CA| The California Insurance Commissioner issued a notice on May 1, 2025, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to enforcing all state laws protecting nondiscrimination and access to health care for all Californians, especially amid federal rollbacks targeting vulnerable and historically disadvantaged populations, including women, students, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. The notice highlights that all state consumer protections remain fully in effect, detailing key legislative requirements for health insurers such as trans-inclusive care training, contraceptive access, maternal and infant health equity, student health coverage parity, reproductive freedom, HIV prevention services, and mental health parity. Insurers are reminded that California law mandates coverage for essential health services without discrimination or undue restrictions, and the Department will continue to rigorously enforce these protections.
Key Points:
- The Department will enforce all state nondiscrimination and consumer protection laws for health insurers, ensuring continued access to culturally competent and equitable health care for all Californians, regardless of federal policy changes.
- Key protections include requirements for trans-inclusive care training (SB 923), contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing (SB 523), maternal and infant health equity programs (AB 904), student health coverage parity (AB 1823), reproductive health services including abortion, HIV prevention (PrEP), and expanded mental health and substance use disorder coverage (SB 855).
- Health insurers are prohibited from discriminatory practices based on sex, gender identity, age, race, disability, or other protected classes, and must not impose barriers or exclusions that would limit access to medically necessary services for any group.