From the Desk of Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones…

A few weeks ago we asked you to help pass AB 52 to give me the authority to reject excessive health insurance rate increases.

The hearing on AB 52 in the Assembly Health Committee was then postponed to Tuesday, April 26th.  The vote will be this Tuesday.  We need you to call members of the Assembly Health Committee  before the hearing.

In addition to the editorials in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News that were linked to my earlier email, this month the Sacramento Bee ran an editorial in support of AB 52.

Most Californians are surprised to learn that the Insurance Commissioner does not have the authority to reject excessive health insurance rate hikes.  As Insurance Commissioner, I can reject excessive rates for auto, property and casualty insurance, under the voter approved Proposition 103, which has saved consumers billions of dollars in excessive premiums since 1988. Extending these protections to health insurance and managed care plans is long overdue.

The powerful insurance industry lobby continues to lobby against this bill.  Please call the members of the Assembly Health Committee and ask them to vote for AB 52.

Thank you for your help and support,

DAVE JONES, California Insurance Commissioner