California Insurance Code 10110-10127.18
10110. Every person has an insurable interest in the life and health of: (a) Himself. (b) Any person on whom he depends wholly or in part for education or support. (c) Any person under a legal obligation to him for the payment of money or respecting property or services, of which death or illness might delay or prevent the performance. (d) Any person upon whose life any estate or interest vested in him depends. 10110.1. (a) An insurable interest, with reference to life and disability insurance, is an interest based upon a reasonable expectation of pecuniary advantage through the continued life, health, or bodily safety of another person and consequent loss by reason of that person's death or disability or a substantial interest engendered by love and affection in the case of individuals closely related by blood or law. (b) An individual has an unlimited insurable interest in his or her own life, health, and bodily safety and may lawfully take out a policy of insurance on his or her own life, health, or bodily safety and have the policy made payable to whomsoever he or she pleases, regardless of whether the beneficiary designated has an insurable interest. (c) Except as provided in Section 10110.4, an employer has an insurable interest, as referred to in subdivision (a), in the life or physical or mental ability of any of its directors, officers, or employees or the directors, officers, or employees of any of its subsidiaries or any other person whose death or physical or mental disability might cause financial loss to the employer; or, pursuant to any contractual arrangement with any shareholder concerning the reacquisition of shares owned by the shareholder at the time of his or her death or disability, on the life or physical or mental ability of that shareholder for the purpose of carrying out the contractual arrangement; or, pursuant to any contract obligating the employer as part of compensation arrangements or pursuant to a contract obligating the employer as guarantor or surety, on the life of the principal obligor. The trustee of an employer or trustee of a pension, welfare benefit plan, or trust established by an employer providing life, health, disability, retirement, or similar benefits to employees and retired employees of the employer or its affiliates and acting in a fiduciary capacity with respect to those employees, retired employees, or their dependents or beneficiaries has an insurable interest in the lives of employees and retired employees for whom those benefits are to be provided. The employer shall obtain the written consent of the individual being insured. (d) Trusts and special purpose entities that are used to apply for and initiate the issuance of policies of insurance for investors, where one or more beneficiaries of those trusts or special purpose entities do not have an insurable interest in the life of the insured, violate the insurable interest laws and the prohibition against wagering on life. (e) Any device, scheme, or artifice designed to give the appearance of an insurable interest where there is no legitimate insurable interest violates the insurable interest laws. (f) An insurable interest shall be required to exist at the time the contract of life or disability insurance becomes effective, but need not exist at the time the loss occurs. (g) Any contract of life or disability insurance procured or caused to be procured upon another individual is void unless the person applying for the insurance has an insurable interest in the individual insured at the time of the application. (h) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (f), and (g), a charitable organization that meets the requirements of Section 214 or 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code may effectuate life or disability insurance on an insured who consents to the issuance of that insurance. (i) This section shall not be interpreted to define all instances in which an insurable interest exists. 10110.2. An insurer shall be entitled to rely upon all statements, declarations, and representations made by an applicant for insurance relative to the insurable interest that the applicant has in the insured, and no insurer shall incur any legal liability except as set forth in the policy, by virtue of any untrue statements, declarations, or representations so relied upon in good faith by the insurer. 10110.3. (a) An insurer may not issue an individual life insurance policy to an applicant that insures the life of the applicant's spouse unless the applicant's spouse has signed the policy application or has otherwise been notified in advance of the issuance of the policy. (b) This section shall apply to policies of individual life insurance with face amounts exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) that are issued on or after July 1, 2004. 10110.4. (a) Except as allowed in subdivision (c), an insurer may not issue or deliver a corporate-owned life insurance policy. (b) "Corporate-owned life insurance policy" means a life insurance policy that is purchased by a California employer, that designates the employer as the beneficiary of the policy, and that insures the life of a California resident who is a current or former employee of the employer. (c) This section does not apply to a policy insuring the life of a current or former exempt employee. An exempt employee is an administrative, executive, or professional employee who is exempt under Section 515 of the Labor Code and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (d) Except as provided in subdivision (f), it is a violation of public policy for a California employer to purchase or hold a corporate-owned life insurance policy. (e) (1) A corporate-owned life insurance policy purchased on or after the effective date of this section is void. (2) Except as provided in subdivision (f), a corporate-owned life insurance policy purchased prior to the effective date of this section shall become void on the next premium payment date on or after the date five years from the effective date of this section, but no later than January 1, 2010. (f) A corporate-owned life insurance policy purchased prior to the effective date of this section that insures the life of a current or former nonexempt employee shall continue in force after the effective date of this section provided that no further premium payments are made after the effective date of this section. However, an employer who has purchased and holds such a corporate-owned life insurance policy shall disclose in writing to the current or former nonexempt employee whose life is insured by the policy, within 90 days of the effective date of this section, all of the following information: (1) The existence of the corporate-owned life insurance policy on the life of the nonexempt employee. (2) The identity of the insurer under the policy. (3) The benefit amount under the policy, unless the full amount of the benefit is used to defray the costs of nonexempt employee benefits. (4) How benefits paid under the policy would be used. (5) The name of the beneficiary under the policy. (g) For a former employee, the disclosure requirements shall be deemed satisfied if the employer mails the required information to the former employee's last known address. 10110.5. A policy or endorsement issued by an admitted life and disability insurer may contain a provision for a waiver of premium payments in the event of involuntary unemployment of the insured. Insurers issuing policies or endorsements which contain that provision shall establish any additional reserves and file any additional financial reports that the commissioner may require. 10111. In life or disability insurance, the only measure of liability and damage is the sum or sums payable in the manner and at the times as provided in the policy to the person entitled thereto. 10111.2. (a) Under a policy of disability income insurance, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 799.01, payment of benefits to the insured shall be made within 30 calendar days after the insurer has received all information needed to determine liability for a claim. However, the 30-calendar-day period shall not include any time during which the insurer is doing any of the following: (1) Awaiting a response for relevant medical information from a health care provider. (2) Awaiting a response from the claimant to a request for additional relevant information. (3) Investigating possible fraud that has been reported to the department's Fraud Division in compliance with subdivision (a) of Section 1872.4. (b) If the insurer has not received all information needed to determine liability for a claim within 30 calendar days after receipt of the claim, the insurer shall notify the insured in writing and include a written list of all information it reasonably needs to determine liability for the claim. In that event, the 30-calendar-day period set out in subdivision (a) shall commence when the insured has provided to the insurer all information in that notification. If no notice is sent by the insurer within 30 calendar days after the claim is filed by the insured, interest shall begin to accrue on the payment of benefits on the 31st calendar day after receipt of the claim, at the rate of 10 percent per year. (c) When the insurer has received all information needed to determine liability for a claim, and the insurer determines that liability exists and fails to make payment of benefits to the insured within 30 calendar days after the insurer has received that information, any delayed payment shall bear interest, beginning the 31st calendar day, at the rate of 10 percent per year. Liability shall, in all cases, be determined by the insurer within 30 calendar days of receiving all information set out in the insurer's written notification to the insured. (d) Nothing in this section is intended to restrict any other remedies available to an insured by statute or any other law. 10111.5. An insurer shall not be liable for payments claimed under an individual or group policy of life insurance if the duty to make those payments depends upon a factual determination of whether the death of the insured was an accident or a suicide and that fact cannot be established without an autopsy and the autopsy is prohibited under Section 27491.43 of the Government Code. Insurers refusing or delaying payments in those circumstances in good faith shall not be liable for exemplary or punitive damages. 