As an organization that has long fought for patients’ and workers’ rights in coalition with the labor movement, Health Access is proud to announce that we are now a union employer! In a historic move for the organization, Health Access has voluntarily recognized its first staff union, Health Advocates United – UAW local 2013. This […]
Longtime Leader of California’s Health Consumer Advocacy Coalition Tapped to Lead National Counterpart, Families USA
As Executive Director of Health Access California for 22 years, Anthony Wright led the organization to win dozens of health reforms, coverage expansions, patient protections, public health investments, cost containment efforts and more, including the biggest drop of the uninsured rate of all 50 states following the passage of the Affordable Care Act. SACRAMENTO, CA […]
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 […]
Mark Your Calendars! Support Us on May 4th for Big Day of Giving
Start your plan to give! May 4th is the annual Big Day of Giving, a 24-hour giving event to raise funds for local nonprofits. We’re excited to be participating this year to support our work. At Health Access, we recognize that California’s diverse communities have distinct needs and issues. As a team, we work tirelessly […]
Our Logo has Changed. Our Mission Hasn’t.
You may notice we look a little different. Health Access has unveiled a new logo and website that better reflects our bold advocacy for California’s health care consumers. It’s still the Health Access you’ve grown to know over the last 35 years, but now with a new style. Our new logo adapts to the changing […]
Remembering Beth Abbott, Deluxe Patient Advocate
We at Health Access, along with the wider California Capitol community and nationwide health care policy and consumer advocacy community, were saddened to hear yesterday that our dear colleague and friend Beth Abbott passed away this weekend. Beth served as the Director of Administrative Advocacy at Health Access California for nearly nine years, after a long […]
Cliff Allenby: A Health Care Leader We Could Rely On
We note with sadness the passing of Cliff Allenby, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, former head of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (aka MrMIB), former head of departments without number. As a number of Governors, including the current (and former) Governor Brown note in the Sacramento Bee, he was a true public […]
RIP Frances Gracechild
We at Health Access California were saddened to hear of the recent passing of our former board chair of five years, Frances Gracechild, a lifelong disability and senior rights advocate, who also served as executive director of Resources for Independent Living (RIL) in Sacramento since 1981. Her death at 71 years old was a surprise to […]
RIP Hank Lacayo, leader for workers, seniors, Latinos, & all of us
As major health issues swirl around us, we at Health Access have reflective this year to see the passing of giants who we have been humbled to work with in various capacities: Dorothy Rice, the trailblazing economist who played a key role in the creation of Medicare among many other achievements. We were proud to […]
Jack Knox (1924 – 2017) and his Impact on California’s Health Care System
We note with sadness the death on April 4 of former Assemblymember John T. Knox at age 92.