Overview

There's little that's more important than your health.  But because health care is so important, it's also big business -- and there are two powerful industries in particular who protect their interests at consumers' expense.

Recent headlines in California highlight the fact that insurance companies routinely drop customers who get sick, and tell us that health insurance rate increases are far outpacing the rise of wages.

In a country with a world-renowned medical reputation, we expect drug companies to rigorously test and truthfully market their drugs, but history tells us that this is not always the case.

Without a doubt, the pharmaceutical and insurance industries play an important role in our health care system, but their business practices and lobbying too often prevent California from fulfilling basic expectations of health and safety. CALPIRG works to counter their influence and protect the health of Californians.