Amended in Assembly June 3, 2015

Amended in Assembly May 5, 2015

Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1102


Introduced by Assembly Member Santiago

February 27, 2015


An act to amend Section 1399.849 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10965.3 of the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1102, as amended, Santiago. Health care coverage: special enrollment periods: triggering event.

Existing federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), enacts various health care coverage market reforms as of January 1, 2014. Among other things, PPACA requires each state, by January 1, 2014, to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange that facilitates the purchase of qualified health plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers, and requires each exchange to provide for an initial open enrollment period, annual open enrollment periods, and special enrollment periods.

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 and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan or health insurer, on and after October 1, 2013, to offer, market, and sell all of the plan’s or insurer’s health benefit plans that are sold in the individual market for policy years on or after January 1, 2014, to all individuals and dependents in each service area in which the plan or insurer provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, as specified, but requires plans and insurers to limit enrollment in individual health benefit plans to specified open enrollment and special enrollment periods. Existing law requires a health care service plan and health insurer to allow an individual to enroll in or change individual health benefit plans as a result of specified triggering events, including that he or she gains a dependent.

This bill would require,begin delete until October 1, 2021,end deletebegin insert on and after January 1, 2017, and until October 1, 202end insertbegin insert0,end insert a health care service plan or health insurer to allow an individualbegin insert who does not have minimum essential coverageend insert to enrollbegin delete or changeend deletebegin insert in anend insert individual healthbegin delete benefitsend deletebegin insert benefit planend insert if the individual becomes pregnant. Because a willful violation of this requirement by a health care service plan would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 1399.849 of the Health and Safety Code
2 is amended to read:

3

1399.849.  

(a) (1) On and after October 1, 2013, a plan shall
4fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell all of the plan’s
5health benefit plans that are sold in the individual market for policy
6years on or after January 1, 2014, to all individuals and dependents
7in each service area in which the plan provides or arranges for the
8provision of health care services. A plan shall limit enrollment in
9individual health benefit plans to open enrollment periods, annual
10enrollment periods, and special enrollment periods as provided in
11subdivisions (c) and (d).

12(2) A plan shall allow the subscriber of an individual health
13benefit plan to add a dependent to the subscriber’s plan at the
P3    1option of the subscriber, consistent with the open enrollment,
2 annual enrollment, and special enrollment period requirements in
3this section.

4(b) An individual health benefit plan issued, amended, or
5renewed on or after January 1, 2014, shall not impose any
6preexisting condition provision upon any individual.

7(c) (1) A plan shall provide an initial open enrollment period
8from October 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, inclusive, an annual
9enrollment period for the policy year beginning on January 1, 2015,
10from November 15, 2014, to February 15, 2015, inclusive, and
11annual enrollment periods for policy years beginning on or after
12January 1, 2016, from October 15 to December 7, inclusive, of the
13preceding calendar year.

14(2) Pursuant to Section 147.104(b)(2) of Title 45 of the Code
15of Federal Regulations, for individuals enrolled in noncalendar
16year individual health plan contracts, a plan shall also provide a
17limited open enrollment period beginning on the date that is 30
18calendar days prior to the date the policy year ends in 2014.

19(d) (1) Subject to paragraphbegin delete (2),end deletebegin insert (3),end insert commencing January 1,
202014, a plan shall allow an individual to enroll in or change
21individual health benefit plans as a result of the following triggering
22events:

23(A) He or she or his or her dependent loses minimum essential
24coverage. For purposes of thisbegin delete paragraph,end deletebegin insert section,end insert the following
25definitions shall apply:

26(i) “Minimum essential coverage” has the same meaning as that
27term is defined in subsection (f) of Section 5000A of the Internal
28Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 5000A).

29(ii) “Loss of minimum essential coverage” includes, but is not
30 limited to, loss of that coverage due to the circumstances described
31in Section 54.9801-6(a)(3)(i) to (iii), inclusive, of Title 26 of the
32Code of Federal Regulations and the circumstances described in
33Section 1163 of Title 29 of the United States Code. “Loss of
34minimum essential coverage” also includes loss of that coverage
35for a reason that is not due to the fault of the individual.

