HealthCareForAmericaNow - California

The California Assembly Committee on health is scheduled to vote today on AB52, legislation drafted by Assemblymembers Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) that would empower state regulators to reject excessive rate hikes on consumers and businesses from private health insurers.

Over the course of the last year, there have been numerous instances where private insurance companies have attempted to surreptitiously raise rates on consumers, including Anthem’s notorious attempt to raise rates by as much as 39% last year, and the recent attempt by Blue Shield to raise rates on individual policy holders for the third time since October.

AB 52 would require health plans and insurers to seek approval from state regulators prior to any attempt to raise health care premiums, copayments, or deductibles.  It would build upon newly-implemented federal and state law improving the health insurance rate filing and review process, thus empowering California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to put the brakes on attempts by the insurance industry to artificially raise the cost of our health care!

In a letter released by Senator Diane Feinstein this week urging support for AB 52, the Senator stated, “Insurance companies are driven by the need to return profits to shareholders, and without proper regulatory oversight, will continue to raise rates and drop people from coverage to maximize their profits.  It is clear that California’s state regulators need the authority to reject excessive rate hikes.”

HCAN-California’s lead state partner Health Access California will be holding a second advocacy training call on the Low-Income Health Program (LIHP) on TUESDAY, March 29^th at 7:00 PM!

This is a chance to learn more about this exciting program that will help expand coverage to uninsured Californians by expanding Medi-Cal eligibility to ALL California adults up to 133% of the Federal poverty level.  Even more, it’s an opportunity to take action and help this crucial program move forward!

We want to make sure all counties are hearing from advocates and activists about this important program. That’s why we need your help!

Join us on Tuesday, March 29^th at 7:00 PM Pacific for the Low-Income Health Program (LIHP) advocacy training call!

Advocacy Call on Low-Income Health Program
TUESDAY, March 29 at 7:00 PM Pacific
Click here to RSVP
Please Note: You will receive a follow-up e-mail for Tuesday’s Advocacy Training Call once you’ve submitted your RSVP

Click here to read more about the LIHP from Health Access.

The House is expected to vote on a GOP introduced bill calling for repeal of the Federal health care law. In advance of Wednesday’s anticipated vote - the Congressional Budget Office reported that, despite the best claims of repeal-mongers, repealing the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act would in fact INCREASE the nation’s deficit:

In a letter to Boehner, budget office director Douglas Elmendorf estimated repeal would increase the deficit by $230 billion from 2012 to 2021, the 10-year estimating period for budget projections. Moreover, Elmendorf said about 32 million more people would be uninsured in 2019 as a consequence. (Associated Press)

The White House voiced similar concerns. In a post published Friday (1/7/2011), The Hill reported that the Obama administration cautioned against the economic ramifications if the Republicans and insurance industry lobbyists have their way:

Stephanie Cutter, an assistant to the president for special projects, wrote that “repealing the law would likely slow down the growth of our economy,” on a day when the government posted a tick down in the unemployment rate, to 9.4 percent.

“The House Republican Health Care Plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take away all the new freedom and control it gives the American people over their health care and give it back to insurance companies will not only raise costs for individuals and businesses, but it will hurt our economy,” Cutter wrote. (The Hill)