SACRAMENTO - Today Assemblymember Karen Bass (D-Los Angles) sent a bill to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that would continue health insurance coverage for families transitioning out of the low-income Healthy Families program.

Current law deems a person ineligible for the Healthy Families program if the parents' salary is increased or the child turns 19 years old. The family must wait until "open enrollment" before they can become covered by a new insurance program. If signed into law, the definition of "late enrollee" would be expanded to allow families in transition to stay insured.

"Children and families cannot afford to spend one day without health insurance," explained Assemblymember Bass, "This bill is about protecting families in the event of an unexpected incident."

The Healthy Families Program offers low cost insurance for children and teens up to age 19. It provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who meet the program rules and do not qualify for free Medi-Cal.

AB 1533 does not mandate nor expand coverage on health plans and allows health plans to continue to offer coverage under their existing terms and conditions.

The State Assembly approved the bill and sent it to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk today with broad bipartisan support. The vote was 77-2.