BILL NUMBER: AB 2042	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Feuer

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2010

   An act to amend Section 123195 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2042, as introduced, Feuer. Personal health care: catastrophic
health insurance.
   Existing law requires the State Public Health Officer, in
consultation with, and approval of, the Department of Insurance, to
contract with an insurer or insurers to provide any California
resident, as defined, catastrophic health insurance. Existing law
provides that a contract for catastrophic health insurance shall not
be required to cover a preexisting medical condition of a resident
during the first 10 months of coverage and that charges for a
preexisting medical condition shall not apply toward the deductible
during the first 10 months of coverage.
   This bill would, instead, provide that the contract shall not be
required to cover a preexisting medical condition of a resident
during the first 6 months of coverage and that charges for a
preexisting medical condition shall not apply toward the deductible
during the first 6 months of coverage.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 123195 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   123195.  (a) A contract provided for by this chapter shall not be
required to cover a preexisting medical condition of the resident
during the first  10   six  months the
resident is covered by catastrophic health insurance provided under
this chapter. Charges for a preexisting condition shall not apply
toward the deductible during the first  10   six
 months of coverage. Charges for other conditions during that
initial period shall apply toward the deductible.
   (b) The contract shall also prohibit the insurer from
discriminating against prospective insureds in their underwriting
practices on the basis of demographic factors, such as age, or
preexisting medical conditions.