Waldron bill to extend Health Insurance Analysis Program signed into law

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron (Escondido) announced that her bill to increase funding and extend the sunset date for the California Health Benefit Review Program was signed into law Oct. 7. Assembly Bill 1082 will extend the program by five years, until 2027, and provide it with an additional $200,000 per year, it’s first funding increase since its creation in 2002. The program provides independent analysis of the impacts of changes to health insurance standards proposed by the California Legislature.

“As lawmakers, it’s critical that we have accurate information regarding how our actions will impact the cost and availability of the health insurance policies Californians rely on,” said Waldron. “With this bill, we can continue working to make high-quality insurance coverage affordable and accessible for all Californians.”

Since 2002, the California Health Benefit Review Program has worked with academic researchers and subject matter experts to impartially analyze legislative proposals that will impact California’s insurance marketplace. In recent years, higher costs and more complex legislation have placed the program in danger of exceeding its $2 million budget.

AB 1082 was sponsored by the University of California – Office of the President, and supported by Health Access California, the California Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest California Legislative Council.

Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron, R-Escondido, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Bonsall, Escondido, Fallbrook, Hidden Meadows, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Rainbow, San Marcos, Temecula, Valley Center and Vista.