Insurance Commissioner Lara Promises Full Support for California Lawsuit Over Women’s Health Funding
News: 2019 Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today promised the Department’s full support for California’s lawsuit to halt the Trump Administration’s recent rule changes to defund family planning services used by more than 1 million Californians. Today Attorney General Becerra announced a legal challenge to the “Compliance with Statutory Program Integrity Requirements” final rule on Title X funds that support women’s health services:
“More than 1 million Californians are again the targets of the Trump Administration’s cruel attack on family planning services,” said Commissioner Lara. “The Trump-Pence rule will restrict access to basic health services for women who can least afford health care. I pledge the Department of Insurance’s full support to this legal action to make sure that all Californians retain access to vital services such as wellness exams, contraceptives, cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, and family planning counseling.”
Title X funds are used to support the delivery of family planning and related services to more than 1 million low-income uninsured or underinsured Californians annually at over 350 health centers throughout California, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs. 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.
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.
