California legislators revive plans to expand healthcare insurance

Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2008

California lawmakers are moving to curb some of the health insurance industry's most profitable and contested practices with more than a dozen health bills advancing through the Legislature, many over the objection of insurers. Some of the proposals were transplanted from the plan that passed the California Assembly in 2007, only to be rejected in the state Senate in January. The bills would require insurers to spend at least 85% of their earnings on patient care, block insurers from canceling policies of patients who need extensive care, and force them to cover more procedures.