Today the California State Assembly Democrats unveiled their updated 2021-2022 Budget of Opportunity, which comes on the heels of last week’s announcement from California State Senate Democrats of their Build Back Bolder budget outline. Both budget blueprints aligned on a number of key health care priorities, going above and beyond Governor Newsom’s January 2021 budget proposal, and would take major steps to close the remaining gaps in the uninsured, by eliminating barriers to needed coverage and care. Ultimately, the budget proposals by the Senate and Assembly will get our state closer than ever to our goal of universal health care coverage.
Affordability Options in Covered California
California Health Advocates Praise Federal Federal COVID-19 Relief Bill on ACA Affordability Assistance
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 […]
SB 644 (Leyva) Losing Your Job Doesn’t Have to Mean Losing Health Insurance: Connecting the Unemployed to Covered California & Medi-Cal
SB 644 (Leyva) Sponsor Fact Sheet
CA Governor 2021-22 Budget Proposal Provides Urgently Needed Short – Term Help, But Long – Term Investments Needed for Care, and California’s Recovery
Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled the January proposal for the 2021-22 state budget, which provides much needed short-term investments to help Californians in crisis, but more ongoing and long-term support will be necessary to move California down the road towards health and economic recovery.
Governor Gavin Newsom Signs SB 855, Key Bill Addressing Mental Health Care
Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 855 (Wiener) which will require health plans to cover the full range of mental health and substance use disorder treatments.
Despite Pandemic, Progress Continued on Health Care, Coverage, and Costs in California; Advocates Urge Governor Newsom Sign Key Access and Accountability Bills
This morning, the California Legislature ended a 2020 session marked by significant changes due to the COVID-19 crisis. While several high-profile health policy initiatives stalled in light of the pandemic and the economic emergency that caused a state budget deficit, the legislative year ended with key advances on health policy for California consumers.
New Senate GOP COVID-19 Relief Package Falls Short for Californians
Today, US Senate Republicans announced a new COVID-19 relief package that will do little to actually help struggling Californians. Beyond the reduced unemployment benefits negatively impacting millions of Californians, the new proposal includes no new aid to state and local governments, likely forcing major cuts to education, health care, and other vital human services that are needed now more than ever.
As COVID-19 Crisis Continues, CoveredCA Extends Deadline to Sign-Up for Health Coverage
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Californians losing jobs or hours are also losing their health care coverage. To help ensure that Californians are covered, Covered California, our state-based marketplace, announced an extension of the open enrollment period by another month, through the end of July. This extension is for both CoveredCA and off-exchange plans. Over 6 […]
Forth Federal COVID-19 Relief Bill Passes, But More Help Needed for CA to Prevent Cuts and Fills Major Gaps in Health Systems
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a fourth federal COVID-19 relief package. This act will augment funding established in the CARES Act, passed on March 27th.