Covered California Board Votes Not To Comply with President’s Request

California is the ninth state to say no to President Barack Obama’s request to allow insurance companies to extend plans that don’t comply with the Affordable Care Act.

The board overseeing the exchange called Covered California voted 5-0 to stick with its current policy of phasing out insurance policies that do not meet new benefit requirements by the end of the year.

More than a million Californians are receiving notices about discontinued policies.

Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) said she was disappointed in the following statement released on Friday: “I am disappointed state leaders have decided to ignore the concerns of thousands of Californians and reject the opportunity to allow consumers to stay on their current health insurance plans. Giving consumers the option to stay on their health plans through 2014 would have made a huge difference to many Central Coast residents. While we continue to improve the Affordable Care Act, which is helping millions of Americans obtain quality health insurance for the first time, we must address the problems many people are currently facing. That is why I led a letter from 24 members of the California Congressional delegation in support of allowing Californians to keep their plans and why I will continue to push for this and other commonsense solutions.”