Share of Cost, Long-Term Care Premium Protection and Other Key Health Care Bills Pass California Legislature

Saturday, Mar. 9th 2013 8:14 AM

A number of important health care bills passed the California State Legislature last week. One bill, AB 999 authored by Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee Chair Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) protects consumers from excessive premium rate increases by modifying the long-term care insurance (LTC) premium rate development process. It also helps consumers make more informed choices about buying a policy by giving them the opportunity to review a policy’s language before purchase. More can be read about this bill in the California Department of Insurance’s recent press release.

The other health care bills, if signed by the Governor this month, will ensure that California is ready to adopt the many health care reforms scheduled to begin in 2014. While federal law under the Affordable Care Act includes many provisions, resources and a platform for improving the quality, coverage and protections in our health care system, it is still up to each state to bring this law into reality, to enforce the new consumer protections, and make sure Californians know about and enroll in to their new coverage options. Health Access recently published a brief summary (PDF) of the legislation.

Posted on Saturday, Mar. 9th 2013 8:14 AM | by Share of Cost | in Social Security | Comments Off on Share of Cost, Long-Term Care Premium Protection and Other Key Health Care Bills Pass California Legislature