36(iii) “Loss of minimum essential coverage” does not include
37loss of that coverage due to the individual’s failure to pay
38premiums on a timely basis or situations allowing for a rescission,
39subject to clause (ii) and Sections 1389.7 and 1389.21.

40(B) He or she gains a dependent or becomes a dependent.

P4    1(C) He or she is mandated to be covered as a dependent pursuant
2to a valid state or federal court order.

3(D) He or she has been released from incarceration.

4(E) His or her health coverage issuer substantially violated a
5material provision of the health coverage contract.

6(F) He or she gains access to new health benefit plans as a result
7of a permanent move.

8(G) He or she was receiving services from a contracting provider
9under another health benefit plan, as defined in Section 1399.845
10of this code or Section 10965 of the Insurance Code, for one of
11the conditions described in subdivision (c) of Section 1373.96 and
12that provider is no longer participating in the health benefit plan.

13(H) He or she demonstrates to the Exchange, with respect to
14health benefit plans offered through the Exchange, or to the
15department, with respect to health benefit plans offered outside
16the Exchange, that he or she did not enroll in a health benefit plan
17during the immediately preceding enrollment period available to
18the individual because he or she was misinformed that he or she
19was covered under minimum essential coverage.

20(I) He or she is a member of the reserve forces of the United
21States military returning from active duty or a member of the
22California National Guard returning from active duty service under
23Title 32 of the United States Code.

begin delete

24(J) On and after January 1, 2016, and until October 1, 2021, an
25individual becomes pregnant.

26(K)

end delete

27begin insert(J)end insert With respect to individual health benefit plans offered
28through the Exchange, in addition to the triggering events listed
29in this paragraph, any other events listed in Section 155.420(d) of
30Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

begin insert

31(2) Subject to paragraph (3), commencing January 1, 2017, and
32until October 1, 2020, a plan shall allow an individual who does
33not have minimum essential coverage to enroll in an individual
34health benefit plan if she becomes pregnant.

end insert
begin delete

35(2)

end delete

36begin insert(3)end insert With respect to individual health benefit plans offered
37outside the Exchange, an individual shall have 60 days from the
38date of a triggering event identified in paragraph (1) to apply for
39coverage from a health care service plan subject to this section.
40With respect to individual health benefit plans offered through the
P5    1Exchange, an individual shall have 60 days from the date of a
2triggering event identified in paragraph (1) to select a plan offered
3through the Exchange, unless a longer period is provided in Part
4155 (commencing with Section 155.10) of Subchapter B of Subtitle
5A of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

6(e) With respect to individual health benefit plans offered
7through the Exchange, the effective date of coverage required
8pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the dates specified
9in Section 155.410 or 155.420 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal
10Regulations, as applicable. A dependent who is a registered
11domestic partner pursuant to Section 297 of the Family Code shall
12have the same effective date of coverage as a spouse.

13(f) With respect to individual health benefit plans offered outside
14the Exchange, the following provisions shall apply:

15(1) After an individual submits a completed application form
16for a plan contract, the health care service plan shall, within 30
17days, notify the individual of the individual’s actual premium
18charges for that plan established in accordance with Section
191399.855. The individual shall have 30 days in which to exercise
20the right to buy coverage at the quoted premium charges.

21(2) With respect to an individual health benefit plan for which
22an individual applies during the initial open enrollment period
23described in subdivision (c), when the subscriber submits a
24premium payment, based on the quoted premium charges, and that
25payment is delivered or postmarked, whichever occurs earlier, by
26December 15, 2013, coverage under the individual health benefit
27plan shall become effective no later than January 1, 2014. When
28that payment is delivered or postmarked within the first 15 days
29of any subsequent month, coverage shall become effective no later
30than the first day of the following month. When that payment is
31delivered or postmarked between December 16, 2013, and
32December 31, 2013, inclusive, or after the 15th day of any
33subsequent month, coverage shall become effective no later than
34the first day of the second month following delivery or postmark
35of the payment.

36(3) With respect to an individual health benefit plan for which
37an individual applies during the annual open enrollment period
38described in subdivision (c), when the individual submits a
39premium payment, based on the quoted premium charges, and that
40payment is delivered or postmarked, whichever occurs later, by
P6    1December 15, coverage shall become effective as of the following
2January 1. When that payment is delivered or postmarked within
3the first 15 days of any subsequent month, coverage shall become
4effective no later than the first day of the following month. When
5that payment is delivered or postmarked between December 16
6and December 31, inclusive, or after the 15th day of any subsequent
7month, coverage shall become effective no later than the first day
8of the second month following delivery or postmark of the
9payment.

