SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2205 (Carrillo), marking the enactment of legislation that requires Insurance plans to disclose funding streams for abortion care.
Before the passage of AB 2205, health insurers and plans were required to collect a $1 per enrollee per month premium specifically for abortion services. Beginning in 2020, for all enrollees in health coverage on the Covered California health benefit exchange, the state was paying the $1 per member per month on behalf of all enrollees in these plans. Over the last 10 years of maintaining these segregated accounts, the California Department of Insurance estimates health insurers alone have collected several million dollars in the accounts. AB 2205 requires insurers to submit an annual report containing information on how much money is currently in those accounts and how much is being used each year to pay claims. Assemblywoman Carrillo, who has been one of the leading lawmakers in the fight for reproductive freedom legislation, celebrated the victory.
“It is critical that as California continues to lead on abortion care and reproductive freedom, we ensure that funds for these services are collected and administered in a transparent manner,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo. “Amid attacks on Roe v Wade and a woman’s right to choose, the legislature must ensure that California is ready to provide access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services and reproductive justice no matter how far an individual has traveled to receive this care.”
“AB 2205 is a reflection of California’s commitment to ensuring that regulators and policymakers are aware of the amount of funds being collected as the legislature considers options available for the payment of abortion services.”
“An alarming number of states continue to outlaw abortion and criminalize women, and it’s more important than ever to fight like hell for those who need these essential services. We’re doing everything we can to protect people from any retaliation for accessing abortion care while also making it more affordable to get contraceptives,” said Governor Newsom. “Our Legislature has been on the frontlines of this fight, and no other legislative body in the country is doing more to protect these fundamental rights – I’m proud to stand with them again and sign these critical bills into law.”
AB 2205 is part of series of priority bills in partnership with the California’s Future of Abortion Council and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. According to a report released by the Guttmacher Institute the number of out-of-state patients who would find their nearest abortion provider in California went from 46,000 to 1.4 million – an increase of nearly 3,000%.
AB 2205 was co-sponsored by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
“I commend Governor Newsom for signing AB 2205 which will bring much-needed transparency to these essential funds available to advance abortion care equity in California,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “I am proud to sponsor this important piece of legislation and partner with Assemblymember Carrillo to champion the needs of women, and continue the fight for affordable and fair access to reproductive health services.”
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California also issued a statement on the bill, stressing the importance of reproductive healthcare transparency in the post-Roe era: “Since Roe was overturned, California has witnessed the importance of protecting and expanding access to abortion care first-hand. To best serve the growing need for care, it is important that we understand the state’s capacity to meet that need and the existing infrastructure that may be available for abortion services. AB 2205 is a necessary step to increase transparency, and ensure California is best prepared for the post-Roe future that lies ahead.”
The full text of the bill can be found here: Bill Text - AB-2205 (CA.GOV)
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo was elected as the representative of the 51st Assembly District in December of 2017. She is currently the Chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration, and a member of the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Budget, Health, Housing and Community Development, and Utilities and Energy.
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