SACRAMENTO (KGO) -- California voters have rejected Proposition 45, which would have required the Insurance Commissioner's approval before a health insurer could change its rates or anything else affecting the charges associated with health insurance. It would have also provided for public notice, disclosure and hearing, and subsequent judicial review and exempting employer large group health plans.
The no vote means state regulators would continue to have the authority to review, but not approve, rates for individual and small group health insurance.
Opponents, including a coalition of hospitals, doctors and firefighters with major funding from health plans, said it would have a detrimental effect on California's ability to deliver lower-cost health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They said it's a flawed initiative that would give too much power to the insurance commissioner.