Prop 45 animated explainer: Health insurance rate changes

If you're covered by either an individual or small business health insurance plan this prop would change who gets to approve future insurance rate changes to your plan.

How so? The California Insurance Commissioner, whom we elect, would now have to sign off and approve health insurance rate changes, like he does for car and home owner insurance. If passed, this prop would also allow pretty much anyone from the public to challenge health insurance rate increases too.

The health care industry doesn't want this extra layer of approvals.

Opponents of this prop are afraid that this would negatively impact the ability of the state's new health care exchange, Covered California, to bargain on rates with insurance companies. Supporters say that's nonsense and that this prop will help control health insurance rate increases.

Voting YES means:

- Rates for individual and small group health insurance would need to be approved by the Insurance Commissioner before taking effect.

Voting NO means:

- State regulators would continue to have the authority to review, but not approve, rates for individual and small group health insurance.