AB 876

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing federal law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health benefit plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. Existing state law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) , also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under PPACA. PPACA also enacted various health care coverage market reforms that took effect January 1, 2014. Among other things, PPACA requires group health plans and group health insurance issuers that offer coverage of dependent children to make that coverage available for children until they reach 26 years of age. 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 willful violations of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law defines levels of coverage for the nongrandfathered individual and small group markets consistent with the definitions in PPACA. Existing law requires plans and insurers offering coverage in the individual market to offer coverage for a child, subject to specified requirements. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation requiring health care service plans and health insurance policies that offer coverage for dependents to make that coverage available to any person who is related to and living in the same household as the enrollee or insured.