What does California's individual mandate require?

California's individual mandate requires that Californians maintain health insurance coverage or face a financial penalty. This mandate was established as part of the state's efforts to ensure that more residents have access to health care and to encourage healthy individuals to participate in the insurance market, thereby stabilizing costs for everyone. By requiring individuals to have insurance, California aims to reduce the number of uninsured, which can lead to higher costs for those who do seek medical care without coverage.

This requirement mirrors aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which originally imposed a similar mandate at the federal level before the penalty was effectively eliminated at the national level. California's mandate reinforces the value of health insurance and mandates that citizens take responsibility for their health care needs, ultimately enhancing public health and insurance market sustainability.

While other options address various aspects of health care and insurance, such as employer responsibilities and coverage of pre-existing conditions, they do not directly pertain to the specific requirement set forth by California's individual mandate.