January 6th, 2026
The Honorable Mia Bonta
Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: CAYEN Support for Prohibiting Cost-Sharing Requirements for Children and Youth
Dear Chair Bonta,
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Assembly Bill 298 (Bonta), legislation that would prohibit health plans from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or other cost-sharing requirement for in-network services to individuals under 21 years of age.
CAYEN is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in behavioral health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy. This includes reducing barriers, such as cost, that prevent children and youth from accessing care. No youth should be denied access to vital behavioral health supports and services due to their inability to pay.
Between 2011 and 2022, there was an annual 6.4% increase in out-of-pocket expenditures for pediatric behavioral healthcare. Rising healthcare costs make accessing care progressively difficult for children and youth. With 75% of mental health challenges manifesting by age 24, co-pays, deductibles, and other cost sharing methods create significant financial barriers to preventative and early intervention services.
This bill prohibits those cost sharing methods from being levied onto children and youth under the age of 21. Without these added costs, more youth will be able to access care and won’t be deterred due to cost factors. With the demand for youth behavioral health services increasing, this bill ensures our most vulnerable populations are able to seek care before experiencing a crisis.
It is for these reasons that CAYEN supports AB 298 (Bonta). If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health related legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
Sincerely,
Danny Thirakul
California Youth Empowerment Network
Public Policy Coordinator
