Health Access California releases list of actions California has taken to protect consumer’s and our state’s individual market from harmful federal actions
But even with this robust framework, much remains at risk if federal funding is cut or otherwise withheld
SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, today released a new factsheet detailing the ways California has already taken action to shore up our health care system against harmful federal attacks. The factsheet details the state laws enacted and state investments made during the last Trump presidency and beyond to protect California residents from losing coverage, experiencing devastating premium spikes, and so there continues to be robust health plan choices in a healthy marketplace. These efforts build on several dozen laws enacted in California between 2010 and 2014 to implement and improve on the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Since the implementation of the ACA in 2009, California has seen a historic decline in the uninsured rate from over 20% to now around 6%. 5 million more Californians are now covered through Medi-Cal (of about 15 million in Medi-Cal overall) and our state-based ACA exchange, Covered California, has also seen record enrollment and now covers close to 2 million Californians. Covered California open enrollment for 2025 is happening now and enrollees are seeing the lowest costs ever due to billions in federal premium tax subsidies and state investments that eliminate deductibles and lower co-pays for many.
During his prior presidency, Trump took a series of steps to sabotage the ACA that destabilized insurance markets across the country and tried to reverse many of the historic gains in health coverage we’ve seen; but the actions taken in California helped prevent the worst of these impacts.
“We’ve taken extraordinary steps to create a robust and resilient health care system in California. Consumers should have confidence that we will fight to protect all of our historic gains,” said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, interim executive director of Health Access California. “But California is still at risk – we cannot implement these laws to their fullest without major funding and investment from the federal government and unfortunately, consumers and advocates will once again need to rise up to defend against federal attempts to undermine our health care system.”
While these protections are codified in state law, California is still at risk. If implemented by a Trump Administration, Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s conservative policy initiative to reshape the federal government, would end federal funding for the Medicaid expansion ripping health care from millions, and would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) prescription drug provisions and premium subsidies that are saving Americans thousands of dollars in health care. House Republicans have also proposed converting Medicaid funding into a block grant to the states and removing federal protections in the insurance market.
Health Access California will continue to release data and information on our health care system and its threats under a Trump presidency.
Read the latest factsheet here.
###
Press inquires can be directed to:
Rachel Linn Gish, rlinngish@health-access.org