10(4) With respect to an individual health benefit plan for which
11an individual applies during a special enrollment period described
12in subdivision (d), the following provisions shall apply:

13(A) When the individual submits a premium payment, based
14on the quoted premium charges, and that payment is delivered or
15postmarked, whichever occurs earlier, within the first 15 days of
16the month, coverage under the plan shall become effective no later
17than the first day of the following month. When the premium
18payment is neither delivered nor postmarked until after the 15th
19day of the month, coverage shall become effective no later than
20the first day of the second month following delivery or postmark
21of the payment.

22(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of a birth,
23adoption, or placement for adoption, the coverage shall be effective
24on the date of birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.

25(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of marriage
26or becoming a registered domestic partner or in the case where a
27qualified individual loses minimum essential coverage, the
28coverage effective date shall be the first day of the month following
29the date the plan receives the request for special enrollment.

30(g) (1) A health care service plan shall not establish rules for
31eligibility, including continued eligibility, of any individual to
32enroll under the terms of an individual health benefit plan based
33on any of the following factors:

34(A) Health status.

35(B) Medical condition, including physical and mental illnesses.

36(C) Claims experience.

37(D) Receipt of health care.

38(E) Medical history.

39(F) Genetic information.

P7    1(G) Evidence of insurability, including conditions arising out
2of acts of domestic violence.

3(H) Disability.

4(I) Any other health status-related factor as determined by any
5federal regulations, rules, or guidance issued pursuant to Section
62705 of the federal Public Health Service Act.

7(2) Notwithstanding Section 1389.1, a health care service plan
8shall not require an individual applicant or his or her dependent
9to fill out a health assessment or medical questionnaire prior to
10enrollment under an individual health benefit plan. A health care
11service plan shall not acquire or request information that relates
12to a health status-related factor from the applicant or his or her
13dependent or any other source prior to enrollment of the individual.

14(h) (1) A health care service plan shall consider as a single risk
15pool for rating purposes in the individual market the claims
16experience of all insureds and all enrollees in all nongrandfathered
17individual health benefit plans offered by that health care service
18plan in this state, whether offered as health care service plan
19contracts or individual health insurance policies, including those
20insureds and enrollees who enroll in individual coverage through
21the Exchange and insureds and enrollees who enroll in individual
22coverage outside of the Exchange. Student health insurance
23 coverage, as that coverage is defined in Section 147.145(a) of Title
2445 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall not be included in a
25health care service plan’s single risk pool for individual coverage.

26(2) Each calendar year, a health care service plan shall establish
27an index rate for the individual market in the state based on the
28total combined claims costs for providing essential health benefits,
29as defined pursuant to Section 1302 of PPACA, within the single
30risk pool required under paragraph (1). The index rate shall be
31adjusted on a marketwide basis based on the total expected
32marketwide payments and charges under the risk adjustment and
33reinsurance programs established for the state pursuant to Sections
341343 and 1341 of PPACA and Exchange user fees, as described
35in subdivision (d) of Section 156.80 of Title 45 of the Code of
36Federal Regulations. The premium rate for all of the health benefit
37plans in the individual market within the single risk pool required
38under paragraph (1) shall use the applicable marketwide adjusted
39index rate, subject only to the adjustments permitted under
40paragraph (3).

P8    1(3) A health care service plan may vary premium rates for a
2particular health benefit plan from its index rate based only on the
3following actuarially justified plan-specific factors:

4(A) The actuarial value and cost-sharing design of the health
5benefit plan.

6(B) The health benefit plan’s provider network, delivery system
7characteristics, and utilization management practices.

8(C) The benefits provided under the health benefit plan that are
9in addition to the essential health benefits, as defined pursuant to
10Section 1302 of PPACA and Section 1367.005. These additional
11benefits shall be pooled with similar benefits within the single risk
12pool required under paragraph (1) and the claims experience from
13those benefits shall be utilized to determine rate variations for
14plans that offer those benefits in addition to essential health
15benefits.

