ATTENTION ALL CALIFORNIANS:

This Thursday the California Senate Health Committee will begin to debate Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan to require every Californian to buy health insurance without controls on how much it will cost. Please take a moment to fax your state senator and ask him or her to reject the Governor's proposal. Under Schwarzenegger's plan, a California family of four that makes more than $60,000 a year would have to buy insurance that today costs, on average, $11,500 per year. If Californians don't buy a policy they'll face tax penalties or have their wages garnished. Even families who currently have insurance through employers could lose their coverage or face cutbacks in benefits and more out-of-pocket costs. The governor refuses to accept regulation of insurance premiums or caps on how much doctors and hospitals can charge. So costs will likely go up if the governor's plan becomes law. Insurance companies, hospitals, and doctor lobbying groups are pushing mandatory insurance because it will increase their revenues and profits. To learn about the governor's proposal, potential solutions and, if you wish, send a fax to a key legislator, please click here