By Erik Rosales
FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -Proposition 45, is an initiative would require all changes to health insurance rates or charges to be approved by the California Insurance Commissioner before they can take effect.
Right now, a committee made up of insurance groups makes the decision of what to charge you.
The job of California's Insurance Commissioner is to ensure that consumers don't get ripped off.
And some believe Proposition 45 would simply give the commissioner the authority to actually do the job, which 35 other states already have such a system in place.
Yes on Prop 45 volunteer, Judy Hess says, "There is a misconception that there is a commission that regulates rate increases for health insurance. That is not true. The commission we are talking about is there is the covered California Commission comprised of insurance company people."
Hess says it will make health insurance companies justify rate increases.
She says over the past decade, middle-income households have seen their health care costs increase by 51 percent, twice their income growth.
Yes on prop 45 supporters include, consumer watchdog organizations and the California Nurses Association.
It's opposed by health insurance companies who state Proposition 45 is a power grab by special interests to take control over health care benefits and rates from California's successful independent commission - and gives it to one Sacramento politician instead.
Health insurance companies claim it will bring higher costs and more bureaucracy.
Hess says no way.
Hess says, "It's not going to cost more bureaucracy the reason is because the structure is already in place in the Insurance Commission office. As far as cost it will cost us almost nothing."
Supporters of Prop 45 say in 1988 California voters approved the insurance reform law regarding auto insurance rates and according to consumer federal of America that law has saved California drivers over 100 billion so far.
However opponents say it's still too much power for one politician.
Right now, a committee made up of insurance groups makes the decision of what to charge you.
The job of California's Insurance Commissioner is to ensure that consumers don't get ripped off.
And some believe Proposition 45 would simply give the commissioner the authority to actually do the job, which 35 other states already have such a system in place.
Yes on Prop 45 volunteer, Judy Hess says, "There is a misconception that there is a commission that regulates rate increases for health insurance. That is not true. The commission we are talking about is there is the covered California Commission comprised of insurance company people."
Hess says it will make health insurance companies justify rate increases.
She says over the past decade, middle-income households have seen their health care costs increase by 51 percent, twice their income growth.
Yes on prop 45 supporters include, consumer watchdog organizations and the California Nurses Association.
It's opposed by health insurance companies who state Proposition 45 is a power grab by special interests to take control over health care benefits and rates from California's successful independent commission - and gives it to one Sacramento politician instead.
Health insurance companies claim it will bring higher costs and more bureaucracy.
Hess says no way.
Hess says, "It's not going to cost more bureaucracy the reason is because the structure is already in place in the Insurance Commission office. As far as cost it will cost us almost nothing."
Supporters of Prop 45 say in 1988 California voters approved the insurance reform law regarding auto insurance rates and according to consumer federal of America that law has saved California drivers over 100 billion so far.
However opponents say it's still too much power for one politician.