16(D) With respect to catastrophic plans, as described in subsection
17(e) of Section 1302 of PPACA, the expected impact of the specific
18eligibility categories for those plans.

19(E) Administrative costs, excluding user fees required by the
20Exchange.

21(i) This section shall only apply with respect to individual health
22benefit plans for policy years on or after January 1, 2014.

23(j) This section shall not apply to a grandfathered health plan.

24(k) If Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code, as added
25by Section 1501 of PPACA, is repealed or amended to no longer
26apply to the individual market, as defined in Section 2791 of the
27federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-91),
28subdivisions (a), (b), and (g) shall become inoperative 12 months
29after that repeal or amendment.

30

SEC. 2.  

Section 10965.3 of the Insurance Code is amended to
31read:

32

10965.3.  

(a) (1) On and after October 1, 2013, a health insurer
33shall fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell all of the
34insurer’s health benefit plans that are sold in the individual market
35for policy years on or after January 1, 2014, to all individuals and
36dependents in each service area in which the insurer provides or
37arranges for the provision of health care services. A health insurer
38shall limit enrollment in individual health benefit plans to open
39enrollment periods, annual enrollment periods, and special
40enrollment periods as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d).

P9    1(2) A health insurer shall allow the policyholder of an individual
2health benefit plan to add a dependent to the policyholder’s health
3benefit plan at the option of the policyholder, consistent with the
4open enrollment, annual enrollment, and special enrollment period
5requirements in this section.

6(b) An individual health benefit plan issued, amended, or
7renewed on or after January 1, 2014, shall not impose any
8preexisting condition provision upon any individual.

9(c) (1) A health insurer shall provide an initial open enrollment
10period from October 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, inclusive, an
11annual enrollment period for the policy year beginning on January
121, 2015, from November 15, 2014, to February 15, 2015, inclusive,
13and annual enrollment periods for policy years beginning on or
14after January 1, 2016, from October 15 to December 7, inclusive,
15of the preceding calendar year.

16(2) Pursuant to Section 147.104(b)(2) of Title 45 of the Code
17of Federal Regulations, for individuals enrolled in noncalendar-year
18individual health plan contracts, a health insurer shall also provide
19a limited open enrollment period beginning on the date that is 30
20calendar days prior to the date the policy year ends in 2014.

21(d) (1) Subject to paragraphbegin delete (2),end deletebegin insert (3),end insert commencing January 1,
222014, a health insurer shall allow an individual to enroll in or
23change individual health benefit plans as a result of the following
24triggering events:

25(A) He or she or his or her dependent loses minimum essential
26coverage. For purposes of thisbegin delete paragraph,end deletebegin insert section,end insert both of the
27following definitions shall apply:

28(i) “Minimum essential coverage” has the same meaning as that
29term is defined in subsection (f) of Section 5000A of the Internal
30Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 5000A).

31(ii) “Loss of minimum essential coverage” includes, but is not
32limited to, loss of that coverage due to the circumstances described
33in Section 54.9801-6(a)(3)(i) to (iii), inclusive, of Title 26 of the
34Code of Federal Regulations and the circumstances described in
35Section 1163 of Title 29 of the United States Code. “Loss of
36minimum essential coverage” also includes loss of that coverage
37for a reason that is not due to the fault of the individual.

38(iii) “Loss of minimum essential coverage” does not include
39loss of that coverage due to the individual’s failure to pay
P10   1premiums on a timely basis or situations allowing for a rescission,
2subject to clause (ii) and Sections 10119.2 and 10384.17.

3(B) He or she gains a dependent or becomes a dependent.

4(C) He or she is mandated to be covered as a dependent pursuant
5to a valid state or federal court order.

6(D) He or she has been released from incarceration.

7(E) His or her health coverage issuer substantially violated a
8material provision of the health coverage contract.

9(F) He or she gains access to new health benefit plans as a result
10of a permanent move.

11(G) He or she was receiving services from a contracting provider
12under another health benefit plan, as defined in Section 10965 of
13this code or Section 1399.845 of the Health and Safety Code, for
14one of the conditions described in subdivision (a) of Section
1510133.56 and that provider is no longer participating in the health
16benefit plan.

