Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and help control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).

Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program (RICHIP)

This bill would create a new, state-run health insurance program that would cover every Rhode Island resident. Under this "single-payer" system, the state government would become the sole payer for health care services, replacing the current mix of private insurance companies, employer-sponsored plans, and other coverage options. The program is designed to be universal — meaning everyone in Rhode Island would be covered — and aims to make health care more affordable by giving the state greater control over health care costs and pricing.

The bill would affect virtually every Rhode Islander. Residents who currently get insurance through their employer, purchase it on their own, or rely on programs like Medicaid or Medicare would instead receive coverage through RICHIP. Health care providers like doctors, hospitals, and clinics would bill the state program rather than multiple different insurance companies. Private health insurers that currently operate in Rhode Island would no longer provide primary health coverage under this system.

It is worth noting that this bill is still in its early stages — it has only been introduced and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, meaning it has not yet been debated, amended, or voted on. Significant details about how the program would be funded, what specific services would be covered, and how the transition would work would likely be addressed as the legislation moves through the process, if it advances. Major changes like this would also likely require federal approval or waivers, since federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid currently operate under federal rules.