BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                AB 1541
                                                                Page  1

        CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
        AB 1541 ( Health Committee)
        As Amended July 23, 2009
        Majority vote
         
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        |ASSEMBLY:  |79-0 |(May 28, 2009)  |SENATE: |34-0 |(September 2,  |
        |           |     |                |        |     |2009)          |
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         Original Committee Reference:   HEALTH  

         SUMMARY  :  Extends from 30 days to 60 days the time period an  
        individual or dependent, who has lost or will lose coverage under  
        the Healthy Families Program (HFP), as specified, Access for Infants  
        and Mothers (AIM), or Medi-Cal, has to request enrollment in group  
        coverage without being considered a late enrollee.
          
         The Senate amendments  :

        1)Specify that the provisions of this bill also apply to AIM  
          enrollees.

        2)Ensure that those who may lose HFP or Medi-Cal coverage due to  
          reasons other than income or age limitations are extended the same  
          60-day timeframe provided in this bill.

        3)Make other minor technical and clarifying changes.

         EXISTING LAW  :  

        1)Defines a "late enrollee" as an eligible employee or dependent who  
          has declined health coverage under a health benefit plan offered  
          through employment or sponsored by an employer at the time of the  
          initial enrollment period provided under the terms of the health  
          benefit plan and who subsequently requests enrollment in that  
          plan.  

        2)Excludes from the definition of a "late enrollee" an individual,  
          or his or her dependent, who has lost or will lose HFP coverage,  
          as specified, or no share-of-cost Medi-Cal coverage, and who  
          requests enrollment within 30 days after termination of coverage.

        3)Requires, under federal law, a group health plan to permit an  
          eligible person to enroll for coverage under the plan if the  








                                                                AB 1541
                                                                Page  2

          person's coverage under Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) or under  
          a state child health plan (such as California's HFP) was  
          terminated, as specified, and the person applies for coverage  
          under the group health plan not later than 60 days after that  
          termination.

         AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill was substantially similar to  
        the version approved by the Senate.

         FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations Committee,  
        pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
         

        Analysis Prepared by  :    Cassie Rafanan / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097FN:  
        0002416