How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
Hard hit by one of the worst recessions in nearly a century, hundreds of thousands of Californians lost insurance coverage across the state as employers shed jobs and the health plans that came with those jobs, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Among the most alarming trends resulting from the so-called Great Recession: a significant jump in California's already high rate of residents with medical debt.
In 2009, 2.6 million non-elderly Californians had some kind of medical debt — an increase of 400,000 since 2007, the new "State of Health Insurance in California" report shows.
The report, published every two years with grant funding from The California Endowment and The California Wellness Foundation, uses the latest data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to paint a comprehensive picture of health insurance trends, access and coverage status for California's more than 37 million residents.
The report found that medical debt was highest among those uninsured all of the year (of whom 18.4 percent had debt) and among those uninsured for part of the year (23.2 percent). But even 9.1 percent of those with employment-based coverage reported some kind of medical debt.
"No Californian should have to take on debt to pay medical bills or go without access to health care just because they lost their job," said Shana Alex Lavarreda, lead author of the report and director of health insurance studies a the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "As this recession has so clearly shown us, linking health care to a volatile job market puts us all at risk."
Yet the report also discusses the potential positive implications of health care reform on California's uninsured population.
"This data clearly indicates the need for successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act," said Dr. Robert K. Ross, CEO and president of The California Endowment. "The rate of uninsured Americans increases annually, and the burden that presents to our health care system is economically unsustainable. Health care reform will ensure that many millions of Californians need not fear a potential health catastrophe just because of an economic downturn."
Among the report's findings:
Californians living on 'thin margin'
About half of those with medical debt reported the amount to be below $2,000.
"It's an indication that people are living on a very thin margin if they don't have even $2,000 in savings to put towards medical debt," Lavarreda noted.
Medi-Cal under stress
Among enrollees in Medi-Cal, the program that is intended to provide comprehensive care for low-income residents, 18.2 percent had medical debt, a level comparable to the uninsured (18.4 percent).
"This suggests that the program may not be providing everything its enrollees need, either because certain services are not included in coverage or there are increasingly fewer doctors that accept Medi-Cal patients," said Lavarreda.
Increasing reliance on high-deductible coverage
More than 50 percent of Californians with individually purchased insurance participate in high-deductible health plans.
Of these, only 8.8 percent purchase these risky plans with a health savings account that might protect them from financial hardship.
Recession's toll
In 2007, 61.8 percent of the uninsured were in families with a full-time worker.
In 2009, only 46.3 percent of the uninsured were in families with a full-time worker. The proportion of the uninsured living in poor families (families with incomes below 100 percent of the federal poverty level) climbed from 29.0 percent in 2007 to 33.1 percent in 2009, the highest level in a decade.
Lack of insurance equals lack of care
Uninsured children and adults were significantly more likely to report not seeing a health care provider in the past year (41.8 percent of children and 49.9 percent of adults) than children and adults with employment-based insurance (8.3 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively).
"This report provides yet more evidence of the need for change of our current system of health care and also of the devastating effect California's budget crisis has had on the programs that support our state's most vulnerable residents," said Diana M. Bontá, president and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation.
The authors noted that the estimated number of uninsured Californians may have grown since 2009 (when the data was collected), as the federal subsidy that enabled many laid-off workers to retain their employer-provided health insurance through COBRA has since expired.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
Feb. 2012-State of Health Insurance in CaliforniaThe Department of Fish and Game invites the public to attend its annual salmon status update and outlook meeting in February.
The outlook for 2012 ocean and river fisheries will also be discussed.
This year’s meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sonoma County Water Agency, 404 Aviation Blvd. in Santa Rosa.
The meeting will provide the latest information on California salmon escapement in 2011 and the outlook for sport and commercial ocean salmon fisheries in the coming season.
The public is encouraged to provide input to a panel of California salmon scientists, managers and representatives, many of whom will be directly involved in the upcoming Pacific Fishery Management Council meetings in March and April.
Salmon fishing seasons are developed through a collaborative regulatory process involving the Council, the California Fish and Game Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The input will help California representatives negotiate a broad range of season alternatives at the Council meeting during the March 2-7 meeting in Sacramento.
The 2012 Salmon Information Meeting marks the beginning of the two-month long public management and regulatory process used to establish this year’s sport and commercial ocean salmon fishing seasons.
A list of additional meetings and other opportunities for public comment is available on the ocean salmon Web page, www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/salmonpreseason.asp.
The meeting agenda and handouts will also be posted online as soon as they are finalized.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
NICE, Calif. – A Monday afternoon fire destroyed a mobile home in Nice.
The fire was reported shortly after 2:40 p.m. in the 3200 block of Lakeview Drive near Buckingham Way, according to radio reports.
Greg Cornish, who lives in Nice on the hillside above where the fire occurred, said he saw flames shoot about 30 feet into the air from the structure.
Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters arriving on scene reported that they found the trailer three-quarters involved.
Lakeview Drive was reported to be closed temporarily while firefighters worked to put out the blaze.
Four Northshore Fire units and one unit from Lakeport Fire responded, with 14 firefighters on scene, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.
The fire was controlled at approximately 3:07 p.m., with radio reports indicating firefighters would remain on the scene for two to three hours in order to mop up and investigate the cause.
