BILL NUMBER: AB 10	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member De La Torre

                        DECEMBER 4, 2006

   An act relating to health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 10, as introduced, De La Torre. Health care coverage.
   Existing law does not provide a system of health care coverage for
all California residents and does not require employers to provide
health care coverage for employees and their families, other than
coverage provided as part of the workers' compensation system for
work-related employee injuries. Existing law provides for the
creation of various programs to provide health care services to
persons who have limited incomes and meet various eligibility
requirements. These programs include the Healthy Families Program
administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and the
Medi-Cal program administered by the State Department of Health Care
Services. Existing law provides for the regulation of health care
service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and health
insurers by the Department of Insurance.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that working
Californians and their families have health care coverage that
provides basic health care benefits. This bill would also declare the
intent of the Legislature to provide those working Californians and
their families with a choice of health care coverage.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that more than
six million Californians lack health care coverage and that 80
percent of these Californians are members of working families. The
Legislature further finds and declares that rising health care costs
have limited health care access for both the insured, who must pay
higher out-of-pocket costs, and the uninsured, who are sicker, die
younger, and face financial ruin due to the lack of health care
coverage. Lack of health care coverage is also contributing to
increasing health care costs by shifting costs to taxpayers and those
employers who pay for health care benefits for employees and their
families.
   (b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that working
Californians and their families, including those who are currently
between jobs and those who work part-time or are self-employed, have
health care coverage that provides basic health care benefits.
   (c) It is further the intent of the Legislature to provide working
Californians and their families with a choice of health care
coverage, including coverage through health care service plans and
insurers, that provides basic health care benefits and affordability.