Yesterday, the Trump Administration’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a final rule to extend the use of short-term health insurance plans from the current three-month span to a full year, with renewals for up to three years. You can’t much call them “short-term” anymore. Following this announcement, California consumer advocates are urging the […]
Covered California Rate Increase Largely Driven by Trump & Congress Sabotage
Yesterday, Covered California, which enrolls 1.4 million Californians in health coverage, announced that rates for the 2019 plan year will increase by an average of 8.7%. At least 40% (or 3.5% of the increase) is caused by the Trump Administration and Congress’ actions that have destabilized our health care system, such as the elimination of […]
Janus v. AFSCME Decision On Unions Means Workers and Consumers Need to Redouble Efforts for Accessible, Affordable Health Care
Today the United States Supreme Court on a 5-4 decision struck down a decades old precedent on public sector unions, with major health implications. This decision is bad for the health and well-being of not just unionized workers, but all Americans. As Justice Kagan says in her dissent this decision uses the First Amendment as […]
As the Trump Administration Seeks to Sabotage our Health Care System, California Takes Steps to Protect Consumers
On the heels of several efforts by the Trump Administration to circumvent the consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and destabilize the health care system, California has advanced several measures to ensure that our state’s health system remains strong and key consumer protections remain intact. On June 26th, the California State Assembly’s Health […]
AB 595 (Wood): Protecting Consumers When Health Plans Merge
New Federal Attacks on Our Health Care: Substandard AHP Coverage Rule and New Attempt to Repeal the ACA
Fresh federal attacks on our health care were announced today with the Department of Labor’s final rule to expand Association Health Plans, and a renewed congressional attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Both actions seek to destabilize our health care marketplace and will lead to increases in premiums for health consumers and the […]
No New Help for Californians Accessing and Affording Health Care in Budget Deal
Last Friday, June 8th, the 2018-2019 Budget deal was released and makes no new health care investments, despite two years of discussion about universal coverage in both the Assembly and in the Senate, and a multi-billion dollar surplus. The only thing included in the budget is a commission to discuss a pathway to universal coverage. California’s […]
AB 2499 (Arambula): Preserving Medical Loss Ratio Standards
Comprehensive Care4All California Agenda Advances to Improve Universality and Affordability in our Health System
With crucial votes taken this week, a sweeping package of legislation that would move California closer to universal health care has advanced through the state legislature. The bills that passed their final “first house” hurdles this week, combined with those that passed earlier and proposals moving forward in the state budget, would close a large […]
Care4All CA Priority Legislation Picks Up Steam As 2018 Legislative Session Hits Key Deadline
Today the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committee voted to pass a number of bills that will help California get closer to the goal of universal health care coverage for all. These bills, combined with others that have already moved forward as well as various budget proposals under consideration, will help to make our health care […]