(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Exchange” means the California Health Benefit Exchange established in Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code.
(2) “Federal act” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), and any amendments to, or regulations or guidance issued under, those acts.
(3) “Qualified health plan” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 1301 of the federal act.
(4) “Small employer” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 10753.
(b) (1) Health insurers participating in the individual market of the Exchange shall fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell in the individual market of the Exchange at least one product within each of the five levels of coverage contained in subsections (d) and (e) of Section 1302 of the federal act. Health insurers participating in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP Program) of the Exchange, established pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 100504 of the Government Code, shall fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell in the SHOP Program at least one product within each of the four levels of coverage contained in subsection (d) of Section 1302 of the federal act.
(2) The board established under Section 100500 of the Government Code may require insurers to sell additional products within each of the levels of coverage identified in paragraph (1).
(3) This subdivision shall not apply to an insurer that solely offers supplemental coverage in the Exchange under paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of Section 100504 of the Government Code. This subdivision shall not apply to a bridge plan product of a Medi-Cal managed care plan that contracts with the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and that meets the requirements of Section 100504.5 of the Government Code, to the extent approved by the appropriate federal agency.
(c) (1) Health insurers participating in the Exchange that sell any products outside the Exchange shall do both of the following:
(A) Fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell all products made available to individuals in the Exchange to individuals purchasing coverage outside the Exchange.
(B) Fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell all products made available to small employers in the Exchange to small employers purchasing coverage outside the Exchange.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “product” does not include contracts entered into pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) of Division 2 between the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and health insurers for enrolled Healthy Families beneficiaries or to contracts entered into pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of, or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of, Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code between the State Department of Health Care Services and health insurers for enrolled Medi-Cal beneficiaries or for contracts with bridge plan products that meet the requirements of Section 100504.5 of the Government Code.
(d) (1) Commencing January 1, 2014, a health insurer shall, with respect to individual policies that cover hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, only sell the five levels of coverage contained in subsections (d) and (e) of Section 1302 of the federal act, except that a health insurer that does not participate in the Exchange shall, with respect to individual policies that cover hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, only sell the four levels of coverage contained in subsection (d) of Section 1302 of the federal act.
(2) Commencing January 1, 2014, a health insurer shall, with respect to small employer policies that cover hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, only sell the four levels of coverage contained in subsection (d) of Section 1302 of the federal act.
(e) Commencing January 1, 2014, a health insurer that does not participate in the Exchange shall, with respect to individual or small employer policies that cover hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, offer at least one standardized product that has been designated by the Exchange in each of the four levels of coverage contained in subsection (d) of Section 1302 of the federal act. This subdivision shall only apply if the board of the Exchange exercises its authority under subdivision (c) of Section 100504 of the Government Code. Nothing in this subdivision shall require an insurer that does not participate in the Exchange to offer standardized products in the small employer market if the insurer only sells products in the individual market. Nothing in this subdivision shall require an insurer that does not participate in the Exchange to offer standardized products in the individual market if the insurer only sells products in the small employer market. This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit the insurer from offering other products provided that it complies with subdivision (d).
(f) For purposes of this section, a bridge plan product shall mean an individual health benefit plan, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6 that is offered by a health insurer that contracts with the Exchange pursuant to Section 100504.5 of the Government Code.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on the October 1 that is five years after the date that federal approval of the bridge plan option occurs, and, as of the second January 1 thereafter, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before that date deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 11) by Stats. 2014, Ch. 572, Sec. 16. (SB 959) Effective January 1, 2015. Conditionally inoperative, on date prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed, by its own provisions, on second January 1 after inoperative date. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 17 of Stats. 2014, Ch. 572.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018