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.
Covered California, the Obamacare exchange that led the nation during its first year with about 1.2 million enrollees, predicts the tally will jump to 1.7 million in year two - a 500,000 increase, more than many states netted in total last time around.
Lilian Saldana turned down Obamacare coverage once, and she might do it again.
Under federal and state law, Certified Insurance Agents (CIAs) are required to offer Covered California consumers assistance with registering to vote.
Republicans have been chomping at the bit to repeal Obamacare since the instant President Barack Obama signed it into law on March 23, 2010.
President Barack Obama's health-care plan will face a fresh round of investigations and public hearings in the Republican-controlled Senate next year, though the president's veto power will keep it from being dismantled.
Voters have soundly defeated an attempt to raise California's cap on medical malpractice damage awards, after physician and insurance groups poured tens of millions of dollars into the opposition campaign.
California voters on Tuesday shot down a ballot initiative that sought to expand the state insurance commissioner's authority after health insurance companies poured millions of dollars into advertising to fight it.
Opponents of Proposition 45 say the measure, which would give the state insurance commissioner authority over proposed health insurance rates, could interfere with Covered California.
Health insurance premiums for Covered California's Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) have been proposed and submitted to state regulators.
Moving to close what many see as a major loophole in Affordable Care Act rules, the Obama administration will ban large-employer medical plans from qualifying under the law if they don't offer hospitalization coverage.