CALPIRG Statement on Senate Passage of Health Care Reform Bill
December 21st, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
Statement by Pedro Morillas, CALPIRG Legislative Advocate:
“We applaud the Senate for passing AB 8 (Nez) this afternoon.
“Regulating the insurance companies must be part of any meaningful health care reform. CALPIRG supports AB 8, in large part because the bill grants Californians access to more affordable health insurance.
“AB 8 sharply limits the insurance companies’ ability to deny consumers health care coverage, which far to many Californians experience when shopping for coverage today. AB 8 requires insurance companies to use community rating to determine their premium costs, so that individuals are guaranteed a fair price for health insurance. AB 8 also requires insurance companies to spend 85 percent of premium dollars on health care, assuring consumers that their monthly premiums are working to keep us healthy.
“Health insurance industry reforms like those in AB 8 are essential to containing the skyrocketing cost of health care. As this bill moves forward and the health care debate continues, we urge the Legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger to continue to make insurance industry reforms a key part of the solution.”