level reforms are possible given the urgent nature of the issue, broad partnerships, and bi-partisanship. Because of its extraordinarily high rate of uninsured—ten times higher than Massachusetts-- California presents a significant challenge and an extraordinary opportunity to address this pressing problem. Success in California could provide significant guidance for other states across the nation.