Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement in reaction to Covered California’s analysis of repealing the requirement that individuals who can afford insurance get covered:

“Covered California has made clear that the latest Senate Republican bill would have devastating effects on our individual insurance market. Next year alone, 700,000 Californians would lose their coverage. Premiums would increase by 20 percent more than projected, leaving the market far less stable. Far from addressing affordability, which Republicans claim to care about, this bill intentionally makes the problem worse. 

“Covered California is working. That’s because there is a balance between healthy and sick enrollees. Maintaining this balance is critical to keeping premiums from skyrocketing. This latest bill would make that task impossible and it should be defeated.”