17(H) He or she demonstrates to the Exchange, with respect to
18health benefit plans offered through the Exchange, or to the
19department, with respect to health benefit plans offered outside
20the Exchange, that he or she did not enroll in a health benefit plan
21during the immediately preceding enrollment period available to
22the individual because he or she was misinformed that he or she
23was covered under minimum essential coverage.

24(I) He or she is a member of the reserve forces of the United
25States military returning from active duty or a member of the
26California National Guard returning from active duty service under
27Title 32 of the United States Code.

begin delete

28(J) On and after January 1, 2016, and until October 1, 2021, an
29individual becomes pregnant.

end delete
begin delete

30(K)

end delete

31begin insert(J)end insert With respect to individual health benefit plans offered
32through the Exchange, in addition to the triggering events listed
33in this paragraph, any other events listed in Section 155.420(d) of
34Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

begin insert

35(2) Subject to paragraph (3), commencing January 1, 2017, and
36until October 1, 2020, a plan shall allow an individual who does
37not have minimum essential coverage to enroll in an individual
38health benefit plan if she becomes pregnant.

end insert
begin delete

39(2)

end delete

P11   1begin insert(3)end insert With respect to individual health benefit plans offered
2outside the Exchange, an individual shall have 60 days from the
3date of a triggering event identified in paragraph (1) to apply for
4coverage from a health care service plan subject to this section.
5With respect to individual health benefit plans offered through the
6Exchange, an individual shall have 60 days from the date of a
7triggering event identified in paragraph (1) to select a plan offered
8through the Exchange, unless a longer period is provided in Part
9155 (commencing with Section 155.10) of Subchapter B of Subtitle
10A of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

11(e) With respect to individual health benefit plans offered
12through the Exchange, the effective date of coverage required
13pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the dates specified
14in Section 155.410 or 155.420 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal
15Regulations, as applicable. A dependent who is a registered
16domestic partner pursuant to Section 297 of the Family Code shall
17have the same effective date of coverage as a spouse.

18(f) With respect to an individual health benefit plan offered
19outside the Exchange, the following provisions shall apply:

20(1) After an individual submits a completed application form
21for a plan, the insurer shall, within 30 days, notify the individual
22of the individual’s actual premium charges for that plan established
23in accordance with Section 10965.9. The individual shall have 30
24days in which to exercise the right to buy coverage at the quoted
25premium charges.

26(2) With respect to an individual health benefit plan for which
27an individual applies during the initial open enrollment period
28described in subdivision (c), when the policyholder submits a
29premium payment, based on the quoted premium charges, and that
30payment is delivered or postmarked, whichever occurs earlier, by
31December 15, 2013, coverage under the individual health benefit
32plan shall become effective no later than January 1, 2014. When
33that payment is delivered or postmarked within the first 15 days
34of any subsequent month, coverage shall become effective no later
35than the first day of the following month. When that payment is
36delivered or postmarked between December 16, 2013, and
37December 31, 2013, inclusive, or after the 15th day of any
38subsequent month, coverage shall become effective no later than
39the first day of the second month following delivery or postmark
40of the payment.

P12   1(3) With respect to an individual health benefit plan for which
2an individual applies during the annual open enrollment period
3described in subdivision (c), when the individual submits a
4premium payment, based on the quoted premium charges, and that
5payment is delivered or postmarked, whichever occurs later, by
6December 15, coverage shall become effective as of the following
7January 1. When that payment is delivered or postmarked within
8the first 15 days of any subsequent month, coverage shall become
9effective no later than the first day of the following month. When
10that payment is delivered or postmarked between December 16
11and December 31, inclusive, or after the 15th day of any subsequent
12month, coverage shall become effective no later than the first day
13of the second month following delivery or postmark of the
14payment.

15(4) With respect to an individual health benefit plan for which
16an individual applies during a special enrollment period described
17in subdivision (d), the following provisions shall apply:

18(A) When the individual submits a premium payment, based
19on the quoted premium charges, and that payment is delivered or
20postmarked, whichever occurs earlier, within the first 15 days of
21the month, coverage under the plan shall become effective no later
22than the first day of the following month. When the premium
23payment is neither delivered nor postmarked until after the 15th
24day of the month, coverage shall become effective no later than
25the first day of the second month following delivery or postmark
26of the payment.