10111.7. (a) An insurer shall not deny or refuse to accept an application for life insurance, or refuse to insure, refuse to renew, cancel, restrict, or otherwise terminate a policy of life insurance, or charge a different rate for the same life insurance coverage, based solely upon the applicant's or insured's past or future lawful travel destinations. (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an insurer from excluding or limiting coverage under a life insurance policy, or refusing to offer life insurance, based upon lawful travel, or from charging a different rate for that coverage, when that action is based upon sound actuarial principles or is related to actual and reasonably expected experience. 10112. Subject to Section 2459 of the Probate Code, in respect to life or disability insurance, or annuity contracts (except as provided in Sections 2500 to 2507, inclusive, of the Probate Code and Section 3500 of the Probate Code and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3600) of Part 8 of Division 4 of the Probate Code), heretofore or hereafter issued to or upon the life of any person not of the full age of 18 years for the benefit of such minor or for the benefit of the father, mother, husband, wife, child, brother, or sister, of such minor, or issued to such minor, subject to written consent of a parent or guardian, upon the life of any person in whom such minor has an insurable interest for the benefit of himself or such minor's father, mother, husband, wife, child, brother or sister, such minor shall not, by reason only of such minority, be deemed incompetent to contract for such insurance or annuity, or for the surrender thereof, or to exercise all contractual rights thereunder, or, subject to approval of a parent or guardian, to give a valid discharge for any benefit accruing or for any money payable thereunder; provided, that all such contracts made by a minor under the age of 16 years, as determined by the nearest birthday, shall have the written consent of a parent or guardian, and that the exercise of all contractual rights under such contracts, or the surrender thereof, or the giving of a valid discharge for any benefit accruing or money payable thereunder, in the case of a minor under the age of 16 years, as determined by the nearest birthday, shall have the written consent of a parent or guardian. All such contracts made by a minor not of the full age of 18 years which may result in any personal liability for assessment shall have the written assumption of any such liability by a parent or guardian in consideration of the issuance of the contract. Such assumption shall be in a form approved by the commissioner, reasonably designed to inform the parent or guardian of the liability thus assumed. Such assumption of liability may be made a part of and included with any written consent of such parent or guardian required under other provisions of this section and it may be provided therein that such assumption shall cover only up to the anniversary date of the policy nearest to the member's birthday at which he or she attains age 18. 10112.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, every policy or certificate of disability insurance covering hospital, medical, or surgical expenses marketed, issued, or delivered to a resident of this state, regardless of the situs of the contract or master group policyholder, shall be subject to all provisions of this code. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to a policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and that is issued outside of California to an employer whose principle place of business and majority of employees are located outside of California. (c) Nothing in subdivision (b) shall be construed to limit the applicability of any other provision of this code to any policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and that is issued outside of California to an employer whose principle place of business and majority of employees are located outside of California. 10112.6. (a) Consistent with federal law, a sponsor of a prescription drug plan authorized by the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173) shall hold a valid license as a life and disability insurer issued by the department or as a health care service plan issued by the Department of Managed Health Care. (b) An entity that is licensed as a life and disability insurer and that operates a prescription drug plan shall be subject to the provisions of this code, unless preempted by federal law. 10113. Every policy of life, disability, or life and disability insurance issued or delivered within this State on or after the first day of January, 1936, by any insurer doing such business within this State shall contain and be deemed to constitute the entire contract between the parties and nothing shall be incorporated therein by reference to any constitution, by-laws, rules, application or other writings, of either of the parties thereto or of any other person, unless the same are indorsed upon or attached to the policy; and all statements purporting to be made by the insured shall, in the absence of fraud, be representations and not warranties. Any waiver of the provisions of this section shall be void. 10113.1. The following provisions shall apply to this act: (a) "Advertisement" means any written, electronic, or printed communication or any communication by means of recorded telephone messages or transmitted on radio, television, the Internet, or similar communications media, including film strips, motion pictures, and videos, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of creating an interest in or inducing a person to purchase or sell, assign, devise, bequest, or transfer the death benefit or ownership of a life insurance policy or an interest in a life insurance policy pursuant to a life settlement contract. (b) "Broker" means a person who, on behalf of an owner, and for a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration, offers or attempts to negotiate life settlement contracts between an owner and providers. A broker represents only the owner and owes a fiduciary duty to the owner to act according to the owner's instructions, and in the best interest of the owner, notwithstanding the manner in which the broker is compensated. A broker does not include an attorney, certified public accountant, or financial planner retained in the type of practice customarily performed in his or her professional capacity to represent the owner whose compensation is not paid directly or indirectly by the provider or any other person, except the owner. (c) "Business of life settlements" means an activity involved in, but not limited to, offering to enter into, soliciting, negotiating, procuring, effectuating, monitoring, or tracking of life settlement contracts. (d) "Commissioner" means the Insurance Commissioner. (e) "Financing entity" means an underwriter, placement agent, lender, purchaser of securities, purchaser of a policy or certificate from a provider, credit enhancer, or any entity that has a direct ownership in a policy or certificate that is the subject of a life settlement contract, as to which both of the following apply: (1) It is an entity whose principal activity related to the transaction is providing funds to effect the life settlement contract or purchase of one or more policies. (2) It is an entity that has an agreement in writing with one or more providers to finance the acquisition of life settlement contracts. (f) "Financing transaction" means a transaction in which a licensed provider obtains financing from a financing entity, including, without limitation, any secured or unsecured financing, any securitization transaction, or any securities offering which either is registered or exempt from registration under federal and state securities law. (g) "Fraudulent life settlement act" includes all of the following: (1) Acts or omissions committed by any person that, for the purpose of depriving another of property or for pecuniary gain, commits or permits its employees or its agents to engage in acts, including, but not limited to, the following: (A) Presenting, causing to be presented, or preparing with knowledge and belief that it will be presented to or by a provider, premium finance lender, broker, insurer, insurance producer, or any other person, false material information, or concealing material information, as part of, in support of, or concerning a fact material to one or more of the following: (i) An application for the issuance