SACRAMENTO – On Friday Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones released draft guidance for Senate Bill 1163.

The new law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, requires insurers to provide detailed information regarding proposed premium increases and to submit a certification from an outside actuary to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) for review.

The draft guidance which is subject to a seven-day public comment period before it is finalized will provide insurers with the factors that will be used by the department to determine if a rate is unreasonable.

“SB 1163 is intended to provide greater transparency, but it does not provide the Insurance Commissioner with the authority to reject excessive rate increases,” said Jones. “I will review health insurance rate filings to determine if the insurer has provided complete and accurate information and whether the proposals are in compliance with the law, but I continue to lack the authority to reject excessive health insurance premium increases.”

Under state law, the insurance commissioner does not have the authority to reject excessive health insurance rate increases. As a member of the State Assembly, Commissioner Jones authored legislation on three separate occasions to give the insurance commissioner this power.

This year Jones is supporting AB 52 (Feuer), which would grant the Insurance Commissioner this authority.

“During my time in the Assembly I worked hard to pass legislation to provide the Insurance Commissioner with the ability to reject excessive rate increases,” Jones said. “Double digit premium increases are not sustainable for families year after year.”