Statement of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on the Biden Administration restoring patient anti-discrimination protections
News: 2021 Press Release
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued the following statement after U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today restored anti-discrimination protections for gender identity or sexual orientation under the Affordable Care Act. Commissioner Lara and 17 state insurance commissioners signed a letter to the previous administration in support of these vital rules:
“I applaud the Biden Administration and Secretary Becerra for restoring protections forbidding discrimination based upon the gender identity or sexual orientation of a patient, which I and other insurance commissioners strenuously fought to retain under the previous administration. By ensuring equal protection under the law for millions of consumers across our state and country, today’s action reaffirms that there is no place for discrimination in health care.”
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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.