of a life settlement contract or insurance policy. (ii) The underwriting of a life settlement contract or insurance policy. (iii) A claim for payment or benefit pursuant to a life settlement contract or insurance policy. (iv) Premiums paid on an insurance policy. (v) Payments and changes in ownership or beneficiary made in accordance with the terms of a life settlement contract or insurance policy. (vi) The reinstatement or conversion of an insurance policy. (vii) The solicitation, offer to enter into, or effectuation of, a life settlement contract or insurance policy. (viii) The issuance of written evidence of life settlement contracts or insurance. (ix) Any application for, or the existence of or any payments related to, a loan secured directly or indirectly by any interest in a life insurance policy. (B) Entering into stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI). (C) Employing any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud in the business of life settlements. (2) Any of the following that any person does, or permits his or her employees or agents to do, in the furtherance of a fraud, or to prevent the detection of a fraud: (A) Remove, conceal, alter, destroy, or sequester from the commissioner the assets or records of a licensee or other person engaged in the business of life settlements. (B) Misrepresent or conceal the financial condition of a licensee, financing entity, insurer, or other person. (C) Transact the business of life settlements in violation of laws requiring a license, certificate of authority, or other legal authority for the transaction of the business of life settlements. (D) File with the commissioner or the chief insurance regulatory official of another jurisdiction a document containing false information or otherwise concealing information about a material fact from the commissioner. (E) Engage in embezzlement, theft, misappropriation, or conversion of moneys, funds, premiums, credits, or other property of a provider, insurer, insured, owner, insurance policyowner, or any other person engaged in the business of life settlements or insurance. (F) Enter into, broker, or otherwise deal in a life settlement contract, the subject of which is a life insurance policy that was obtained by presenting false information concerning any fact material to the policy or by concealing, for the purpose of misleading another, information requested concerning any fact material to the policy, where the owner or the owner's agent intended to defraud the policy's issuer. (G) Attempt to commit, assist, aid, or abet in the commission of, or conspiracy to commit the acts or omissions specified in this subdivision. (H) Misrepresent the state of residence of an owner to be a state or jurisdiction that does not have a law substantially similar to this act for the purpose of evading or avoiding the provisions of this act. (h) "Insured" means the person covered under the policy being considered for sale in a life settlement contract. (i) "Life expectancy" means the arithmetic mean of the number of months the insured under the life insurance policy to be settled can be expected to live considering medical records and appropriate experiential data. (j) "Life insurance producer" means any person licensed in this state as a resident or nonresident insurance agent who has received qualification or authority for life insurance coverage or a life line of coverage pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1621) of Part 2 of Division 1. (k) "Life settlement contract" means a written agreement solicited, negotiated, or entered into in this state between a provider and an owner, establishing the terms under which compensation or any thing of value will be paid, which compensation or thing of value is less than the expected death benefit of the insurance policy or certificate, in return for the owner's assignment, transfer, sale, devise, or bequest of the death benefit or any portion of an insurance policy or certificate of insurance for compensation, provided, however, that the minimum value for a life settlement contract shall be greater than a cash surrender value or accelerated death benefit available at the time of an application for a life settlement contract. "Life settlement contract" also includes the transfer for compensation or value of ownership or beneficial interest in a trust or other entity that owns such policy if the trust or other entity was formed or availed of for the principal purpose of acquiring one or more life insurance contracts, which life insurance contract is owned by a person residing in this state. (1) A "life settlement contract" includes a premium finance loan made for a policy on or before the date of issuance of the policy where one or more of the following conditions apply: (A) The loan proceeds are not used solely to pay premiums for the policy and any costs or expenses incurred by the lender or the borrower in connection with the financing. (B) The owner receives on the date of the premium finance loan a guarantee of the future life settlement value of the policy. (C) The owner agrees on the date of the premium finance loan to sell the policy or any portion of the policy's death benefit on any date following the issuance of the policy, not including an agreement to sell the policy in the event of a default, provided that the default is not pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any other person for the purpose of evading regulation under this act. (2) "Life settlement contract" does not include any of the following: (A) A policy loan by a life insurance company pursuant to the terms of the life insurance policy or accelerated death provisions contained in the life insurance policy, whether issued with the original policy or as a rider. (B) A premium finance loan, as defined herein, or any loan made by a bank or other licensed financial institution, provided that neither default on the loan nor the transfer of the policy in connection with the default is pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any other person for the purpose of evading regulation under this act. (C) A collateral assignment of a life insurance policy by an owner. (D) A loan made by a lender that does not violate Article 5.8 (commencing with Section 778) of Chapter 1 of Part 2, provided the loan is not described in paragraph (1), and is not otherwise within the definition of life settlement contract. (E) An agreement where all of the parties satisfy one of the following conditions: (i) They are closely related to the insured by blood or law. (ii) They have a lawful substantial economic interest in the continued life, health, and bodily safety of the person insured. (iii) They are trusts established primarily for the benefit of those parties. (F) Any designation, consent, or agreement by an insured who is an employee of an employer in connection with the purchase by the employer, or by a trust established by the employer of life insurance on the life of the employee. (G) A bona fide business succession planning arrangement: (i) Between one or more shareholders in a corporation or between a corporation and one or more of its shareholders or one or more trusts established by its shareholders. (ii) Between one or more partners in a partnership or between a partnership and one or more of its partners or one or more trusts established by its partners. (iii) Between one or more members in a limited liability company or between a limited liability company and one or more of its members or one or more trusts established by its members. (H) An agreement entered into by a service recipient, or a trust established by the service recipient, and a service provider, or a trust established by the service provider, who performs significant services for the service recipient's trade or business. (I) Any other contract, transaction, or arrangement from the definition of "life settlement contract" that the commissioner determines is not of the type intended to be regulated by this act. (l) "Net death benefit" means the amount of the life insurance policy or certificate to be settled less any outstanding debts or liens. (m) "Owner" means the owner of a life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group policy, with or without a terminal illness, who enters or seeks to enter into a life settlement contract. For the purposes of this article, an owner shall not be limited to an owner of a life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group policy that insures the life of an individual with a terminal illness or condition except where specifically addressed. The term "owner" does not include any of the following: (1) Any provider or other licensee under this act. (2) A qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A of the federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended. (3) A financing entity. (4) A special purpose entity. (5) A related provider trust. (n) "Patient identifying information" means an insured's address, telephone number, facsimile number, electronic mail address, photograph or likeness, employer, employment status, social security number, or any other information that is likely to lead to the identification of the insured. (o) "Person" means any natural person or legal entity, including, but not limited to, a partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, or corporation. (p) "Policy" means an individual or group policy, group certificate, contract, or arrangement of life insurance owned by a resident of this