For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

with Section 12693) of Division 2), the Access for Infants and Mothers Program (Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695) of Division 2), or the program under Part 6.4 (commencing with Section 12699.50) of Division 2, or Medicare supplement coverage, to the extent consistent with PPACA or a specified disease or hospital indemnity policy, subject to Section 10965.01.

in this section (i) are being offered and marketed as supplemental health insurance and not as a substitute for coverage that provides essential health benefits as defined by the state pursuant to Section 1302 of PPACA, and (ii) the disclosure forms as described in Section 10603 contains the following statement prominently on the first page:

“This is a supplement to health insurance. It is not a substitute for essential health benefits or minimum essential coverage as defined in federal law.”

indemnity” mean policies or certificates of insurance sold to an insured to supplement other health insurance coverage as specified in this section.

For the purposes of determining eligibility for small employer coverage, a sole proprietor and the sole proprietor’s spouse are not considered employees with respect to a sole proprietorship that consists only of the sole proprietor and the sole proprietor’s spouse. A partner and a partner’s spouse are not employees of a partnership that consists solely of partners and their spouses. Employer group health benefit plans shall not be issued, marketed, or sold to a sole proprietorship or partnership without employees directly or indirectly through any arrangement. Only individual health benefit plans shall be sold to any entity without employees.

individual health insurance coverage for purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 106.

essential

health benefits requirements as set forth in Section 10112.27, rating factors consistent with Section 10965.9, the annual limit on maximum out-of-pocket expenses as set forth in Section 10112.28, the prohibition against annual and lifetime limits under Section 10112.1, and all rules and regulations issued thereunder.

(B) Commencing July 1, 2026, if a student certificate holder graduates, takes a leave of absence, or is no longer enrolled at the institution of higher education, they may request to terminate their student health insurance coverage during the policy year. The request shall be provided to the institution of higher education at least 30 calendar

days before the effective date of termination. Upon receipt of the request to terminate coverage, the institution of higher education shall terminate coverage effective within the same calendar month if feasible, but no later than the last day of the calendar month in which the 30-day period ends. When a student certificate holder, or dependent of a student, chooses to terminate their student health insurance coverage during the policy year consistent with the circumstances set forth under this subparagraph, the student shall only pay the premium through the date of their termination of coverage. A student or dependent of a student shall not be liable for a premium payment during the time that they are not enrolled in student health

insurance coverage. In the case of premium paid in full for an academic term, the student shall be refunded pro rata for any time they are not enrolled in student health insurance coverage. Notice of the ability to terminate coverage pursuant to this subparagraph shall be provided in the

student health insurance enrollment materials provided to a student or a dependent of a student. A student or dependent of a student shall also be notified of premium liability to the student or dependent of the student, if any, if a student or dependent of a student chooses not to terminate coverage pursuant to this subparagraph.

refer to the individual students.

health insurance coverage:

insurance issuer that offers student health insurance coverage is not required to establish open enrollment periods or coverage effective dates that are based on a calendar policy year or to offer policies on a calendar year basis.

in Sections 10112.3 and 10112.295 does not apply to student health insurance coverage. However, the benefits provided by that coverage shall provide at least 60 percent actuarial value, as calculated in accordance with Section 10112.295. The issuer shall specify in any plan materials summarizing the terms of the coverage the actuarial value and level of coverage, or the next lowest level of coverage, and how the coverage would otherwise satisfy requirements under Sections 10112.295 and 10112.296.

form the risk pool is based on a bona fide school-related classification and not based on a health factor. However, student health insurance rates shall reflect the claims experience of individuals who comprise the risk pool, and any adjustments to rates within a risk pool shall be actuarially justified.

shall notify the policyholder of this decision. If an insurer fails to comply with the timeline specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 10181.3, the department may prohibit the proposed rate change.

subdivision (b) of Section 10291.5, and Section 10382.

materials provided to a student or a dependent of a student:

California requires residents and their dependents to obtain, and maintain, health coverage or pay a penalty, unless they qualify for an exemption. Enrolling in student health insurance offered by the college or university you are attending is one way to meet this requirement.

