California's AB 52, which would give the Insurance Commissioner the right to block unreasonable hikes in health insurance premiums, has passed the Assembly and has now moved to the State Senate -- where it may die tomorrow
Trying to be optimistic, I expect that at least two of the three Democrats who have not yet announced their support for AB 52 will do so. But the fact that they haven't yet done so is unnerving.
In my diary of yesterday, I noted that Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is asking all Californians to call the following Democratic members of the Health Committee and tell them that you want him to have the authority to block unreasonable hikes.
Senator Ed Hernandez (Chair) -- 916-651-4024
Senator Elaine Alquist --- 916-651-4013
Senator Kevin de Leon -- 916-651-4022
Senator Mark DeSaulnier (AB 52 co-author) -- 916-651-4007
Senator Michael Rubio -- 916-651-4016
Senator Lois Wolk (AB 52 co-author) -- 916-651-4005
Three told callers from here that they would support the bill. Three did not take a stand.
The ones who support the bill are the two co-authors, DeSaulnier and Wolk, and DeLeon. Call them and thank them! (Our opponents are probably calling them and threatening them.) However, we need to concentrate today and tomorrow on Hernandez, Alquist and Rubio.
I've called them all. I've talked to other people who suggest that they may just want to play their cards close to the vest. I'm not satisfied with that. In fact, I'm getting increasingly unsatisfied with that. They need to make up their mind: do they go with the big contributors -- or with the people who ask only to be treated fairly?
Remember, AB 52 doesn't block all premium hikes. Some may be justified. It only gives the Commissioner the ability to block unreasonable ones. He already has this power with respect to auto and property & casualty insurance -- and it's working pretty well, thanks!
So, is what's good enough for our cars and homes good enough for ourselves too? Can we reasonably ask to be treated reasonably?
I know my answer to that. I don't know the answers of Hernandez, Alquist and Rubio. If you call -- and please do -- and hear anything, please post it below. And let them know that you support this critical bill. You could tip the balance in our favor.
Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 1:20 PM PT: Where things stand with AB 52, near as I can tell, based on a conversation with a very polite and helpful young man at Sen. Wolk's office:
The Senate Health Committee held three hours of testimony yesterday from people on both sides. No vote was taken; I assume that one had been possible, but now I don't know whether it had really been expected. A vote is considered likely next Wednesday (but, again, perhaps not mandatory.)
Based on the testimony, Chair Ed Hernandez recognized the existence of some concerns, but did not adopt any specifically as his own. There may be room for negotiation over them. The bill's authors in the Senate have apparently not ruled out amendments (and, I presume, are probably in touch with Dave Jones about what would be acceptable.)
One can obtain bill analysis through www.leginfo.ca.gov. There is a "bill info" tab that leads one to a search; put in "AB 52" and seek "all analyses."
For future reference, the Health Committee's phone number is 916-651-4111 -- but they aren't to be lobbied directly so let's not all call at once!