Insurance Commissioner Sponsored Bill to Protect California Seniors Signed by Governor

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced Tuesday that a bill he sponsored to strengthen consumer protections for seniors has been signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown.

Assembly Bill 2180, authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), makes changes in law to clarify and improve long-term care insurance and accelerated death benefits statutes.

“As California’s aging population and its attendant care needs continue to grow, it is important to ensure statutory improvements like this are adopted to facilitate the policy review process and help provide Californians with more insurance policy choices,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “I thank the Governor for signing this bill and Assemblymember Kalra for championing it in the Legislature.”

California is home to the largest number of seniors age 65 and older in the nation and will grow from about one in five persons by 2030 to nearly one in four in 2040 and beyond.

The expanding aging population will increase the need for long-term care services and may lead to more interest in long-term care insurance as a means to finance those services. (read more)