Statement of Commissioner Lara on Supreme Court decision denying contraception coverage
News: 2020 Press Release
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Responding to today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Little Sister of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, which upheld the Trump Administration’s rule that permits employers to deny employees coverage for contraceptives based on the employer’s religious or moral beliefs, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara stated:
“The Department of Insurance will continue to protect the right of women to access safe and effective reproductive health care. With few exceptions, insurance policies regulated by the Department of Insurance that provide prescription drug coverage are required by California law to include contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing. These protections continue, despite the Trump Administration attack on such coverage and the Supreme Court’s decision. Californians who believe they have been denied coverage for reproductive health care should call the Department of Insurance consumer complaint center at 1-800-927-4357.”
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Media note:
California Insurance Code section 10123.196 requires that California insurance policies that provide prescription drug coverage must provide coverage for contraceptives, without cost-sharing, with a very narrow religious exemption much more limited than that articulated by the Trump Administration rule and the Supreme Court decision.
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.