You may be eligible to get free or low-cost health coverage through Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. In addition, you may be eligible for free or low-cost health coverage through Covered California. Visit Covered California at www.coveredca.com to learn about health coverage options that are available for you and your dependents, and how you might qualify to get financial assistance with the cost of coverage.

If you are under 26 years of age, you may be eligible for coverage as a dependent in a group health plan of your parent’s employer or under your parents’ individual market coverage. In addition, you may be eligible to buy individual health insurance directly from a health insurer or health plan, regardless of immigration status.

Please examine your options carefully to see if other options are more affordable and whether you are currently eligible to enroll in these other forms of coverage pursuant to an open or special enrollment period.

enrollment materials, the notice also may be provided on the internet website of the institution of higher education.

relation to an individual, any of the following health status-related factors:

this section. If the commissioner assesses an administrative penalty for a violation, any hearing that is requested by the insurer may be conducted by an administrative law judge of the administrative hearing bureau of the department under the formal procedure of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. An administrative penalty shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation, or, if a violation was willful, shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. This subdivision does not impair or restrict the commissioner’s authority pursuant to another provision of this code or the Administrative Procedure Act.

Except as provided in Section 10965.15, the provisions of this chapter shall only apply with respect to nongrandfathered individual health benefit plans offered by a health insurer, and shall apply in addition to other provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder.

available and accessible to the individual because of its obligations to existing insureds.

(ii) It is applying this subparagraph uniformly to all individuals without regard to the claims experience of those individuals or any health status-related factor relating to those individuals.

(B) A health insurer that cannot offer an individual health benefit plan to individuals because it is lacking in sufficient health care delivery resources within a service area or a portion of a service area pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not offer an individual health benefit plan in that area until the later of the following dates:

(ii) The date the insurer notifies the commissioner that

it has the ability to deliver services to individuals, and certifies to the commissioner that from the date of the notice it will enroll all individuals requesting coverage in that area from the insurer.

(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not limit the insurer’s ability to renew coverage already in force or relieve the insurer of the responsibility to renew that coverage as described in Section 10273.6.

(D) Coverage offered within a service area after the period specified in subparagraph (B) shall be subject to this section.

(A) It does not have the

financial reserves necessary to underwrite additional coverage. In determining whether this subparagraph has been satisfied, the commissioner shall consider, but not be limited to, the insurer’s compliance with the requirements of this part and the rules adopted thereunder.

(B) It is applying this subdivision uniformly to all individuals without regard to the claims experience of those individuals or any health status-related factor relating to those individuals.

commissioner that the insurer has sufficient financial reserves necessary to underwrite additional coverage.

plan.

notice shall inform the policyholder that he or she may be eligible for lower cost coverage through the Exchange and shall inform the policyholder of the applicable open enrollment period and special enrollment periods provided through the Exchange described in Section 10965.3.

New improved health insurance options are available in California. You currently have health insurance that is not required to follow many of the new laws. For example, your policy may not provide preventive health services without you having to pay any cost sharing (copayments or coinsurance). Also your current policy may be allowed to increase your rates based on your health status while new policies cannot. You have the option to remain in your current policy or switch to a

new policy. Under the new rules, a health insurance company cannot deny your application based on any health conditions you may have. For more information about your options, please contact Covered California at ____, your policy representative or insurance agent, or an entity paid by Covered California to assist with health coverage enrollment, such as a navigator or an assister.

years on or after January 1, 2014. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit an individual enrolled in an individual grandfathered health plan from adding a dependent to that plan to the extent permitted by PPACA.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, this chapter shall be implemented to the extent that it meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in PPACA.

exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than one year, by which time final regulations may be adopted. The commissioner shall consult with the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care prior to adopting any regulations pursuant to this subdivision for the specific purpose of ensuring, to the extent practical, that there is consistency of regulations applicable to entities regulated by the commissioner and those regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care.

with the annual enrollment and special enrollment periods of the Exchange.

occurs, and, as of the second January 1 thereafter, is

repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before that date deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.