Measure Aims To Help Californians Compare Health Insurance Options
A bill (SB 1522) by Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that would require health insurance companies to classify their coverage plans according to five categories is among the health care reform measures that remain under consideration in the Legislature this year, Capitol Weekly reports.
The Departments of Managed Health Care and Insurance would jointly develop the categories, ranging from "comprehensive" to "catastrophic." Health plans' classification would be based on criteria including:
- Access to care and pricing;
- Coverage of services;
- Marketing issues;
- Range of costs; and
- Renewals.
The California Association of Health Plans opposes the bill, while Health Access California supports it.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has not taken a public position on the measure, but Capitol Weekly reports that the governor is believed to support the bill (Howard, Capitol Weekly, 6/19). 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.