SB 3, as introduced, Hernandez. Health care coverage: bridge plan.
Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, requires each state to, by January 1, 2014, establish an American Health Benefit Exchange that makes available qualified health plans to qualified individuals and small employers.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance.
Under existing law, carriers that sell any products outside the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) are required to fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell all products made available to individuals or small employers in the Exchange to individuals or small employers, respectively, purchasing coverage outside the Exchange.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a bridge option to allow low-cost health coverage to be provided to individuals within the California Health Benefit Exchange.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
2legislation to create a bridge option to allow low-cost health
3coverage to be provided to individuals within the California Health
4Benefit Exchange.
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