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Commissioner Lara secures important health and safety protections for California consumers

031924 CA Consumer Alert

Commissioner Lara secures important health and safety protections for California consumers as Governor Newsom signs six Department of Insurance sponsored bills

 

October 4, 2024- Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara thanked Governor Gavin Newsom today for protecting California consumers through the signing of six bills that he sponsored this legislative session. These new laws focus on improving protections for vulnerable individuals, including women and LGBTQ+ families, disaster survivors, immigrants, and seniors. The laws guarantee insurance coverage for fertility treatments, implement important emergency disaster planning for LGBTQ+ youth, and protect reproductive health care without out-of-pocket expenses for consumers, among others.

“Protecting consumers is my number one priority,” said Commissioner Lara. “I am using every tool available to protect Californians, especially families, seniors, and those most vulnerable to abuse or disaster. I am grateful to the many legislators and partners who worked with me to champion these important issues and thank Governor Newsom for signing these bills that ensure the health and safety of Californians.

health and safety legislation

 

Expanding access and ensuring anti-discrimination in health and other insurance

  1. Senate Bill 729, authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar, requires insurance coverage for fertility and infertility care under disability insurance policies and large group health plans. This protects Californians’ access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and updates the definition of infertility to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ family planning experiences, despite any federal action to limit this coverage. This applies to large and small group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. For CalPERS, the mandate begins July 1, 2027. SB 729 was co-sponsored with the Alliance for Fertility Preservation, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Equality California, Our Family Coalition, and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.
  2. Assembly Bill 2258, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, makes sure that all Californians have access to affordable and preventive health care without out-of-pocket costs. This includes mandatory coverage for critical reproductive health care including contraceptives such as intrauterine device (IUDs), HIV prevention medications like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and screenings for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). AB 2258 was co-sponsored with APLA Health, Equality California, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Protecting vulnerable Californians

  1. Senate Bill 990, authored by Senator Steve Padilla, updates the State Emergency Plan to include best practices for local government and non-governmental entities to equitably serve LGBTQ+ communities during an emergency or natural disaster. This responds to data showing that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to become homeless or face negative health impacts after a disaster. SB 990 was co-sponsored with Equality California and the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus. This update is required to occur as soon as possible, but no later than January 1, 2029, and be updated every five years.
  2. Senate Bill 263, authored by Senator Bill Dodd, protects Californians, especially vulnerable seniors, from potential abuse and exploitation by curtailing harmful sales of annuities that are not in the consumer’s best interest. Annuities are typically marketed to retirees to provide a guaranteed income stream. California will now adopt the updated NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation, creating additional consumer protections to ensure California’s insurance companies and licensed producers who sell annuities are following the highest standards of conduct.
  3. Assembly Bill 2780, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, protects the safety of newly arrived immigrants by requiring commercial passenger transportation, prior to transporting 10 or more vulnerable passengers, to notify local authorities and follow basic requirements. This important piece of legislation will ensure California has the proper tools and support to welcome migrants in a humane manner and with the dignity and respect that migrants deserve. AB 2780 was co-sponsored by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.

Updating important insurance laws 

  1. Senate Bill 577, authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado, helps clarify existing law, deletes obsolete and superseded code sections, and creates new laws agreed to between the Department and stakeholders.

“I am very proud of the work we have done with our legislative partners this year to secure crucial protections for California consumers,” added Commissioner Lara. “As we look ahead to next session, I aim to push solutions to help address more insurance-related problems while further expanding consumer protections in partnership with legislators and key stakeholders.”

All of these sponsored measures go into effect on January 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted.


Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.

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