state, regardless of whether delivered or issued for delivery in this state. (q) "Premium finance loan" is a loan made primarily for the purpose of making premium payments on a life insurance policy, which loan is secured by an interest in such life insurance policy. (r) "Provider" means a person, other than an owner, who enters into or effectuates a life settlement contract with an owner. A provider does not include any of the following: (1) Any bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union. (2) A licensed lending institution or creditor or secured party pursuant to a premium finance loan agreement which takes an assignment of a life insurance policy or certificate issued pursuant to a group life insurance policy as collateral for a loan. (3) The insurer of a life insurance policy or rider to the extent of providing accelerated death benefits or riders or cash surrender value. (4) A purchaser. (5) Any authorized or eligible insurer that provides stop loss coverage to a provider, purchaser, financing entity, special purpose entity, or related provider trust. (6) A financing entity. (7) A related provider trust. (8) A broker. (9) An accredited investor or qualified institutional buyer as defined respectively in Regulation D, Rule 501 or Rule 144A of the federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended, who purchases a life settlement policy from a provider. (s) "Purchaser" means a person who pays compensation or anything of value as consideration for a beneficial interest in a trust which is vested with, or for the assignment, transfer, or sale of, an ownership or other interest in a life insurance policy or a certificate issued pursuant to a group life insurance policy which has been the subject of a life settlement contract. (t) "Related provider trust" means a titling trust or other trust established by a licensed provider or a financing entity for the sole purpose of holding the ownership or beneficial interest in purchased policies in connection with a financing transaction. In order to qualify as a related provider trust, the trust must have a written agreement with the licensed provider under which the licensed provider is responsible for ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements and under which the trust agrees to make all records and files relating to life settlement transactions available to the Department of Insurance as if those records and files were maintained directly by the licensed provider. (u) "Settled policy" means a life insurance policy or certificate that has been acquired by a provider pursuant to a life settlement contract. (v) "Special purpose entity" means a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or other legal entity whose securities pay a fixed rate of return commensurate with established asset-backed capital markets, or has been formed solely to provide either directly or indirectly access to institutional capital markets: (1) For a financing entity or provider. (2) In connection with a transaction in which the securities in the special purpose entity are acquired by the owner or by a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended. (w) "Stranger-originated life insurance" or "STOLI" is an act, practice, or arrangement to initiate the issuance of a life insurance policy in this state for the benefit of a third-party investor who, at the time of policy origination, has no insurable interest, under the laws of this state, in the life of the insured. STOLI practices include, but are not limited to, cases in which life insurance is purchased with resources or guarantees from or through a person or entity, that, at the time of policy inception, could not lawfully initiate the policy himself, herself, or itself, and where, at the time of inception, there is an arrangement or agreement, to directly or indirectly transfer the ownership of the policy or the policy benefits to a third party. Trusts that are created to give the appearance of insurable interest and that are used to initiate policies for investors violate insurable interest laws and the prohibition against wagering on life. STOLI arrangements do not include lawful life settlement contracts as permitted by the act that added this section or those practices set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (k), provided that they are not for the purpose of evading regulation under this act. (x) "Terminally ill" means having an illness or sickness that can reasonably be expected to result in death in 24 months or less. (y) "This act" shall refer to the act in the 2009-10 Regular Session that added Sections 10113.1 to 10113.35, inclusive, and as it may from time to time be amended. 10113.2. (a) This section applies to any person entering into, brokering, or soliciting life settlements pursuant to this section and Sections 10113.1 and 10113.3. (b) (1) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (D), no person may enter into, broker, or solicit life settlements pursuant to Section 10113.1 unless that person has been licensed by the commissioner under this section. The person shall file an application for a license in the form prescribed by the commissioner, and the application shall be accompanied by a fee established by the commissioner. The license fees for a provider license shall be reasonable and sufficient to cover the costs incurred by the department to implement this act. The license and renewal fees for a broker shall be reasonable and sufficient to cover the costs incurred by the department to implement this act and shall not exceed the license and renewal fees established for an insurance producer who is acting as a life settlement broker. The applicant shall provide any information the commissioner may require. The commissioner may issue a license, or deny the application if, in his or her discretion, it is determined that it is contrary to the interests of the public to issue a license to the applicant. The reasons for a denial shall be set forth in writing. (A) An individual acting as a broker under this section shall complete at least 15 hours of continuing education related to life settlements and life settlement transactions, as required and approved by the commissioner, prior to operating as a broker. This requirement shall not apply to a life insurance producer who qualifies under subparagraph (D). (B) A person licensed as an attorney, certified public accountant, or financial planner accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency, who is retained to represent the owner, and whose compensation is not paid directly or indirectly by the provider or purchaser, may negotiate a life settlement contract on behalf of the owner without having to obtain a license as a broker. (C) A person licensed to act as a viatical settlement broker or provider as of December 31, 2009, shall be deemed qualified for licensure as a life settlement broker or provider, and shall be subject to all the provisions of this article as if the person were originally licensed as a life settlement broker or provider. (D) (i) A life insurance producer who has been duly licensed as a life agent for at least one year or as a licensed nonresident producer in this state for one year shall be deemed to meet the licensing requirements of this section and shall be permitted to operate as a broker. (ii) Not later than 10 days from the first day of operating as a broker, the life insurance producer shall notify the commissioner that he or she is acting as a broker, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, and shall pay any applicable fee to be determined by the commissioner. (iii) The fee established by the commissioner shall be reasonable and sufficient to cover the costs incurred by the department to implement this act, but shall not be in excess of the license and renewal fees paid by a life insurance producer. The fee shall be paid by the life insurance producer for each license term the producer intends to operate as a broker. The fee shall be calculated pursuant to Section 1750. The notification to the commissioner shall include an acknowledgment by the life insurance producer that he or she will operate as a broker in accordance with this act. (iv) The insurer that issued the policy that is the subject of a life settlement contract shall not be responsible for any act or omission of a broker or provider arising out of, or in connection with, the life settlement transaction, unless the insurer receives compensation for the replacement of the life settlement contract for the provider or broker. (E) The commissioner shall review the examination for the licensing of life insurance agents and may recommend any changes to the examination to the department's curriculum committee in order to carry out the purposes of this section and Sections 10113.1 and 10113.3. (2) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that it is contrary to the interests of the public for a person licensed pursuant to this section to continue to transact life settlements business, he or she shall issue a notice to the licensee stating the reasons therefor. If, after a hearing, the commissioner concludes that it is contrary to the interests of the public for the licensee to continue to transact life settlements business, he or she may revoke the person's license, or issue an order suspending the license for a period as determined by the commissioner. Any hearing conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, except that the hearing may be conducted by