2014 California Proposition 45 Explained

Proposition 45, also known as Prop 45 and the Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act,[1] was a California ballot proposition that required any health insurance rate change to be approved by the state's Insurance Commissioner before it goes into effect. It failed in the November 2014 California elections. Insurance companies would be required to submit information to justify their rate change. The proposition also would have put in place procedures for public notice, disclosure, hearing, and subsequent judicial review for the process of the rate change being approved.[2] The proposition was similar to 1988 California Proposition 103, in that it imposed the same things on health care insurers that the 1988 proposition imposed on homeowners insurance and automobile insurance.[3] Sponsors of the proposition had originally tried to get the proposition on the November 2012 California election ballot and turned in over 800,000 signatures on May 18, 2012.[4] On June 28, 2012, it was determined that there would not be enough time to confirm the validity of the signatures in time for the November election. It was announced on August 23, 2012 that the measure would be on the November 2014 ballot. The proposition was supported by Dianne Feinstein,[5] Barbara Boxer, CREDO Action[6] and Dennis Quaid.[7] Opponents of the measure include the California Republican Party,[8] California Hospital Association, NAACP California, California Chamber of Commerce and California Medical Association.

Results

!Result!Votes!Percentage
Yes2,917,88241.08
No4,184,41658.92

Notes and References

  1. Web site: California Proposition 45, Required Public Notice for Health Insurance Rate Changes Initiative (2014) . 2023-05-26 . Ballotpedia . en.
  2. News: Lovett . Ian . 2014-10-29 . California's Proposition 45 Would Offer Public a Say on Health Insurance Rates . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-26 . 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: 2011-12-19 . Groups working to expand California's Proposition 103 . 2023-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111219220101/http://homeinsurance.com/health-insurance/news/groups-working-to-expand-californias-proposition-103.php . 2011-12-19 .
  4. Web site: Crowe . Deborah . May 18, 2012 . Signatures Submitted for Health Insurance Rate Initiative . May 26, 2023 . Los Angeles Business Journal.
  5. Web site: Lifsher . Marc . February 1, 2012 . Sen. Feinstein backs health insurance rate controls . May 27, 2023 . Los Angeles Times.
  6. Web site: CREDO Action urges NO vote on Prop. 1, the California Water Bond . 2023-05-27 . Indybay . en.
  7. Web site: Court . Jamie . January 16, 2014 . Dennis Quaid Calls On Californians To Support Pack Patient Safety Act . May 27, 2023 . Consumer Watchdog.
  8. Web site: 2014-09-22 . State Republicans Vote To Back Two Measures On November Ballot, Oppose Two . 2023-05-27 . SM Mirror . en-US.