The Los Angeles Times coverage today of CW founder Harvey Rosenfield and our proposed ballot measure to make health insurance companies publicly justify their rates before raising them drew an angry response from the health insurance industry.

What does the Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act do and how can you help?

Trying to control health insurance premium hikes is like trying to slow down a run-away train. 

Health insurance companies in California can raise their rates by as much as they want every month and no one can stop them.  Our proposed 2012 ballot measure subjects health insurance companies to the same rate regulation as Harvey estabished for auto insurance and home insurance in California in 1988 with Proposition 103.

 The new proposed initiative:

•           Requires health insurance companies to open their books and justify, under penalty of perjury, proposed rate changes before taking effect.

•           Requires public hearings  and approval by the  Insurance Commissioner  before health insurance company rate increases can take effect.

•            Prohibits health insurance, auto insurance and home insurance companies from charging based on prior insurance history or credit score.

In California, auto and home insurance companies must open their books and justify their rates to regulators. That's why California has the fourth most competitive auto insurance market in America and some of the slowest growing rates.  It worked then and it can work again now for health insurance companies.

How can you help? We'll need 504,000 valid signatures of Californians to qualify for the November 2012 ballot.  You can vounteer here or donate here.

Thanks for all your support!