Monthly premiums for seniors enrolled in the Medicare Advantage program are expected to be about 4 percent less expensive in 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Thursday.

With major insurers retreating from the federal health law’s marketplaces, California’s insurance commissioner said he supports a public option at the state level that could bolster competition and potentially serve as a test for the controversial idea nationwide.

California consumers will have the strongest protections in the nation against getting blindsided by unexpected out-of-network medical bills as part of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

CHOICE Administrators announced today the addition of two popular Western Health Advantage health plans to its coverage options for Northern California groups enrolling in CaliforniaChoice. The private health exchange, which marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year, is now quoting GOLD HMO C (Gateway 4010) and GOLD HMO D (Gateway 200 HSA) for groups of two to 100 employees for coverage effective December 1, 201

The good news: U.S. consumers still get more bang for their buck from generic drugs as prices of the cheaper versions of the originals are generally falling. The bad news: Recent years have seen an increasing count of sharp cost spikes for generics -- the drugs produced after the patents on their branded versions expire.

Restaurants, day care centers and other businesses will be able to stock and administer life-saving prescription medicine to immediately treat severe allergic reactions in their diners, pupils or customers under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.