Beristianos said the singlewide mobile home was a vacation home, and no one was there when the fire occurred.
He said the structure was totaled, adding it was too early to offer a full damage estimate because he and his crew hadn’t yet been inside to fully assess the structure and contents.
Beristianos said the cause of the fire currently is under investigation.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
LUCERNE, Calif. – A Lucerne man died Sunday night of injuries he sustained in a pickup crash on Highway 20, and authorities want to speak with a woman who drove the man and another crash victim to a gas station before leaving.
The 50-year-old man crash victim’s name was not released by the California Highway Patrol Sunday night.
The man was riding with 24-year-old River Denning, also of Lucerne, in a white 2002 Toyota pickup when the crash occurred at 7:20 p.m. Sunday, the CHP reported.
The CHP said Denning was driving eastbound on Highway 20, east of Rosemont Drive near Lucerne at an unknown speed when Denning lost control of the vehicle, with the pickup rolling over.
At the scene, the vehicle was sitting on its wheels, off the road, with debris remaining on the highway. The CHP closed the westbound lane while the investigation was under way.
The roadway evidenced damage as far as 20 yards west of the crash location, where portions of the asphalt had been gouged out.
Authorities are continuing to try to find out just what happened following the crash, when the men were transported from the scene to the Tower Mart at the corner of 13th Avenue and Highway 20 in Lucerne.
Local resident Gena Greenup said she was in the convenience store when a woman came in asking for water and napkins to clean up blood in her car.
Greenup said she went back out to her own car and saw the woman with a young man who was bleeding from the head, with another man in the vehicle.
She said the injured man and the female subject flagged down a Northshore Fire ambulance that was en route to the crash scene.
Greenup said the ambulance pulled into the gas station and paramedics removed the second injured man from the car and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him.
Radio reports indicated that, even before paramedics pulled the injured man from inside the vehicle, they were concerned he already had succumbed to his injuries.
Greenup said they couldn’t save the man and he was placed in the ambulance.
A short time later, the deceased man’s elderly mother arrived at the scene, where she was informed of her son's death by a firefighter.
Denning was transported by Northshore Fire ambulance to a landing zone at Lucerne Harbor Park, where he was picked up by a REACH air ambulance.
He was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with complaints of pain to his chest and minor injuries, the CHP reported.
The CHP said Denning was wearing his seatbelt, but his passenger was not.
At about the time that the two crash victims were being attended to by paramedics, Greenup said the woman who drove them to Tower Mart left the scene.
CHP was trying to identify the woman to get additional information about the crash.
A CHP sergeant, assisted by Tower Mart staff, looked at surveillance video in an attempt to identify the woman but was unsuccessful.
Authorities are hoping the woman will come forward to help them with the crash investigation.
Alcohol also does not appear to have been a factor in the collision, the CHP said.
Anyone with information about the crash should call the California Highway Patrol at 707-279-0103.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tabbies are the top kitty at the animal shelter this week.
Three tabbies – two adults and a kitten – plus one little black kitten are cleared to join your family, if you have the space in your heart and home.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Stripes and emerald eyes
This female domestic short hair is interested in finding a new place to nap and her lovely stripes will complement most any decor.
Another unique feature of this 9-month-old feline – her emerald eyes. She may remind you of Ireland.
She’s waiting in cat room kennel No. 11, ID No. 31690.
Young and fun
When asked why he's sticking his tongue out for the camera this 8-month-old male tabby murmured something unintelligible.
What he may have been trying to convey is that his theory on cat adoption is that people are more likely to be attracted to cats with a sense of humor.
Clearly this cat has a sense of humor.
He may or may not be sticking out his tongue when you visit him in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31707.
Keeping an eye on things
Scooter, as we like to call this 9-month-old domestic short hair mix, appears to be an attentive and caring chap.
With his perky ears and thoughtful golden eyes he'll pay attention to what's going on so you don't have to.
He’s keeping an eye out for a new home in cat room kennel No. 64, ID No. 31632.
Two kittens, lots of toes
These kittens are a real bargain and they are going fast; only two of these polydactile cats are left.
They aren't like pterodactyls – cats don't fly – so have no fear adopting these cuddly pals. Plus, these kittens have extra toes so it’s more cat for the buck.
The little tabby and his handsome black litter mate are in cat room kennel No. 77a-b, ID No. 31633.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com.
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rain is forecast to arrive in Lake County as early as Monday evening.
The National Weather Service issued a report on Sunday that predicted a 40 percent chance of rain beginning Monday night, mainly after 10 p.m., with between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected to fall.
Rain is forecast to continue throughout Tuesday, when up to half an inch is anticipated, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are forecast to be sunny, with daytime temperatures in the 60s. Saturday is expected to be partly sunny and a slight chance of rain in the forecast on Sunday, according to the agency’s latest report.
The National Weather Service also issued a high wind watch for the San Francisco Bay Area that’s in effect through Tuesday morning.
The agency warned of southerly winds between 25 and 40 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 65 miles per hour above 1,000 feet in the hills in coast Sonoma and Marin counties.
That watch also extends to the Mount St. Helena area in Napa County, just over the Lake County border, according to the National Weather Service.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at