California Watch Category Banner

California Watch

News stories in this section spotlight activities in California, including actions by the state Assembly and state Senate; proposed legislation; regulators like the Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance; and the state ACA exchange, Covered California.

Trump Releases Budget Proposal for Health Department

The Department of Health and Human Services would receive $95.4 billion under the budget proposal released by the Trump administration Monday.

Read More

Covered CA Sees First Enrollment Decline Despite Influx of New Enrollees

Enrollment in health plans sold by Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, dropped 2.2 percent this year even though the nonprofit managed to attract 432,484 new customers, a 3 percent increase over last year.

Read More

Steve Poizner to Run for Insurance Commissioner as an Independent

Eight years after losing a bitter Republican primary for governor and stepping away from California's political scene, Steve Poizner said Monday that he will run again for the elected office he gave up in that contest — state insurance commissioner.

Read More

These Legal Hurdles Could Trip Up Universal Health Care in California

On Wednesday, the State Assembly's Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage wraps up hearings assessing possible paths the state could follow to get to universal care for all Californians. On Monday, the panel considered some of the federal and state legal hurdles California lawmakers could face if they pursue a radical revamp of the health care system.

Read More

Is A Statewide Insurance Mandate Next For California?

Starting in 2019, Americans will no longer be required to carry health insurance. But Californians might — if a state insurance mandate becomes a reality.

Read More

Universal Health Care Unlikely to Pass in CA, Says Atkins

The infamous image of the California grizzly bear stabbed with a butcher knife inscribed with the last name of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon may have done more than blow up the Twittersphere last year.

Read More

Bill To Give California More Oversight Over Health Plan Mergers Clears State Assembly

A federal judge in 2017 rejected a proposed merger between health insurance giants Aetna and Humana, saying it would likely lessen competition.

Read More

Midnight Wednesday is Deadline for 2018 Covered California Plans

As Wednesday’s midnight deadline approaches to enroll in a 2018 healthcare plan under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance broker Jonathan Greer is fielding calls from harried consumers buying policies at the last minute.

Read More

California Can’t Afford Single-Payer Health Care Fantasy

A civil war is brewing within California’s Democratic party.

Read More

Health Care May Be Top Issue In Governor Race

After the contentious, sometimes-raucous first debate of this year’s primary election season, it became clear that issues like offshore oil drilling, affordable housing, President Trump’s tax changes, immigration and border control would likely not be the central themes of the campaign to succeed Jerry Brown as governor.

Read More
arrowcaret-downclosefacebook-squarehamburgerinstagram-squarelinkedin-squarepauseplaytwitter-squareyoutube-square