Making Health Care Work

LOWER COSTS, BETTER CARE

Now the fight for health care reform is in Sacramento, and so are the health care industry’s lobbyists.

At stake is how we set up a new insurance marketplace in California — the single biggest tool we have to clean up health care. The new state insurance exchange will allow small businesses, those of us who buy health care on our own, and the uninsured to shop for cheaper health care plans and find some relief from increasingly brutal premiums.

Done right, the exchange will save billions and level the balance of power between consumers and the health care industry — driving the industry to cut waste and prioritize high-quality care.

The health care industry has spent millions to influence decisions on health care, so they know how high the stakes are.

In order to help us fight back against the kind of price jumps and trap-door coverage we’ve all been suffering from, CALPIRG is pushing to see that the exchange:

Negotiates for better plans. By demanding better care for less cost, the exchange can use the collective power of hundreds of thousands of Californians to finally demand that the industry does better.
Have high standards, so that bad plans aren’t an option.
Be open to as many Californians as possible. Limits that shut some individuals and businesses out of the exchange would reduce its ability to lower costs — and will be a key tactic that industry lobbyists use to weaken it.
Be accountable to the public.

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Blog Post | Health Care

We're not done yet: Next steps for CA health care | Pedro Morillas

The Supreme Court has upheld the national health care law, and this is really good news for consumers.

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Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

At Stake: What’s on the Line for Health Care Consumers in the Pending Supreme Court Case

The outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have far reaching impacts on consumers. The law is already working to improve the quality of care and reduce costs, with millions of Americans experiencing concrete improvements in their coverage.

Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Health Care

The Almighty Dollar before Health and Safety of Americans | Jon Fox

A recent op-ed is completely correct in its assumptions that anti-regulations rhetoric from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is incessantly talking about regulations killing jobs and the economy.

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Media Hit | Health Care

In California, Aetna raises health insurance rates for small businesses

If politicos in Sacramento and Washington are serious about creating quality jobs in America, they should embrace efforts to rein in unsustainable health costs for small-business owners and their employees," said Austin Price of CALPIRG.

News Release | CALPIRG | Health Care

Aetna Rate Increases for Small Businesses “Unjustified”

Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Insurance issued a statement today finding new rate increases of up to 21.4% annually for some small business health plans sold by Aetna unreasonable. Aetna attempted to justify the increases with projections for medical costs in excess of their actual experience and also in excess of federal measurements of medical inflation.

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News Release | CALPIRG | Health Care

Supreme Court to Hear Challenges on Health Reform

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments on the new health reform law means that soon, the question of its constitutionality will be settled, allowing states and policymakers to focus on lowering costs for consumers without being distracted by counterproductive lawsuits. Upholding the law would be a clear win for consumers, while a bad ruling would pull the rug out from under states and consumers.

News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

California's Health Exchange on Track to Lower Costs for Consumers

California’s health insurance exchange has the potential to be a national leader in delivering better value for consumers, according to Making the Grade, a new report by CALPIRG Education Fund.

News Release | CALPIRG | Health Care

Blue Shield Refund Shows Need for Stronger Rate Review

Blue Shield of California followed through on its promise to cap profits at 2% of revenue resulting in a refund of $295 million to policyholders. This action comes in the midst of increased public scrutiny about major premium increases from several of California’s major health insurers and a push for legislation that would give regulators the authority to reject or reduce unjustified rate hikes.

News Release | CALPIRG | Health Care

Governor Signs Health Care Bill to Limit Insurers' Overhead

Governor Brown signed a new health care bill into law that will require insurers to use a higher percentage of consumers’ premiums for actual health care costs. If insurers fail to meet this target consumers will be eligible for an annual rebate.

Media Hit | Health Care

Associated Press: Bill to regulate health insurance rates is pulled

The author of a bill that would have given California regulators the power to reject health insurance rate increases said Wednesday he has pulled it from consideration this year.

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Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Delivering on the Promise

The recently passed federal health care reform law will make significant changes in how health insurance and health care work for consumers, businesses, and local and state governments, as well as how insurers and providers operate. But whether Americans experience improved care, lower costs and greater access depends largely on what happens next. This guide has been written to assist state policymakers and advocates as they engage with the numerous issues and opportunities presented by the new law.

Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Keeping Insurers Honest

Of all the problems affecting California’s health care system, none is more immediate than the skyrocketing premiums consumers face year after year. Understandably, then, Anthem Blue Cross of California’s recent proposal to hike rates on its customers by up to 39 percent galvanized an angry public. A majority of states – at least 30 – have some form of protection, called “rate review.” And their experience proves that giving regulators the power to reject proposed premium increases that cannot be justified on the facts helps police insurer behavior and lowers costs.

Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Uncovered: How California's health care system fails young people

This report explores the under-appreciated problems facing American youth in our health care system. It examines the status quo, looking particularly at the coverage crisis affecting young people, the consequences a lack of quality coverage can impose on their lives, and the inadequacy of the school-based policies many universities offer their students.

Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

The Small Business Dilemma

When it comes to health care, American small business owners are getting a raw deal. While the current insurance marketplace offers some options to larger employers, it too often leaves small business owners on the outside looking in. They face unpredictable changes in costs, and far too often they are forced to choose between covering employees and the very survival of their businesses.

Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Cutting Red Tape in Health Care

California’s health care system is broken. Costs are rising faster than either inflation or wages, and wasteful spending is a major culprit. Inefficient and duplicative administrative systems force doctors and hospitals to spend more time and money on administrative support than is necessary, which increases costs to patients.

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