The thirteen proposals in the Care4All California 2025 package will protect the progress CA has made, while also moving the state closer to a more universal, accessible, and equitable health system, without the need for federal interventions or approvals
SACRAMENTO, CA – California health care advocates and legislative champions announce a set of important health consumer bills introduced in the 2025 legislative session which, along with state budget requests, will both protect the health care progress we’ve make in our state and take immediate steps to improve California’s health care system for consumers. This year’s Care4All California legislative and budget package, supported by a broad coalition of over 70 organizations, includes bills that ensure continued coverage, connect consumers to care, and improve health care affordability and equity.
The Care4AllCA campaign was formed in 2017 to build on the historic work of the Affordable Care Act in our state to expand coverage and improve health care quality. The bills in the 2025 package continue this effort by continuing to remove barriers to care, preventing Californians from falling into care gaps due access or affordability, holding health plans accountable for care denials and accurate provider directories, further addressing medical debt, and easing connections to maternal care and community health workers. Budget requests seek to minimize the loss of Medi-Cal coverage for young children and re-enrollers, and ensure that Covered California remains affordable for many enrollees.
“It is clear that we cannot rely on our federal government to ensure that Californians get the care that they and their families need, which is why it is crucial for California to take these steps. Californians are screaming for cost relief and a better working health care system and these bills can meet those urgent needs now,” said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Executive Director of Health Access California, the group that convenes the coalition. “In the face of constant attacks to our care from Congress, our state legislators can show their commitment to our health by supporting these key provisions. This Care4All California package requires no interventions by the federal government and should be adopted to safeguard our health care system in California”
The bills that are a part of the 2025 #Care4AllCA legislative package include:
Covering all Californians Towards Universal Access
- SB 242 (Blakespear) Medigap Protections
- SB 363 (Wiener): Health Plan Accountability: Denials, Delays and Modifications
- SB 530 (Richardson): Strengthening Access to Medi-Cal Providers
- AB 4 (Arambula): Removing Barriers to Covered California Based on Immigration Status, toward #Health4All.
- AB 280 (Aguiar-Curry): Accurate Health Plan Provider Directories
Advancing Equity to Address Health Disparities - AB 55 (Bonta): Freedom to Birth Act
- AB 403 (Ortega): Community Health Workers and Promotores Medi-Cal Benefit & Services Transparency
- Budget Request: Medi-Cal reimbursement rate for Community Health Workers/Promotoras/Health Representatives (CHW/P/Rs)
Protecting Patients from High Medical Costs
- AB 1312 (Schiavo): The Patient Debt Prevention Act
- Budget Request (Asm Schiavo and Sen Rubio): MediCal Share of Cost Reform
Bolstering Our Health Care System From Federal Attacks
- Budget (Boerner): Continuous Coverage for Children 0-5 on Medi-Cal
- Budget (Boerner): Protect Medi-Cal Coverage Gains Through Permanent Extension of Unwinding Flexibilities
- Budget (Asm Schiavo and Sen Perez) Reinstate Covered California State Premium Subsidy Program
Most of the bills in the package have already received strong support in legislative committee hearings, including SB 363, SB 530, AB 4, AB 55, AB 280, and AB 403. Tomorrow’s Assembly Health Committee will hear AB 1312 and Wednesday’s Senate Health Committee will hear SB 242.
Additional quotes:
“Being able to access affordable health care is crucial for seniors who are often forced to live on fixed incomes or limited means,” said Senator Blakespear, author of SB 242. “It’s not fair that some seniors are shut out of Medigap for pre-existing medical conditions, forcing them to choose between food and needed health care. SB 242 eliminates this injustice.”
“Californians are losing their Medi-Cal coverage due to bureaucratic errors—errors that can mean the difference between receiving critical care and going without it. With 92% of procedural disenrollments occurring in our state, far above the national average, we are failing the families who depend on this essential healthcare. Alarmingly, a third of those disenrolled are children and youth. We must do better,” stated Assemblymember Tasha Boerner. “I will continue to fight to ensure California remains committed to serving our most vulnerable citizens.”
“I’m honored that the Care4All Coalition California has selected my bill, AB 55, the Freedom to Birth Act, as one of its priority bills for the year. These consumer, community, labor, progressive, and healthcare organizations have seen firsthand the positive health outcomes birth centers can provide our communities and the struggle providers have had keeping these facilities open. Alternative birthing centers have been proven to improve breastfeeding rates, decrease cesareans, and are a needed tool in addressing the Black maternal health crisis. I am proud to share the coalition’s priorities of improving access, cost, equity, and quality in our state’s health system. I appreciate their partnership in making California the healthiest place on Earth,” said Assemblymember Mia Bonta, author of AB 55.
“AB 4 seeks to continue successful efforts in recent years to expand health care access to all income-eligible individuals in California, regardless of immigration status. This legislation specifically would remove a barrier that prevents undocumented individuals from purchasing coverage through the Covered California marketplace,” said Assemblymember Arambula, author of AB 4. “It is only fair that hard-working and taxpaying Californians are able to buy health plans to protect themselves and the families who depend on them. AB 4 would ensure that we continue to build a more universal and equitable health care system for everyone who calls California home.”
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Press inquiries may be directed to:
Rachel Linn Gish, Director of Communications
rlinngish@health-access.org