ITUP Blog

Health Bills Advance to the Governor’s Desk

September 4, 2018

Friday was the deadline for the California Legislature to pass legislation for the 2017-18 legislative cycle. The Assembly and Senate passed the following health bills; the Governor has until September 30 to act on the bills.

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New Report Highlights Continued Strength of Community Health Centers Under the Affordable Care Act

September 4, 2018

More than four years into implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), community health centers continue to play a prominent role in connecting consumers with health coverage despite recent federal reductions in ACA advertising funding, diminishing support for navigators, and a shortened open enrollment period.

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The Legislature Fails to Advance Coverage for California’s Remaining Uninsured

August 17, 2018

On August 16, 2018, the California Legislature ended 2018 legislative efforts to expand coverage and increase affordability with multiple bills stalling in the Senate and Assembly fiscal committees.  

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Covered California Premiums for 2019 Increase Amid Concerns that Federal Efforts to Weaken the Affordable Care Act Are Having an Impact

July 25, 2018

Last week, Covered California announced preliminary health plan premium rates for the 2019 coverage year and suggested that federal action to weaken the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may have yielded higher rates than might have otherwise been expected. Subject to approval by state regulators, Covered California 2019 individual market rates will increase on average 8.7 percent.

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California Legislature Passes State Budget for 2018-19

June 15, 2018

The 2018-19 fiscal year (FY) budget passed by the Legislature increases state funding for higher education, child care, and social service programs for low-income and homeless Californians. While the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget included multiple augmentations aimed at covering specific subgroups of the remaining uninsured, the final budget compromise left all of them unfunded.

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Challenge of Covering the Remaining Uninsured Falls to the Next California Governor

June 12, 2018

The California Legislature is poised to formally adopt the state budget for 2018-19 this week. The deal struck between legislators and Governor Jerry Brown leaves the challenge of ensuring access to health coverage for California’s three million uninsured to the next Governor, who will take office in January 2019.

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Covered California Anticipates 500,000 – 1.2 Million More Uninsured Californians in 2019

May 24, 2018

In 2019, Covered California projects recent federal policy actions will drive up premiums, reduce enrollment, and increase the number of uninsured. Last week Covered California announced its 2018-19 proposed budget, including estimated premium increases of between 9 and 13 percent for 2019.

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Update: California Coverage and Access Legislation

April 27, 2018

The California Legislature this week completed the first round of policy committee hearings for 2018. This year, legislators are considering multiple bills to expand coverage, improve affordability of coverage and ensure access in underserved communities.

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