administrative law judges chosen pursuant to Section 11502 or appointed by the commissioner, and the commissioner shall have the powers granted therein. (3) Each licensee shall owe and pay in advance to the commissioner an annual renewal fee in an amount to be determined by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). This fee shall be for each license year, as defined by Section 1629. (4) Any licensee that intends to discontinue transacting life settlements in this state shall so notify the commissioner, and shall surrender its license. (c) A life settlements licensee shall file with the department a copy of all life settlement forms used in this state. No licensee may use any life settlement form in this state unless it has been provided in advance to the commissioner. The commissioner may disapprove a life settlement form if, in his or her discretion, the form, or provisions contained therein, are contrary to the interests of the public, or otherwise misleading or unfair to the consumer. In the case of disapproval, the licensee may, within 15 days of notice of the disapproval, request a hearing before the commissioner or his or her designee, and the hearing shall be held within 30 days of the request. (d) Life settlements licensees shall be required to provide any applicant for a life settlement contract, at the time of application for the life settlement contract, all of the following disclosures in writing and signed by the owner, in at least 12-point type: (1) That there are possible alternatives to life settlements, including, but not limited to, accelerated benefits options that may be offered by the life insurer. (2) The fact that some or all of the proceeds of a life settlement may be taxable and that assistance should be sought from a professional tax adviser. (3) Consequences for interruption of public assistance as provided by information provided by the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services under Section 11022 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (4) That the proceeds from a life settlement could be subject to the claims of creditors. (5) That entering into a life settlement contract may cause other rights or benefits, including conversion rights and waiver of premium benefits that may exist under the policy or certificate of a group policy to be forfeited by the owner and that assistance should be sought from a professional financial adviser. (6) That a change in ownership of the settled policy could limit the insured's ability to purchase insurance in the future on the insured's life because there is a limit to how much coverage insurers will issue on one life. (7) That the owner has a right to rescind a life settlement contract within 30 days of the date it is executed by all parties and the owner has received all required disclosures, or 15 days from receipt by the owner of the proceeds of the settlement, whichever is sooner. Rescission, if exercised by the owner, is effective only if both notice of rescission is given and the owner repays all proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest paid on account of the provider within the rescission period. If the insured dies during the rescission period, the contract shall be deemed to have been rescinded subject to repayment by the owner or the owner's estate of all proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest to the provider. (8) That proceeds will be sent to the owner within three business days after the provider has received the insurer or group administrator's acknowledgment that ownership of the policy or the interest in the certificate has been transferred and the beneficiary has been designated in accordance with the terms of the life settlement contract. (9) The date by which the funds will be available to the owner and the transmitter of the funds. (10) The disclosure document shall include the following language: "All medical, financial, or personal information solicited or obtained by a provider or broker about an insured, including the insured's identity or the identity of family members, a spouse, or a significant other may be disclosed as necessary to effect the life settlement contract between the owner and provider. If you are asked to provide this information, you will be asked to consent to the disclosure. The information may be provided to someone who buys the policy or provides funds for the purchase. You may be asked to renew your permission to share information every two years." (11) That the insured may be contacted by either the provider or the broker or its authorized representative for the purpose of determining the insured's health status or to verify the insured's address. This contact is limited to once every three months if the insured has a life expectancy of more than one year, and no more than once per month if the insured has a life expectancy of one year or less. (12) Any affiliations or contractual relations between the provider and the broker, and the affiliation, if any, between the provider and the issuer of the policy to be settled. (13) That a broker represents exclusively the owner, and not the insurer or the provider or any other person, and owes a fiduciary duty to the owner, including a duty to act according to the owner's instructions and in the best interest of the owner. (14) The name, business address, and telephone number of the broker. (e) Prior to the execution of the life settlement contract by all parties, the life settlement provider entering into a life settlement contract with the owner shall provide, in a document signed by the owner, the gross purchase price the life settlement provider is paying for the policy, the amount of the purchase price to be paid to the owner, the amount of the purchase price to be paid to the owner' s life settlement broker, and the name, business address, and telephone number of the life settlement broker. For purposes of this section, "gross purchase price" means the total amount or value paid by the provider for the purchase of one or more life insurance policies, including commissions and fees. (f) The broker shall provide the owner and the insured with at least all of the following disclosures in writing prior to the signing of the life settlement contract by all parties. The disclosures shall be clearly displayed in the life settlement contract or in a separate document signed by the owner: (1) The name, business address, and telephone number of the broker. (2) A full, complete, and accurate description of all of the offers, counteroffers, acceptances, and rejections relating to the proposed life settlement contract. (3) A disclosure of any affiliations or contractual arrangements between the broker and any person making an offer in connection with the proposed life settlement contract. (4) All estimates of the life expectancy of the insured which are obtained by the licensee in connection with the life settlement, unless such disclosure would violate any California or federal privacy laws. (5) The commissioner may consider any failure to provide the disclosures or rights described in this section as a basis for suspending or revoking a broker's or provider's license pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). (g) All medical information solicited or obtained by any person soliciting or entering into a life settlement is subject to Article 6.6 (commencing with Section 791) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 1, concerning confidentiality of medical information. (h) Except as otherwise allowed or required by law, a provider, broker, insurance company, insurance producer, information bureau, rating agency, or company, or any other person with actual knowledge of an insured's identity shall not disclose the identity of an insured or information that there is a reasonable basis to believe that could be used to identify the insured or the insured's financial or medical information to any other person unless the disclosure is one of the following: (1) It is necessary to effect a life settlement contract between the owner and a provider and the owner and insured have provided prior written consent to the disclosure. (2) It is necessary to effectuate the sale of life settlement contracts, or interests therein, as investments, provided the sale is conducted in accordance with applicable state and federal securities law and provided further that the owner and the insured have both provided prior written consent to the disclosure. (3) It is provided in response to an investigation or examination by the commissioner or any other governmental officer or agency or any other provision of law. (4) It is a term or condition to the transfer of a policy by one provider to another provider, in which case the receiving provider shall be required to comply with the confidentiality requirements of Article 6.6 (commencing with Section 791) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 1. (5) It is necessary to allow the provider or broker or their authorized representatives to make contacts for the purpose of determining health status. For the purposes of this section, the term "authorized representative" shall not include any person who has or may have any financial interest in the settlement contract other than a provider, licensed broker; further, a provider or broker shall require its authorized representative to agree in writing to adhere to the privacy provisions of this act. (6) It is required to purchase stop loss coverage. (i) In addition to other