This comprises an open letter to urge the Council of the City of Lakeport to conduct a simple cost analysis of the impacts and probable savings of implementing statewide universal health care to City of Lakeport taxpayers.

In June of this year, the Lake County Administrative Office analyzed the cost to the county of the proposed California Universal Health Care Act, Senate Bill 840. Their analysis concluded that the County would save 52 percent or $1,663,824.00 per year in health care costs with the SB 840 single-payer plan. Based on this analysis, the Lake County Board of Supervisors endorsed SB 840 and communicated their endorsement to our state legislators and the governor.

I am recommending that the Lakeport City Council conduct a similar analysis that compares the city’s costs of health insurance for city employees of SB 840 with the current private insurance company financed system now in place. I also urge the Lakeport City Council to endorse SB 840 and communicate that endorsement and the analysis to our state legislators and the governor.

In my career work in health and human services, I encounter daily, innumerable individuals and families with insufficient health care coverage. The “working poor” would benefit from expanded coverage for themselves and their children. The aging population would realize a greater quality of life. The most vulnerable among us would be helped immeasurably.

Lou Denny lives in Lakeport.

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