No Vote on Assembly Floor for California Single-Payer Health Care Bill Despite Strong Support From Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Others

By: Jackson Sullivan AB 1400 (Kalra), known as the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, as amended January 24, 2022, would have created CalCare, a state-run universal single-payer health care program enrolling all residents of California. CalCare would have Continue reading

Bail Reform Bill AB 1347 – Signed Into Law Three Years after Related Recommendations by the Department of Insurance

By Julia Zeigler AB 1347 (Jones-Sawyer), as amended on June 16, 2021, is sponsored by the California Department of Insurance and adds section 1276.1 to the Penal Code, relating to bail. The bill amends existing law that provides for the Continue reading

Ninth Circuit Holds that Even Comprehensive Commercial Property Insurance Policies Do Not Cover Business Income Losses from the Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan On October 1, 2021, the Ninth Circuit decided Mudpie, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Case No. 20-16858 (9th Cir.).  The opinion affirmed the district court’s order dismissing Petitioner Mudpie, Inc.’s claims against its insurer, Continue reading

Auto Insurers Ordered to “Close the Gap” on Refunds Owed to California Drivers for Excess Premiums Charged during COVID-19 Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan In an October 6, 2021 press release, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that the Department of Insurance (DOI) had ordered three auto insurance companies, covering approximately 20% of California drivers, to reimburse excess premiums charged during the Continue reading

Climate Insurance Working Group Releases Draft Report with Recommendations to Save Costs related to Climate-Fueled Heat Waves, Wildfires, and Flooding

By Julia Zeigler The Climate Insurance Working Group was enacted by legislation (SB 30 (Lara) (Chapter 614, Statutes of 2018)).  The new Working Group is to examine issues related to climate change, resilience, and insurance. The mission of this working Continue reading

After Declaration of Emergency—Mandatory Moratorium on Cancellations and Non-Renewals of Residential Property Insurance

By Julia Zeigler On September 20, 2021, Department of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a “bulletin” to announce the mandatory moratorium on cancellations and non-renewals of policies of residential property insurance. His announcement follows another year of record-breaking wildfires in Continue reading

California Department of Insurance-Sponsored Legislation Cracking Down on Inhumane Conditions in Private Prisons Signed by Governor Newsom

By Jackson Sullivan SB 334 (Durazo), known as the Private Detention Accountability Act, as amended September 2, 2021, adds section 679.75 to the Insurance Code and section 9506 to the Penal Code to require private detention facilities to maintain general Continue reading

Department of Managed Health Care Orders Aetna To Pay Fine for Improper Denial Of Reconstructive Surgery

By Alex Ruf On February 25, 2021, the Department of Managed Healthcare’s (DMHC) Office of Enforcement signed a letter of agreement with Aetna Health of California, Inc. (Aetna) with respect to Aetna’s violations of Health and Safety Code sections 1367.63(a) Continue reading

California Department of Insurance Cracks Down on Inhumane Conditions in Private Prisons

By: Jennifer Wilczynski On February 8, 2021, Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 334 (Durazo), the Private Detention Accountability Act. Sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, SB 334 would require all Continue reading