Published: June 21, 2007
Gov. Schwarzenegger Meets with Californians Trapped by "Job Lock"
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger meets with business owners, employees concerned about "job lock." Thousands of Californians pass up new job opportunities, delay retirement or decide not to start their own business because they are afraid of being without coverage, lack of affordability and medical bankruptcy.
Photo: William Foster, Office of Governor Schwarzenegger |
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today met with business owners and employees who are concerned about "job lock," which is when people stay in jobs out of fear of losing health care coverage. These individuals are like thousands of Californians who may pass up new job opportunities, delay retirement or decide not to start their own business because they are afraid of being without coverage, lack of affordability and medical bankruptcy.
According to a 2004 Employee Benefit Research Institute survey, more than one-quarter of Americans report that they or an immediate family member have encountered job lock (27 percent, up from 21 percent in 2001).
"Some Californians feel trapped in their jobs because that's the only way they can get health coverage. They end up making life decisions based on whether they can get health insurance because they are afraid of being without coverage and literally one sickness away from financial ruin," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. "This is not right. People should be free to follow their hearts and their dreams when they're looking for work, they shouldn't have their choices dictated by an insurance plan."
Governor Schwarzenegger today met with California small business owners and employees who shared their concerns about health insurance:
Sylvia Reyes is the President of the National Latina Business Women Association Sacramento Chapter. She is a small business owner operating Reyes & Associates.
Lilli DuVal is a small business owner and owns Illumination Medical. She has found it difficult to find health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Her business partner could not get health care insurance so his wife had to go back to work at a school district in order to obtain health care coverage.
Diann Rogers is a board member for the California Women's Leadership Association Sacramento Chapter. She is self-employed and owns Rogers Group.
Jennifer Harris works at the San Juan Unified School District as a clerk typist. Because of a pre-existing condition, she is working at her job for health care coverage.
Mary Odbert is self-employed and owns MCO Associates. She recently had a baby and has considered giving up her business because of health care coverage.
A cornerstone of the Governor's health care proposal is "guarantee issue" - the promise that every Californian will be able to buy insurance on the individual market. The proposal also includes subsidies for low-income workers and an individual mandate, which requires that all Californians obtain health insurance.
Today, thousands of Californians cannot get affordable, non-employer based health insurance. This contributes to medical debt and the hidden tax that insured Californians pay to subsidize care for the uninsured. Guarantee issue, paired with the individual mandate, protects California against these threats to our physical and economic well-being.
The Governor's goal is to enact comprehensive health care reform this year.
In the photo above, from left: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, MCO Associates Owner Mary Odbert, San Juan Unified School District Clerk Typist Jennifer Harris, Health Professions Education Foundation Board of Trustees Executive Director Maria Giuriato and Assemblymember Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi).
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