The California Senate voted today to send universal health care legislation, SB 840, to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk as new data shows that biggest rise in uninsured rates occurred for families with household incomes of over $50,000 per year. SB 840 will save Californians $8 billion each year by cutting insurers, HMOs and unnecessary middlemen out of the health care system and covering everyone in a public insurance pool.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data released Monday, Americans with annual incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 per year saw the biggest increase in uninsured rates, up to 8.3 million, an increase of 600,000 people. 800,000 more people with annual incomes of over $75,000 are now uninsured.

“California families desperately need Governor Schwarzenegger to sign this bill that will eradicate health insurer waste and make health care affordable again. The California legislation is the model for a nation in dire need of affordable health care,” said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR).

The public insurance program will utilize the 25% of revenue currently wasted on CEO salaries, record corporate profits, overhead and advertising by private insurers to provide better health care for all Californians. The bill is expected to the save Californians $8 billion off what we are currently spending and provide coverage for the 7 million Californians without health care

The number of uninsured Americans increased by 1.2 million in 2005 to 6.8 million in California and 46.6 million nationwide. In California, nearly 1 in 5 are without health coverage.

To view state-by-state Census Bureau data go to: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/news_conferences/007338.html