The California Endowment funded this policy brief, which discusses the affordability of health coverage expansion in California. The report highlights that affordability is a significant obstacle to insurance coverage for the uninsured, and that consumers' share of the burden must be considered in light of their ability to pay. The report examines several provisions of the Governor's Health Care Proposal and Assembly Bill 8, both of which would require low- and moderate-income families to contribute to insurance obtained through a purchasing pool. AB 8 would also establish conditions for mandatory take-up of coverage offered through a pool, while the governor's individual mandate would create a minimum insurance requirement. The report uses data from the national Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to benchmark affordability and provides an accurate picture of what consumers are willing and able to pay.