questions an insurance carrier may lawfully pose to a life insurance applicant, insurance carriers may inquire in the application for insurance whether the proposed owner intends to pay premiums with the assistance of financing from a lender that will use the policy as collateral to support the financing. (1) If the premium finance loan provides funds which can be used for a purpose other than paying for the premiums, costs, and expenses associated with obtaining and maintaining the life insurance policy and loan, the application may be rejected as a prohibited practice under this act. (2) If the financing does not violate paragraph (1), the existence of premium financing may not be the sole criterion employed by an insurer in a decision whether to reject an application for life insurance. The insurance carrier may make disclosures to the applicant, either on the application or an amendment to the application to be completed no later than the delivery of the policy, including, but not limited to, the following: "If you have entered into a loan arrangement where the policy is used as collateral, and the policy changes ownership at some point in the future in satisfaction of the loan, the following may be true: "(A) A change of ownership could lead to a stranger owning an interest in the insured's life. "(B) A change of ownership could in the future limit your ability to purchase insurance on the insured's life because there is a limit to how much coverage insurers will issue on a life. "(C) You should consult a professional adviser since a change in ownership in satisfaction of the loan may result in tax consequences to the owner, depending on the structure of the loan." (3) In addition to the disclosures in paragraph (2), the insurance carrier may require the following certifications from the applicant or the insured: "(A) I have not entered into any agreement or arrangement under which I have agreed to make a future sale of this life insurance policy. "(B) My loan arrangement for this policy provides funds sufficient to pay for some or all of the premiums, costs, and expenses associated with obtaining and maintaining my life insurance policy, but I have not entered into any agreement by which I am to receive consideration in exchange for procuring this policy. "(C) The borrower has an insurable interest in the insured." (j) Life insurers shall provide individual life insurance policyholders with a statement informing them that if they are considering making changes in the status of their policy, they should consult with a licensed insurance or financial advisor. The statement may accompany or be included in notices or mailings otherwise provided to the policyholders. (k) The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations reasonably necessary to govern life settlement transactions. (l) The commissioner may, whenever he or she deems it reasonably necessary to protect the interests of the public, examine the business and affairs of any licensee or applicant for a license. The commissioner shall have the authority to order any licensee or applicant to produce any records, books, files, or other information as is reasonably necessary to ascertain whether or not the licensee or applicant is acting or has acted in violation of the law or otherwise contrary to the interests of the public. The expenses incurred in conducting any examination shall be paid by the licensee or applicant. (m) The commissioner may investigate the conduct of any licensee, its officers, employees, agents, or any other person involved in the business of the licensee, or any applicant for a license, whenever the commissioner has reason to believe that the licensee or applicant for a license may have acted, or may be acting, in violation of the law, or otherwise contrary to the interests of the public. The commissioner may initiate an investigation on his or her own, or upon a complaint filed by any other person. (n) The commissioner may issue orders to licensees whenever he or she determines that it is reasonably necessary to ensure or obtain compliance with this section, or Section 10113.3. This authority includes, but is not limited to, orders directing a licensee to cease and desist in any practice that is in violation of this section, or Section 10113.3, or otherwise contrary to the interests of the public. Any licensee to which an order pursuant to this subdivision is issued may, within 15 days of receipt of that order, request a hearing at which the licensee may challenge the order. (o) The commissioner may, after notice and a hearing at which it is determined that a licensee has violated this section or Section 10113.3 or any order issued pursuant to this section, order the licensee to pay a monetary penalty of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), which may be recovered in a civil action. Any hearing conducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, except that the hearing may be conducted by administrative law judges chosen pursuant to Section 11502 or appointed by the commissioner, and the commissioner shall have the powers granted therein. (p) Each licensed provider shall file with the commissioner on or before March 1 of each year an annual statement in the form prescribed by the commissioner. The information that the commissioner may require in the annual statement shall include, but not be limited to, the total number, aggregate face amount, and life settlement proceeds of policies settled during the immediately preceding calendar year, together with a breakdown of the information by policy issue year. The annual statement shall also include the names of the insurance companies whose policies have been settled and the brokers that have settled those policies, and that information shall be received in confidence within the meaning of subdivision (d) of Section 6254 of the Government Code and exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code). The annual statement shall not include individual transaction data regarding the business of life settlements or information that there is a reasonable basis to believe could be used to identify the owner or the insured. (q) No person who is not a resident of California may receive or maintain a license unless a written designation of an agent for service of process is filed and maintained with the commissioner. The provisions of Article 3 (commencing with Section 1600) of Chapter 4 of Part 2 shall apply to life settlements licensees as if they were foreign insurers, their license a certificate of authority, and the life settlements a policy, and the commissioner may modify the agreement set forth in Section 1604 accordingly. (r) No person licensed pursuant to this section shall engage in any false or misleading advertising, solicitation, or practice. In no case shall a broker or provider, directly or indirectly, market, advertise, solicit, or otherwise promote the purchase of a new policy for the sole purpose of or with a primary emphasis on settling the policy or use the words "free," "no cost," or words of similar import in the marketing, advertising, soliciting, or otherwise promoting of the purchase of a policy. The provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 780) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 790) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 shall apply to life settlements licensees as if they were insurers, their license a certificate of authority or producer's license, and the life settlements a policy, and the commissioner shall liberally construe these provisions so as to protect the interests of the public. (s) Any person who enters into a life settlement with a life settlements licensee shall have the absolute right to rescind the settlement within 30 days of the date it is executed by all parties and the owner has received all required disclosures, or 15 days from receipt by the owner of the proceeds of the settlement, whichever is sooner, and any waiver or settlement language contrary to this subdivision shall be void. Rescission, if exercised by the owner, is effective only if both notice of rescission is given and the owner repays all proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest paid on account of the provider within the rescission period. If the insured dies during the rescission period, the contract shall be deemed to have been rescinded subject to repayment by the owner or the owner's estate of all proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest to the provider. (t) Records of all consummated transactions and life settlement contracts shall be maintained by the provider for three years after the death of the insured and shall be available to the commissioner for inspection during reasonable business hours. (u) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor. 10113.3. (a) A provider entering into a life settlement contract with any owner of a policy, wherein the insured is terminally ill, shall first obtain the following: (1) If the owner is the insured, a written statement from a licensed attending physician that the owner is of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence to enter into a settlement contract. (2) A document in which the insured consents to the release of his or her medical records to a provider, settlement broker, or insurance producer and, if the policy was issued less than two years from the date of application for a settlement contract, to the insurance company that issued the policy. (b) The insurer shall respond