Irma Resendez has Multiple Sclerosis and supports the bill. It would limit a person's out-of-pocket expenses to about $6,000 a year. She says some people are being asked to pay $30,000 a year to treat M.S.
RESENDEZ: "I'm seeing the families come in in despair, not being able to afford the medication share of costs. So, they're making the decision to just say, "You know what, I'm not going to take anything. I'm just gonna pray and, and hope that I get better."
If the bill becomes law, the Department of Managed Healthcare would have to approve an insurance company's coverage plan. The bill also mandates the inclusion of prescription drugs as a form of treatment- a requirement that is not required by current law.
Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Fiona Ma wrote the bill and based it
on the Federal Affordable Care Act. The U.S. Supreme
Court will start hearing arguments on the legality of that law
March 26th.
The California Association of Health Plans says it hasn't
taken a position on the bill yet. But, it's concerned about
potential "unintended consequences," such as throwing the delicate
finances surrounding the Federal health care law out of balance
before the rest of the law takes effect.