California Insurance Commissioner

The California insurance commissioner has been an elected executive office position in California since 1991. Prior to that time, the insurance commissioner was appointed by the governor. The officeholder is in charge of the California Department of Insurance.

Insurance Commissioner of California
California State Seal
Flag of the California
Incumbent
Ricardo Lara
since January 7, 2019
Department of Insurance
StyleThe Honorable
Term lengthFour years, two term limit
Inaugural holderJohn Garamendi
1991
FormationProposition 103
Websitewww.insurance.ca.gov

The current insurance commissioner is Democrat Ricardo Lara.

Duties
  • Oversees and directs all functions of the Department of Insurance.
  • Licenses, regulates, and examines insurance companies.
  • Answers public questions and complaints regarding the insurance industry.
  • Enforces the laws of the California Insurance Code and adopts regulations to implement the laws.
  • The mission is to ensure vibrant markets where insurers keep their promises and the health and economic security of individuals, families, and businesses are protected.[1]

Office

As a result of the passage of Proposition 103 in 1988, the elected office of the California Insurance Commissioner was created in 1991. Previously, the position was held by a person appointed by the Governor. The Insurance Commissioner oversees the Department of Insurance.

The Insurance Commissioner does not oversee the majority of Health Plans and Health Insurance.[2] HMO Health Plans and PPO Plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California are overseen by the California Department of Managed Health Care.

Name Term Party
John Garamendi January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995 Democratic
Chuck Quackenbush January 2, 1995 – July 10, 2000 Republican
J. Clark Kelso July 10, 2000 – September 17, 2000 Republican
Harry W. Low September 18, 2000 – January 6, 2003[3] Democratic
John Garamendi January 6, 2003 – January 8, 2007 Democratic
Steve Poizner January 8, 2007 – January 3, 2011 Republican
Dave Jones January 3, 2011–January 7, 2019 Democratic
Ricardo Lara January 7, 2019–present Democratic

References
  1. "Mission of California Department of Insurance". California Department of Insurance. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  2. Gorn, David (February 8, 2014). "Insurance Regulation Shifted Toward Health Plan Regulator".
  3. "AsianWeek.com". Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
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