California Association of Health Plans Issues Statement on California Budget

SACRAMENTO, California, June 28 -- California Association of Health Plans issued the following statement by President and CEO Charles Bacchi after California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a state budget that will promote more access to health care, stabilize the Affordable Care Act marketplace and enhance affordability for all Californians:

"California's health plans commend the State Legislature for passing and the Governor for signing a state budget deal that strongly promotes better health care access and affordability for all Californians.

"Among our top priorities for improving health care affordability are stabilizing the market by protecting the Affordable Care Act as well as increasing subsidies for low income Californians and expanding coverage to California's remaining uninsured. We're pleased that all of these important measures were included in the budget deal signed today by the Governor

"By enacting a state-based individual mandate, California is taking a crucial step toward strengthening the gains we've made under the Affordable Care Act and moving us even closer toward achieving universal coverage. We are pleased that this budget also expands coverage to undocumented young adults and provides additional subsidies to low-income and working families.

"These bold steps will promote healthier communities, and with 93 percent of Californians already receiving health coverage, help us to close the remaining 7 percent uninsured gap so that all Californians have access to the high quality, affordable health care they need and deserve."