Gov. Brown Signs Two Health Insurance Protection Measures
On Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law two bills (ABX1-2 and SBX1-2) that aim to prevent health plans in the state from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions, AP/U-T San Diego reports (AP/U-T San Diego, 5/9).
Details of Bills
The bills will:
- Ban pre-existing conditions as a means of denial for health coverage;
- Establish community rating measures; and
- Require guaranteed issuing and renewal of health insurance in the individual and small group market.
The bills also will allow the state health insurance exchange to establish 19 geographic regions for setting health insurance rates.
The two bills are almost identical, but have slight differences: ABX1-2 -- by Assembly member Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) --Â includes language clarifying the insurance code, while SBX1-2 -- by Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) -- has additional health and safety language (California Healthline, 4/30).
Comments on Passage of Bills
In a statement, Brown said, "This legislation helps Californians get a fair shake on the open health care market" (AP/U-T San Diego, 5/9).
Hernandez said that SBX1-2 "will stop insurance companies from engaging in discriminatory practices and pricing that have kept Californians from getting health coverage."
He added that the bill represents "a major step forward for all Californians in realizing the promise of President Obama's landmark health care law and implementing much-needed reforms" (Hernandez release, 5/9). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.