Category: Affordable Care Act

Affordability, Affordable Care Act, Covered California, COVID-19, Federal

CA Advocates Praise Federal Bill on ACA Affordability Assistance, Urge State Action

California consumer and health advocates hailed the current COVID-19 relief package that passed the Senate this weekend for its historic investments in health care coverage and accessibility, and urged its final passage in the House of Representatives.

The package includes significant funding for vaccine distribution, direct income support to families, and aid to state and local governments that will assist in providing health and human services. Most notably, the federal bill provides historic financial assistance to help millions of Americans afford health coverage in the midst of this pandemic, ensuring that no American will pay more than 8.5% of their income on health care coverage.

Affordability, Affordable Care Act, Budget, Consumer Protection, Cost Containment, COVID-19, Equity, Federal, Health4All, Legislation, LGBT, Medi-Cal, Mergers, Prescription Drugs, Surprise Bills, Trump, Undocumented

Twenty Takeaways from 2020

Protecting Our Progress and Confronting the Challenges of COVID-19 Like most Californians, we had high hopes for progress in 2020. The year began in earnest with the implementation of expanded access and affordability to coverage for hundreds of thousands of Californians, and ambitious plans to increase health industry oversight to control costs, improve quality and […]

Affordability, Affordable Care Act, Supreme Court

CA Senate Health Committee Hearing to Explore California Impacts and Responses to ACA Supreme Court Case

This Wednesday, October 21, the California Senate Committee on Health chaired by Senator Dr. Richard Pan will host a live stream hearing on The Affordable Care Act in Jeopardy: What does it mean for California? 

The Supreme Court will have a challenging court case that will threaten the ACA which will be heard in less than a month. A vote is also scheduled this upcoming Thursday for a new SCOTUS Justice. California lawmakers will explore the potential specific impacts of striking down the ACA in our state and on our health system along with potential responses.

Affordable Care Act, Covered California

MEDIA ADVISORY: Virtual Town Hall: Still Fighting for Our Health

This Thursday, October 15, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Congressional leaders, health consumer advocates, and over 130 registered participates will hold a Virtual Town Hall: Still Fighting For Our Health to discuss what is at stake in California. The town hall will detail the specific impacts on California’s health system, including the millions of Californians are at risk of losing their health care coverage. New informational fact sheets will be available at the time of the town hall which show the commitment to fight to keep the Affordable Care Act as the impact of potentially losing it will be catastrophic for many. 

Affordable Care Act, Covered California, COVID-19, Supreme Court

Covered California High Enrollment Shows Need For the ACA, Even as it is Endangered By Court Case and Supreme Court Pick

Today, Covered California released a new report showed a new record high in enrollment, including nearly 300,000 new enrollments coming in since the COVID-19 emergency, twice as many as the same period in 2019. This demand shows that Californians need coverage and the Affordable Care Act now more than ever, even as it is newly threatened by a pending court care set to be heard by the Supreme Court the week after the election, with a potentially new appointment likely to be hostile to the ACA and its coverage expansions and patient protections.

Affordability, Affordable Care Act, Cost Containment, COVID-19, Economy, Gov. Newsom, Health4All, Hospitals

New Census Data Shows One Million More Americans Uninsured in 2019, Even Before the Pandemic

After years of decline after the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the new 2019 Census data released today shows an increased in the uninsured rate nationally and in California, with the rate going up to 9.2%, with one million more Americans uninsured, totalling 29.6 million. California’s uninsured rate also went up in 2019, from 7.2% to 7.7%, creeping up just past 3 million Californians, according to the new Census data.

Affordable Care Act, COVID-19

COVID-19 Crisis Highlights Affordable Care Act Benefits on the ACA’s 10th Anniversary

The COVID-19 public health emergency serves as a stark backdrop for the consumer, community and health advocates marking the tenth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23rd, 2010. In those ten years, California took multiple steps to implement and improve the ACA, benefiting millions and reducing the uninsured rate by more than any other state. 

Affordable Care Act, Covered California, Uncategorized

CoveredCA Announces Minimal Rate Increase Due to State Steps to Shore Up and Expand Upon the ACA

Covered California announced today that 2020 individual insurance premiums will see a minimal average rate increase of less than one percent. The announcement also highlights the expected increase in health insurance enrollment of over 225,000 Californians due to the new financial help that was included in the 2019-2020 state budget negotiated last month. These minimal […]

Affordable Care Act, Budget, Care4AllCA, Cost Containment, Gov. Newsom, Medi-Cal, Uncategorized

On Day One, Governor Newsom Takes Key Steps Towards Health Care To All Californians

Health Consumer Groups Applaud Both Long-Term Vision for Health Care for all Californians, and the Governor’s Specific Steps to Help Californians Access & Afford Coverage This Year On his first day in office, Governor Newsom announces support for major expansions of health coverage and other key health reforms, including first-in-the-nation expansions: increasing affordability assistance post-ACA […]