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CA Department of Insurance

Commissioner Lara calls on Trump administration to stop attempts to deny needed healthcare to transgender Californians

News: 2019 Press Release

For Release: August 13, 2019
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov

Commissioner Lara calls on Trump administration to stop attempts to deny needed healthcare to transgender Californians

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara submitted a letter condemning the Trump Administration’s proposed rule, “Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs and Activities.” This rule invites attempts to deny needed health care, particularly to transgender persons.

 

The proposed rule:

  • Attempts to narrow the scope of non-discrimination requirements in health programs, which could result in insurers attempting to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability.
  • Incorporates the prior Trump “conscience rights” rule to encourage health care providers to attempt to use religious freedom as a pretext to deny patients their civil rights and access to care.
  • Deletes a definition from the existing regulation which could put women at risk of not being able to access the full range of necessary health services.
  • Removes examples of insurer misconduct from the existing regulation. This deletion may be seen as an invitation to revert to these harmful practices.
  • Removes sexual orientation and gender identity from the list of explicitly prohibited forms of discrimination, raising the potential that providers may attempt to discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community.
  • Removes requirements that make information regarding the availability of interpreters readily accessible to persons who speak languages other than English.
  • Articulates a new opinion that would prevent consumers from vindicating their rights in court.
  • Seeks comments on future changes that could adversely affect accessibility to care for persons with disabilities.

Read the full letter.



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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