Health Plans
The bills listed below moved to Gov. Schwarzenegger for consideration.
SB 1414 by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) would require employers with more than 10,000 employees in California to spend a percentage of their payroll on health care benefits. If employers spend less than the specified percentage, they would have to contribute the difference to the state to help fund public health insurance programs (Bill text, 8/10).
SB 437 by Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Norwalk) would declare the intent of the Legislature to provide health insurance for all children in the state by a specified date. The measure requires the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board to develop and implement policies to automatically enroll people in Medi-Cal and Healthy Families when they apply for the Women, Infants and Children program (Bill text, 9/1).
AB 2889 by Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) would require health plans and health insurers to allow individuals who have been insured for at least 18 months under an individual health plan to transfer without medical underwriting to another health plan or insurer that provides equal or lesser benefits (Bill text, 8/22).
AB 1982 by Assembly member Joe Coto (D-San Jose) would affirm the ability of counties, cities and hospital districts to provide health care and services to all residents, including those who are not eligible for benefits under the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, but otherwise meet all eligibility criteria (Bill text, 8/24). The Legislature also approved the Senate version of the bill, SB 1534 by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) (Bill status, 8/31).
AB 2918 by Assembly member Lois Wolk (D-Vacaville) would allow a county board of supervisors to establish a special commission to provide health care delivery systems for:
- Public agencies;
- Private businesses;
- Uninsured or low-income residents; and
- Other individuals or groups (Bill text, 8/24).