Category: Affordability

Access, Affordability, Affordable Care Act, Covered California, Federal, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Trump

CA Coalition Letter to Protect Health Care

RE: Protect & Strengthen Health Care Coverage and Access in the 119th Congress Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer: We, the undersigned organizations, comprise a diverse coalition of community-based, faith-based, labor, county, and health care organizations across California. Medicaid, Medi-Cal in California, is a lifeline for coverage and […]

Affordability, Affordable Care Act, Covered California, Federal

Covered California 2025 Rate Announcement

Regardless of the 7.9% average premium increase for 2025 plans announced today by Covered California, the Inflation Reduction Act caps premiums at 8.5% of income, and even less for lower incomes. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) along with state investments, have continued to significantly reduce costs for nearly all 1.7 million Covered California […]

Affordability, Consumer Protection, Cost Containment, Mergers, OHCA

New Office of Health Care Affordability Proposal Would Limit Health Cost Growth, Offering Real Relief to Californians

Health and consumer advocates praise new staff recommendations of the Office of Health Care Affordability to set a statewide health growth target at 3% OHCA’s Health Care Affordability Board to make final decision in coming months SACRAMENTO, CA – California’s ambitious effort to rein in the skyrocketing cost of care enters a new phase this […]

Access, Affordability, Appreciation, Consumer Protection, Health Reform, Recognition

2023 in Review

In 2023, Health Access advocated to provide real relief and remove financial barriers to California health consumers—successfully helping increase access to and/or reduce the cost of coverage, care, prescription drugs, and even ground ambulance services. We supported major investments in Medi-Cal to improve access and continue the commitment to expand coverage to all those who […]

Affordability, Budget, Care4AllCA, Cost Containment, Covered California

Premiums Remain Low and New Reductions in Deductibles and Co-pays

Today marks the start of the 11th open enrollment period of Covered California and the most affordable year ever for enrollees, with new, significant state and federal financial assistance available. The Inflation Reduction Act continues major premium assistance for the nearly 2 million Californians in Covered California through 2025. Funding included in this year’s state […]

Affordability, Cost Containment, Federal, Hospitals, Mergers, OHCA

Health Access Joins New National Coalition: Consumers for Fair Hospital Pricing

Health Access California is proud to be a part of a new national coalition of health consumer advocates that are taking on skyrocketing hospital costs as a main driver of our growingly unaffordable health system. Consumers for Fair Hospital Pricing is about standing up to the big hospitals that have become big business, and fighting […]

Affordability, Announcement, Covered California

Covered California Announces More Affordable Plan Options, Despite Rising Rates

California’s health benefit exchange, Covered California, announced today its plan options in 2024, including that premiums will increase on average 9.6%. However, even with rising premium rates, federal and state affordability assistance will ensure that Covered California will be more affordable than ever. The Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act caps premium costs for all Covered […]