27(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of a birth,
28adoption, or placement for adoption, the coverage shall be effective
29on the date of birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.

30(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of marriage
31or becoming a registered domestic partner or in the case where a
32qualified individual loses minimum essential coverage, the
33coverage effective date shall be the first day of the month following
34the date the insurer receives the request for special enrollment.

35(g) (1) A health insurer shall not establish rules for eligibility,
36including continued eligibility, of any individual to enroll under
37the terms of an individual health benefit plan based on any of the
38following factors:

39(A) Health status.

40(B) Medical condition, including physical and mental illnesses.

P13   1(C) Claims experience.

2(D) Receipt of health care.

3(E) Medical history.

4(F) Genetic information.

5(G) Evidence of insurability, including conditions arising out
6of acts of domestic violence.

7(H) Disability.

8(I) Any other health status-related factor as determined by any
9federal regulations, rules, or guidance issued pursuant to Section
102705 of the federal Public Health Service Act.

11(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 10291.5, a health
12insurer shall not require an individual applicant or his or her
13dependent to fill out a health assessment or medical questionnaire
14prior to enrollment under an individual health benefit plan. A health
15insurer shall not acquire or request information that relates to a
16health status-related factor from the applicant or his or her
17dependent or any other source prior to enrollment of the individual.

18(h) (1) A health insurer shall consider as a single risk pool for
19rating purposes in the individual market the claims experience of
20all insureds and enrollees in all nongrandfathered individual health
21benefit plans offered by that insurer in this state, whether offered
22as health care service plan contracts or individual health insurance
23policies, including those insureds and enrollees who enroll in
24individual coverage through the Exchange and insureds and
25enrollees who enroll in individual coverage outside the Exchange.
26Student health insurance coverage, as such coverage is defined in
27 Section 147.145(a) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
28shall not be included in a health insurer’s single risk pool for
29individual coverage.

30(2) Each calendar year, a health insurer shall establish an index
31rate for the individual market in the state based on the total
32combined claims costs for providing essential health benefits, as
33defined pursuant to Section 1302 of PPACA, within the single risk
34pool required under paragraph (1). The index rate shall be adjusted
35on a marketwide basis based on the total expected marketwide
36payments and charges under the risk adjustment and reinsurance
37programs established for the state pursuant to Sections 1343 and
381341 of PPACA and Exchange user fees, as described in
39subdivision (d) of Section 156.80 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal
40Regulations. The premium rate for all of the health benefit plans
P14   1in the individual market within the single risk pool required under
2paragraph (1) shall use the applicable marketwide adjusted index
3rate, subject only to the adjustments permitted under paragraph
4(3).

5(3) A health insurer may vary premium rates for a particular
6health benefit plan from its index rate based only on the following
7actuarially justified plan-specific factors:

8(A) The actuarial value and cost-sharing design of the health
9benefit plan.

10(B) The health benefit plan’s provider network, delivery system
11characteristics, and utilization management practices.

12(C) The benefits provided under the health benefit plan that are
13 in addition to the essential health benefits, as defined pursuant to
14Section 1302 of PPACA and Section 10112.27. These additional
15benefits shall be pooled with similar benefits within the single risk
16pool required under paragraph (1) and the claims experience from
17those benefits shall be utilized to determine rate variations for
18plans that offer those benefits in addition to essential health
19benefits.

20(D) With respect to catastrophic plans, as described in subsection
21(e) of Section 1302 of PPACA, the expected impact of the specific
22eligibility categories for those plans.

23(E) Administrative costs, excluding any user fees required by
24the Exchange.

25(i) This section shall only apply with respect to individual health
26benefit plans for policy years on or after January 1, 2014.

27(j) This section shall not apply to a grandfathered health plan.

28(k) If Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code, as added
29by Section 1501 of PPACA, is repealed or amended to no longer
30apply to the individual market, as defined in Section 2791 of the
31federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-91),
32subdivisions (a), (b), and (g) shall become inoperative 12 months
33after the date of that repeal or amendment and individual health
34care benefit plans shall thereafter be subject to Sections 10901.2,
3510951, and 10953.

36

SEC. 3.  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
37Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
38the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
39district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
40infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
P15   1for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
2the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
3the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
4Constitution.



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