Insurance Commissioner Lara Denounces Trump Administration Attack on Women’s Health
News: 2019 Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today condemned the Trump Administration’s most recent attack on women’s health, in its release today of the “Compliance with Statutory Program Integrity Requirements” final rule:
“The Trump Administration’s rule would deny women access to vital reproductive health services. The rule will be particularly devastating to hard-working low-income Californians who comprise a quarter of all recipients who receive vital health services from the program. The Trump Administration’s attack on this program essentially defunds Planned Parenthood, an important provider of cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, and contraceptive counseling. The Department of Insurance opposed this proposed federal rule last year, and I stand in solidarity with Attorney General Becerra in efforts to block the final rule in the courts now.”
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs (OPA), Title X funds are used to support the delivery of family planning and related services to more than 1,000,000 low-income uninsured or underinsured Californians annually at over 350 health centers throughout California. Californians made up approximately 26% of Title X service recipients nationwide in 2016. Of these Californians, 91% had income under 250% of the poverty level which qualified them for subsidized or free services.
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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.
