A price-comparing Web site for prescription drugs and laws to force companies to cover employees' insurance are among Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides' plans to improve health care.
He talked about those issues, as well as universal health care, at a stumping stop at Richard Prado East Bakersfield Senior Center Wednesday.
An advocate of Senate Bill 840, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl's single-payer health care bill, Angelides said he saw universal coverage coming to people in three stages: first, to all children; second, to all full-time employees and the employees of big companies; third, to everyone else.
In a previous Bakersfield visit in June, Angelides said insuring children would cost an estimated $130 million the first year and $300 million a year thereafter. The program would be funded by raising taxes for people who earn more than $500,000 a year and closing corporate tax loopholes.
He also wants to require every company with more than 100 workers to cover the cost of health insurance for its employees and their families.
One of Angelides' solutions for lower prescription costs is a Web site where people could buy and import pharmaceuticals. He also wants to lower the cost of medicine for seniors and working families.
"I'm not going to stand up for the drug companies," he told the 50 people at the center.
Angelides had several criticisms of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who he said has dragged his feet on passing health care legislation.
"You're not going to have to wait until the last 100 days of the Angelides' term to make health a top priority," he said.
In response, Schwarzenegger's camp cited the governor's proposed drug initiative, which would decrease prescription costs by 40 percent on name-brand drugs and 60 percent on generic drugs for program enrollees. The goal of the plan is to insure people who otherwise can't afford it.
"Schwarzenegger has a record of working to lower prescription drug costs, and his California Prescription Drug Initiative would require drug manufacturers to slash costs for those who need it the most -- millions of low-income, uninsured and senior Californians," said Amanda Fulkerson, regional press secretary for Californians for Schwarzenegger 06.
Angelides found particular fault with the federal Medicare Part D, prescription drug coverage for people over 65. One million Californians have paid more for their drugs after signing up for the program, he said.
"I'm going to go to Washington and personally lobby Congress" for changes to Part D, he said. "The best we can do is elect a new president of the United States."
Lucy Gonzales, site committee president of the senior center, said health care is particularly important for the center's population, which is overwhelmingly diabetic.
"I don't think these are the 'golden years,'" she said after the event. "We're sick.
"I just hope that if he does get the office, he does what he says he will."
