Fail: 2,917,882 / 41.1% Yes votes ...... 4,184,416 / 58.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:

• Requires changes to health insurance rates, or anything else affecting the charges associated with health insurance, to be approved by Insurance Commissioner before taking effect.
• Provides for public notice, disclosure, and hearing on health insurance rate changes, and subsequent judicial review.
• Requires sworn statement by health insurer as to accuracy of information submitted to Insurance Commissioner to justify rate changes.
• Does not apply to employer large group health plans.
• Prohibits health, auto, and homeowners insurers from determining policy eligibility or rates based on lack of prior coverage or credit history

Fiscal Impact from the Legislative Analyst:

Increased state administrative costs to regulate health insurance, likely not exceeding the low millions of dollars annually in most years, funded from fees paid by health insurance companies.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

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

A NO vote on this measure means:

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

• Official Election Web Site
• Full Text
• Impartial Analysis from the Legislative Analyst

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 45:

Californians are being overcharged for health insurance. Prop. 45 will stop the price gouging by requiring health insurance companies to be transparent and publicly justify rates before premiums can increase. The same regulation of auto insurance has saved drivers billions. Sponsors: Consumer Watchdog, California Nurses Association. Opponents: health insurance companies.

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 45:

Prop. 45 is a power grab by special interests to take control over health care benefits and rates from California's successful new independent commission-- and give it to one Sacramento politician instead. Higher costs, more bureaucracy. Political interference with treatment options. Exempts big corporations. Nurses, doctors, consumers say vote No!

Contact FOR Proposition 45:

Consumer Watchdog Campaign
2701 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 112
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 392-0522
yeson45@consumerwatchdog.org
http://www.yeson45.org

Contact AGAINST Proposition 45:

No on 45--Californians Against Higher Health Care Costs
455 Capitol Mall, Suite 600
Sacramento, CA 95814
(866) 676-8156
Info@StopHigherCosts.org
http://www.StopHigherCosts.org

Secretary of State

• Official Results - includes results by county

VotersEdge

• Funding Summary for Prop 45 - the most complete information: everything on this page plus funding, news articles, endorsements, ads. From MapLight and the Smart Voter team of LWV California Education Fund
• Cal-Access - Details of committee campaign finance filings submitted to the Secretary of State.

League of Women Voters

• Video Explanation of Prop 45 (English) - These animated videos were produced by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund in partnership with SeePolitical. Also available in Spanish.
• Easy Voter Guide - An overview of proposition 45. Guide is available in PDF for printing
• Pros and Cons of Prop 45 - Read more detail about proposition 45
• In Depth of Prop 45 - Even more detail!!
• How to Evaluate Ballot Measures

Pros & Cons: Santa Clara County

• Pros & Cons Presentations
• Video Presentation by the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto

• Oct. 27, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

KPCC Coverage

• Prop 45: Power to reject proposed health insurance premiums - 10/06. Prop 45 would give the California insurance commissioner's office the power to reject proposed health insurance premiums. KPCC's Take Two has more on what supporters and detractors are saying.

• Election Guide - see a summary, statement of what the proposition does, and the "inside scoop" by correspondent John Myers for each proposition
• Proposition 45 Coverage