California Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez, with representatives of the United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC/UHCP), Planned Parenthood and the California Teachers Association, gathered at the Pacoima Community Center to call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 2066. Passed by the state legislature last month, AB 2066 aims to allow pregnant individuals to enroll in or change their health plan once they learn they are pregnant. 

Sponsored by UNAC/UHCP and a priority for the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, AB 2066 would recognize pregnancy as a qualifying life event, allowing pregnant individuals to obtain or change their health coverage outside standard enrollment periods. 

Expanding coverage opportunities during pregnancy could help address existing healthcare disparities. Research by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) found that 26% of Black women and Latinas struggle to access obstetric and gynecological care, and 32% have difficulty accessing routine providers. 

“As the youngest mother in the state legislature who just had a child, I can tell you [that] … pregnancy is a life changing event. The notion that we live in a state that does not qualify it as that is unacceptable,” said Rodriguez. “With AB 2066, the governor has an opportunity to recognize the dignity and worth of expectant mothers and the health of their unborn child.”

“Pregnancy is a big deal – it’s a life-changing event for women and their families,” said Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus. “They shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get the healthcare they need. … Recognizing pregnancy as a qualifying life event is common sense. This bill helps our expecting parents get covered and get the prenatal care they and their babies need, when they need it.”

“Even in California, our maternal mortality rates signal inequalities in access to quality health services,” said State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, vice chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus.

UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine Morales, RN, noted that “pregnancy doesn’t wait for an insurance enrollment calendar.”

“The lives of babies and their families literally depend on getting prenatal care started as soon as possible,” she said. “Nurses and health care professionals know early, consistent prenatal care is one of the most important tools we have for catching risks before they turn into emergencies.” 

Erika Jones, secretary and treasurer of the California Teachers Association, described reproductive care as “deeply connected to the economic justice of our communities.”

“Healthcare access is a fundamental human right and I’m so grateful for this legislation to bring that right to women during such a critical time in our lives – when we are pregnant and deserve the highest quality care,” said Jones.

Claudia Powell, vice president of public affairs of Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County, said AB 2066 will help provide timely prenatal care, which “can make a meaningful difference in health outcomes.”

If Newsom signs AB 2066 into law, California will join Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in recognizing pregnancy as a qualifying life event for state-run health insurance exchanges.