to a request for verification of coverage submitted by a provider, settlement broker, or life insurance producer not later than 30 calendar days of the date the request is received. The request for verification of coverage must be made on a form approved by the commissioner. The insurer shall complete and issue the verification of coverage or indicate in which respects it is unable to respond. In its response, the insurer shall indicate whether, based on the medical evidence and documents provided, the insurer intends to pursue an investigation at this time regarding the validity of the insurance contract. (c) Before or at the time of execution of the settlement contract, the provider shall obtain a witnessed document in which the owner consents to the settlement contract, represents that the owner has a full and complete understanding of the settlement contract and a full and complete understanding of the benefits of the policy, acknowledges that the owner is entering into the settlement contract freely and voluntarily, and, for persons with a terminal illness or condition, acknowledges that the insured has a terminal illness and that the terminal illness or condition was diagnosed after the policy was issued. (d) The insurer shall not unreasonably delay effecting change of ownership or beneficiary with any life settlement contract lawfully entered into in this state or with a resident of this state. (e) If a settlement broker or life insurance producer performs any of these activities required of the provider, the provider is deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of this section. (f) If a broker performs those verification of coverage activities required of the provider, the provider is deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of this section. (g) Within 20 days after an owner executes the life settlement contract, the provider shall give written notice to the insurer that issued that insurance policy that the policy has become subject to a life settlement contract. The notice shall be accompanied by the documents required by subdivision (d) of Section 10113.2. (h) All medical information solicited or obtained by any licensee shall be subject to the applicable provision of state law relating to confidentiality of medical information, if not otherwise provided in this act. (i) All life settlement contracts entered into in this state shall provide that the owner may rescind the contract on or before 30 days after the date it is executed by all parties thereto, and the owner has received all required disclosures, or 15 days from receipt by the owner of the full payment of the proceeds as specified below, whichever is sooner. Rescission, if exercised by the owner, is effective only if both notice of the rescission is given, and the owner repays all proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest paid on account of the provider within the rescission period. If the insured dies during the rescission period, the contract shall be deemed to have been rescinded subject to repayment by the owner or the owner's estate of all proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest to the provider. (j) Within three business days after receipt from the owner of documents to effect the transfer of the insurance policy, the provider shall pay the proceeds of the settlement to an escrow or trust account managed by a trustee or escrow agent in a state or federally chartered financial institution pending acknowledgment of the transfer by the issuer of the policy. The trustee or escrow agent shall be required to transfer the proceeds due to the owner within three business days of acknowledgment of the transfer from the insurer. (k) Failure to tender the life settlement contract proceeds to the owner by the date disclosed to the owner renders the contract voidable by the owner for lack of consideration until the time the proceeds are tendered to and accepted by the owner. A failure to give written notice of the right of rescission hereunder shall toll the right of rescission until 30 days after the written notice of the right of rescission has been given. (l) Any fee paid by a provider, party, individual, or an owner to a broker in exchange for services provided to the owner pertaining to a life settlement contract shall be computed as a percentage of the offer obtained, not the face value of the policy. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a broker from reducing the broker's fee below this percentage if the broker so chooses. (m) No person at any time prior to, or at the time of, the application for, or issuance of, a policy, or during a two-year period commencing with the date of issuance of the policy, shall enter into a life settlement regardless of the date the compensation is to be provided and regardless of the date the assignment, transfer, sale, devise, bequest, or surrender of the policy is to occur. (1) This prohibition shall not apply if the owner certifies to the provider that the policy was issued upon the owner's exercise of conversion rights arising out of a group or individual policy, provided the total of the time covered under the conversion policy plus the time covered under the prior policy is at least 24 months. The time covered under a group policy must be calculated without regard to a change in insurance carriers, provided the coverage has been continuous and under the same group sponsorship. (2) This prohibition shall not apply if the owner submits independent evidence to the provider that one or more of the following conditions have been met within the two-year period: (A) The owner or insured is terminally ill. (B) The owner or insured disposes of his or her ownership interests in a closely held corporation, pursuant to the terms of a buyout or other similar agreement in effect at the time the insurance policy was initially issued. (C) The owner's spouse dies. (D) The owner divorces his or her spouse. (E) The owner retires from full-time employment. (F) The owner becomes physically or mentally disabled and a physician determines that the disability prevents the owner from maintaining full-time employment. (G) A final order, judgment, or decree is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, on the application of a creditor of the owner, adjudicating the owner bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization of the owner or appointing a receiver, trustee, or liquidator to all or a substantial part of the owner's assets. (3) (A) Copies of the independent evidence required by paragraph (2) shall be submitted to the insurer when the provider submits a request to the insurer for verification of coverage. The copies shall be accompanied by a letter of attestation from the provider that the copies are true and correct copies of the documents received by the provider. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an insurer from exercising its right to contest the validity of any policy. (B) If the provider submits to the insurer a copy of independent evidence provided for in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) when the provider submits a request to the insurer to effect the transfer of the policy to the provider, the copy shall be deemed to establish that the settlement contract satisfies the requirements of this section. (4) This prohibition shall apply only to policies issued on or after the effective date of this section. (n) An insurer shall not: (1) Engage in any transaction, act, or practice that restricts, limits, or impairs the lawful transfer of ownership, change of beneficiary, or assignment of a policy. (2) Make any false or misleading statement for the purpose of dissuading an owner or insured from a lawful life settlement contract. (o) No person providing premium financing shall receive any proceeds, fees, or other consideration from the policy or owner of the policy that are in addition to the amounts required to pay principal, interest, and any reasonable costs or expenses incurred by the lender or borrower in connection with the premium finance agreement, except for the event of a default, unless either the default on the loan or transfer of the policy occurs pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any other person for the purpose of evading regulation under this act. (p) If there is more than one owner on a single policy, and the owners are residents of different states, the life settlement contract shall be governed by the law of the state in which the owner having the largest percentage ownership resides or, if the owners hold equal ownership, the state of residence of one owner agreed upon in writing by all of the owners. The law of the state of the insured shall govern in the event that equal owners fail to agree in writing upon a state of residence for jurisdictional purposes. (q) A provider from this state who enters into a life settlement contract with an owner who is a resident of another state that has enacted statutes or adopted regulations governing life settlement contracts shall be governed in the effectuation of that life settlement contract by the statutes and regulations of the owner's state of residence. If the state in which the owner is a resident has not enacted statutes or regulations governing life settlement contracts, the provider shall give the owner notice that neither state regulates the transaction upon which he or she is entering. For transactions in those states, however, the provider is to maintain all records required if the transactions