Universal health care: a regional perspective--why not a "Georgia SecureCare"?

Despite conventional wisdom that southern states have neither the money nor popular support for such a program, a Georgia group has outlined a universal, comprehensive, single-payer proposal called "Georgia SecureCare." The group's telephone survey in 2003 found that a majority of households was concerned about losing health insurance or access. Economic analyses demonstrated that SecureCare would reduce statewide health care spending by dollar 0.72 billion (approximately 2%) in the first year while providing all Georgia residents with a generous benefit package. Despite initial increased healthcare utilization costing about dollar 3.84 billion, notable savings were attributable to lower annual administrative costs (dollar 3.82 billion) and bulk purchasing (dollar 0.74 billion saved for prescription drugs and durable medical equipment). For most families and for large employers, annual expenditures for health would decline. Georgia respondents to the telephone survey initially expressed approximately 72% support for SecureCare. After furnishing them with common objections to the plan, their support dropped to approximately 62%. A universal, state-sponsored plan would likely save money for Georgia, and it could easily win broad-based popular support.