Statement of Commissioner Lara on Trump Administration’s Supreme Court brief to destroy the Affordable Care Act
News: 2020 Press Release
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara released a statement after the Trump Administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court to destroy the Affordable Care Act:
“Just before midnight, on the same day that our nation broke the record for new COVID-19 infections, the Trump Administration filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to destroy health security for millions of Americans at a time when we could not need it more. If the Trump Administration is successful in striking down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, health status and preexisting condition could be used as a basis to deny health insurance coverage. This means that individuals who had COVID-19 could be denied health insurance coverage because they had that disease, even if fully recovered. Persons with asthma, HIV, or cancer could also be denied coverage, or face astronomical premiums. Trump also wants to eliminate the ACA requirement that insurers must cover vaccinations at no cost. Should a vaccination for COVID-19 be developed, it is essential that as many people as possible get vaccinated—being able to access vaccines without cost-sharing makes that possible. Trump also wants to eliminate the expansion of Medi-Cal coverage made possible by the Affordable Care Act, at a time when persons suddenly unemployed because of the pandemic rely on Medi-Cal as a safety net for their family’s health.
I continue to fully support Attorney General Xavier Becerra in vociferously defending the Affordable Care Act because too much is at stake for Californians.”
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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.
