BILL NUMBER: AB 722	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Beall and Chesbro)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act relating to health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 722, as introduced, Bonnie Lowenthal. Preexisting conditions.
   Existing law provides for licensing and regulation of health care
service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law
provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Insurance
Commissioner. Existing law authorizes a health care service plan or
health insurer to exclude an applicant from coverage for a specified
time for preexisting conditions.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature, in the
absence of comprehensive health care reform that guarantees group
coverage to all, to enact legislation to provide that a person with a
history of seeking mental health treatment or of having a
prescription for mental health medication shall not be determined to
have a preexisting condition or otherwise be denied coverage by a
health care service plan or a health insurer.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature, in the absence of
comprehensive health care reform that guarantees group coverage to
all, to enact legislation to provide that a person with a history of
seeking mental health treatment or of having a prescription for
mental health medication shall not be determined to have a
preexisting condition or otherwise be denied coverage by a health
care service plan or a health insurer.