Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires health insurance plans to make coverage available to their members' dependent parents.

Highlights:

• Requires individual health care service plan contracts that are issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, that provides dependent coverage to make dependent coverage available to a parent or stepparent who lives or resides within the health care service plan’s service area (Sec. 1).

• Expands the definition of “dependent” for an individual health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to include a qualified dependent parent or stepparent (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the following if an applicant is seeking to add to their contract a dependent parent or stepparent who is eligible for or enrolled in Medicare, at the time of solicitation and on the application (Sec. 2):

• Requires that a health care service plan provide to an applicant who does not apply through the California Health Benefit Exchange written notice that the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides health insurance counseling to senior California residents free of charge;

• A health insurer must provide to an applicant who does not apply through the California Health Benefit Exchange written notice that the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides health insurance counseling to senior California residents free of charge;

• The California Health Benefit Exchange will provide to an applicant who applies through the California Health Benefit Exchange written notice that HICAP provides health insurance counseling to senior California residents free of charge; and

• An agent will provide the name, address, and telephone number of the local HICAP program and the statewide HICAP telephone number, 1-800-434-0222.

• Classifies the “pre-existing condition provision” as a contract provision that excludes coverage for charges or expenses incurred during a specified period following the enrollee’s effective date of coverage, as to a condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received during a specified period immediately preceding the effective date of coverage (Sec. 3).

• Establishes that no reimbursement is required by this act because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires health insurance plans to make coverage available to their members' dependent parents.

Highlights:

• Requires individual health care service plan contracts that are issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, that provides dependent coverage to make dependent coverage available to a parent or stepparent who lives or resides within the health care service plan’s service area (Sec. 1).

• Expands the definition of “dependent” for an individual health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to include a qualified dependent parent or stepparent (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the following if an applicant is seeking to add to their contract a dependent parent or stepparent who is eligible for or enrolled in Medicare, at the time of solicitation and on the application (Sec. 2):

• Requires that a health care service plan provide to an applicant who does not apply through the California Health Benefit Exchange written notice that the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides health insurance counseling to senior California residents free of charge;

• A health insurer must provide to an applicant who does not apply through the California Health Benefit Exchange written notice that the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides health insurance counseling to senior California residents free of charge;

• The California Health Benefit Exchange will provide to an applicant who applies through the California Health Benefit Exchange written notice that HICAP provides health insurance counseling to senior California residents free of charge; and

• An agent will provide the name, address, and telephone number of the local HICAP program and the statewide HICAP telephone number, 1-800-434-0222.

• Classifies the “pre-existing condition provision” as a contract provision that excludes coverage for charges or expenses incurred during a specified period following the enrollee’s effective date of coverage, as to a condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received during a specified period immediately preceding the effective date of coverage (Sec. 3).

• Establishes that no reimbursement is required by this act because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text