Calif. governor signs health insurance protections

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a pair of consumer protection bills that prevent health insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions and limit how much insurers can charge older residents.

Brown signed ABx1-2 by Democratic Assemblyman Richard Pan of Sacramento and SBx1-2 by Democratic Sen. Ed Hernandez of Covina on Thursday. The Assembly bill makes changes to the insurance code, while the Senate bill makes changes to the health and safety code.

The legislation updates California’s laws to match new rules under the federal Affordable Care Act. The laws give state agencies the power to enforce and regulate individual insurance rules.

Brown, a Democrat, says the legislation will help “Californians get a fair shake on the open health care market.”