Schwarzenegger Addresses Health Care Plans

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday said that California can "definitely" expand health insurance coverage to at least half of the six million state residents currently without health insurance, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Schwarzenegger did not outline any plans for financing the expansion or specify the type of coverage but noted that the state "cannot solve the whole problem."

Schwarzenegger in September vetoed legislation that would have created a state-run, single-payer health system.

Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's communications director, said that details of the health care plan are not finalized but that the plan will be a collaboration of Republicans and Democrats.

Beth Capell -- spokesperson for Health Access, a health care advocacy group -- estimates that it would cost about $6 billion to expand health coverage to three million uninsured state residents (Mecoy, Sacramento Bee, 11/15).