AB 4: Covered California expansion.
The bill aims to expand health insurance coverage to individuals who cannot obtain coverage due to their immigration status. It would allow these individuals to enroll in health insurance coverage in a manner similar to other Californians, starting no later than January 1, 2027. To achieve this, the California Health Benefit Exchange must undertake outreach, marketing, and other efforts to ensure enrollment, which would begin on October 1, 2028. The exchange must also adopt an annual program design for each coverage year, provide opportunities for stakeholders to consult on the design, and report on progress toward implementation. The bill establishes a new fund in the General Fund to be administered by the exchange, using user fees, appropriations, and other funds to pay for the program's administration.
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 23, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. |
| Apr. 02, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula |
December 02, 2024 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:SEC. 2.
Section 100522 of the Government Code is repealed.(a)(1)The Exchange shall apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a waiver authorized under Section 1332 of the federal act as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 100501 in order to allow persons otherwise not able to obtain coverage by reason of immigration status through the Exchange to obtain coverage from the Exchange by waiving the requirement that the Exchange offer only qualified health plans solely for the purpose of offering coverage to persons otherwise not able to obtain coverage by reason of immigration status.
(2)The waiver of the requirement that the Exchange offer only qualified health plans as described in paragraph (1) shall be limited to requiring the Exchange to offer California qualified health plans consistent with this section only and shall not be construed to authorize the Exchange to offer any other nonqualified health plan.
(b)The Exchange shall require an issuer that offers a qualified health plan in the individual market through the Exchange to concurrently offer a California qualified health plan that meets all of the following criteria:
(1)Is subject to the requirements of this title, including all of those requirements applicable to qualified health plans.
(2)Is subject to the requirements of subdivisions (a), (b), and (d) of Section 1366.6 of the Health and Safety Code and subdivisions (a), (b), and (d) of Section 10112.3 of the Insurance Code in the same manner as qualified health plans.
(3)Is identical to the corresponding qualified health plan, except for the eligibility requirements set forth in subdivision (c).
(c)Persons eligible to purchase California qualified health plans shall pay the cost of coverage and shall not:
(1)Be eligible to receive federal advanced premium tax credit, federal cost-sharing reduction, or any other federal assistance for the payment of premiums or cost sharing for a California qualified health plan.
(2)Otherwise be eligible for enrollment in a qualified health plan offered through the Exchange by reason of immigration status.
(d)An applicant for coverage under this section shall be required to provide only the information strictly necessary to authenticate identity and determine eligibility under this section. Any person who receives information provided by an applicant under this section, whether directly or by another person at the request of the applicant, or receives information from any agency, shall use the information only for the purposes of, and to the extent necessary for, ensuring the efficient operation of the Exchange, including verifying the eligibility of an individual to enroll through the Exchange. That information shall not be disclosed to any other person except as provided in this section.
(e)Subdivisions (b) to (d), inclusive, shall become operative on January 1, 2018, for coverage effective for California qualified health plans beginning January 1, 2019, contingent upon federal approval of the waiver pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 3.
Section 100522 is added to the Government Code, to read:100522.
(a) (1) No sooner than January 1, 2027, and upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, the Exchange shall administer a program to allow persons otherwise not able to obtain coverage by reason of immigration status to enroll in health insurance coverage in a manner as substantially similar to other Californians as feasible, consistent with federal guidance and given existing federal law and rules and apply for subsidies, if available.