(a) An insurer shall notify insureds and members of the public of all of the following information:
(1) The availability of language assistance services, including oral interpretation and translated written materials, free of charge and in a timely manner pursuant to Section 10133.8, and how to access these services. This information shall be available in the top 15 languages spoken by limited-English-proficient individuals in California as determined by the State Department of Health Care Services.
(2) The availability of appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters for individuals with disabilities and information in alternate formats, free of charge and in a timely manner, when those aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate for individuals with disabilities.
(3) An insurer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
(4) How to file a complaint, including the name of the health insurer representative and the telephone number, address, and email address of the health insurer representative who may be contacted about the complaint, and how to submit the complaint to the department for review.
(5) How to file a discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights if there is a concern of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
(b) The information required to be provided pursuant to this section shall be provided to an insured with individual coverage upon initial enrollment and annually thereafter upon renewal, and to insureds with group coverage upon initial enrollment and annually thereafter upon renewal. An insurer may include this information with other materials sent to the insured. The information shall also be provided in the following manner:
(1) In a conspicuously visible location in the evidence of coverage.
(2) At least annually, in or with newsletters, outreach, or other materials that are routinely disseminated to the health insurer’s insureds.
(3) On the Internet Web site published and maintained by the health insurer, in a manner that allows insureds, prospective insureds, and members of the public to easily locate the information.
(c) (1) A specialized health insurance policy that is not a covered entity, as defined in Section 92.4 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, subject to Section 1557 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 18116) may request a waiver from the requirements under this section.
(2) The department shall not grant a waiver under this subdivision to a specialized health insurance policy that arranges for mental health or behavioral health benefits.
(3) The department shall provide information on its Internet Web site about any waivers granted under this subdivision.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 771, Sec. 4. (SB 223) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018