California State Officials Consider Ways to Continue Health Reform April 4, 2012 Health Care Reform, News Assembly member Bill Monning, California, health care reform, individual mandate 0 The Los Angeles Times reports California state officials are considering strategies for continuing health reform efforts if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the federal health reform law. State lawmakers already have developed legislation to further implement the federal law, and the proposals could serve as a vehicle for statewide health reforms if the court strikes down the federal overhaul. State health reform supporters say that lawmakers must enact an individual insurance mandate requiring all residents to purchase health coverage to spread risk and lower health costs. Assembly member Bill Monning (D-Carmel)—chair of the state Assembly Health Committee—said he would support the individual mandate if federal funds still are available to support residents buying health insurance. According to the Times, California nearly approved an individual mandate in 2008. Meanwhile, health policy experts said California could consider other options to encourage healthy residents to join insurance pools. They said the state could impose an open enrollment period for health plans and incorporate penalties for people who sign up later. California insurance industry representatives have said they will fight efforts to force insurers to accept sick residents without a requirement that healthy Californians participate in the market as well. Insurers said that premiums would rise substantially without healthy residents in the market, which could cause even more people to drop their coverage. Comments are closed.
