The ‘payer’ in ‘single-payer’ health care is government — and you
California's top-polling Democratic gubernatorial candidates — Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, and Xavier Becerra — support a single-payer health care system that would replace private insurance with government-funded coverage. This model would make the state the sole payer for health care, requiring substantial new taxes far beyond current state revenues. The estimated annual cost of $392 billion exceeds California's entire state budget, raising concerns about feasibility and funding sources.
- ▪Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, and Xavier Becerra are leading Democratic candidates for California governor and all support single-payer health care.
- ▪Single-payer health care in California would replace private insurance with a government-run financing system for nearly 40 million residents.
- ▪The estimated annual cost of a single-payer system is $392 billion, surpassing California's 2025-26 state budget of $321 billion.
- ▪Funding proposals for single-payer have included payroll taxes, gross receipts taxes on businesses, and higher personal income taxes.
- ▪Under single-payer, private insurance companies would be barred from offering services covered by the government program.
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Opinion The ‘payer’ in ‘single-payer’ health care is government — and you By Jon Fleischman Published April 30, 2026, 8:13 p.m. ET Tom Steyer, the controversial billionaire who ran unsuccessfully for president, is trying to appeal to California voters with a “single-payer” health care policy. He is not alone. Former Congresswoman Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra also proclaim their support for single-payer. Together, these three are California’s highest-polling Democrats running for governor. And with support for “single-payer,” they are united behind what would be one of the biggest expansions of government power ever proposed in this state.
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