were executed in the state of residence. The forms used in those states need not be approved by the department. (r) If there is a conflict in the laws that apply to an owner and a purchaser in any individual transaction, the laws of the state that apply to the owner shall take precedence and the provider shall comply with those laws. (s) It is a fraudulent life settlement act and a violation of this section for any person to do any of the following, or any of the acts listed in subdivision (g) of Section 10113.1: (1) Enter into a life settlement contract if a person knows or reasonably should have known that the life insurance policy was obtained by means of a false, deceptive, or misleading application for the policy. (2) Engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business if a person knows or reasonably should have known that the intent was to avoid the notice requirements of this section. (3) Engage in any fraudulent act or practice in connection with any transaction relating to any settlement involving an owner who is a resident of this state. (4) Fail to provide the disclosures or file the required reports with the commissioner as required by this act. (5) Issue, solicit, or market, the purchase of a new life insurance policy for the purpose of, or with a primary emphasis on, settling the policy. (6) Enter into a premium finance agreement with any person or agency, or any person affiliated with a person or agency that is prohibited under subdivision (o). (7) With respect to any settlement contract or insurance policy and a broker, knowingly solicit an offer from, effectuate a life settlement contract with, or make a sale to any provider, financing entity, or related provider trust that is controlling, controlled by, or under common control with a broker, unless the relationship has been fully disclosed to the owner. (8) With respect to any life settlement contract or insurance policy and a provider, knowingly enter into a life settlement contract with an owner, if, in connection with a life settlement contract, anything of value will be paid to a broker that is controlling, controlled by, or under common control with a provider or the financing entity, or related provider trust that is involved in a settlement contract, unless the relationship has been fully disclosed to the owner. (9) With respect to a provider, enter into a life settlement contract unless the life settlement promotional, advertising, and marketing materials, as may be prescribed by regulation, have been filed with the commissioner. In no event shall any marketing materials expressly reference that the insurance is "free" for any period of time. The inclusion of any reference in the marketing materials that would cause an owner to reasonably believe that the insurance is free for any period of time shall be considered a violation of this act; or with respect to any life insurance producer, insurance company, broker, or provider make any statement or representation to the applicant or policyholder in connection with the sale or financing of a life insurance policy to the effect that the insurance is free or without cost to the policyholder for any period of time unless provided in the policy. (t) Life settlement contracts and applications for life settlement contracts, regardless of the form of transmission, shall contain the following statement or a substantially similar statement: "Any person who knowingly presents false information in an application for insurance or for a life settlement contract may be subject to criminal or civil liability." (1) The lack of a statement as required by this subdivision does not constitute a defense in any prosecution for a fraudulent life settlement act. (2) This act shall not: (A) Preempt the authority or relieve the duty of other law enforcement or regulatory agencies to investigate, examine, and prosecute suspected violations of law. (B) Preempt, supersede, or limit any provision of any state securities law or any rule, order, or notice issued thereunder. (C) Prevent or prohibit a person from disclosing voluntarily information concerning life settlement fraud to a law enforcement or regulatory agency other than the insurance department. (D) Limit the powers granted elsewhere by the laws of this state to the commissioner or an insurance fraud unit to investigate and examine possible violations of law and to take appropriate action against wrongdoers. (u) A provider lawfully transacting business in this state prior to the effective date of this act may continue to do so, pending approval or disapproval of that person's application for a license as long as the application is filed with the commissioner not later than 30 days after publication by the commissioner of an application form and instructions for licensure of providers. If the publication of the application form and instructions is prior to the effective date of this chapter, then the filing of the application shall not be later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. During the time that an application is pending with the commissioner, the applicant may use any form of life settlement contract that has been filed with the commissioner pending approval thereof, provided that the form is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this act. Any person transacting business in this state under this provision shall be obligated to comply with all other requirements of this act. A person who has lawfully acted as a broker and negotiated life settlement contracts between any owner residing in this state and one or more providers for at least one year immediately prior to the effective date of this act may continue to do so pending approval or disapproval of that person's application for a license, as long as the application is filed with the commissioner not later than 30 days after publication by the commissioner of an application form and instructions for licensure of brokers. If the publication of the application form and instructions is prior to the effective date of this chapter, then the filing of the application shall not be later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. Any person transacting business in this state under this provision shall be obligated to comply with all other requirements of this act. 10113.35. (a) For the purposes of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption or amendment of the regulations required to be adopted pursuant to this article is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety and general welfare. (b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, any emergency regulations adopted or amended by the state board pursuant to this article shall be filed with, but not be repealed by, the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until repealed by the department. 10113.4. If a group life insurance policy contains a provision that makes a certificate holder's coverage contestable on the grounds of suicide for a period following commencement of coverage, only the unexpired portion of that period shall be applied to a certificate holder's individual conversion policy of an equal or lesser amount of coverage. 10113.5. (a) An individual life insurance policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall contain a provision that it is incontestable after it has been in force, during the lifetime of the insured, for a period of not more than two years after its date of issue, except for nonpayment of premiums and except for any of the supplemental benefits described in Section 10271, to the extent that the contestability of those benefits is otherwise set forth in the policy or contract supplemental thereto. An individual life insurance policy, upon reinstatement, may be contested on account of fraud or misrepresentation of facts material to the reinstatement only for the same period following reinstatement, and with the same conditions and exceptions, as the policy provides with respect to contestability after original issuance. (b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if photographic identification is presented during the application process, and if an impostor is substituted for a named insured in any part of the application process, with or without the knowledge of the named insured, then no contract between the insurer and the named insured is formed, and any purported insurance contract is void from its inception. (2) As used in this subdivision: (A) "Application process" means any or all of the steps required of a named insured in applying for a certificate under an individual policy of life insurance, including, but not limited to, executing any part of the application form, submitting to medical or physical examination or testing, or providing a sample or specimen of blood, urine, or other bodily substance. (B) "Impostor" means a person other than the named insured who participates in any manner in the application process for a certificate under an individual life insurance policy and represents himself or herself to be the named insured or represents that a sample or specimen of blood, urine, or other bodily substance is that of the named insured. (C) "Named insured" means the individual named in an application form for a certificate under an individual life insurance policy as the person whose life is to be insured. (c) This section shall not be construed to preclude at any time the assertion of defenses based upon policy provisions that exclude or restrict coverage. (d) This section shall not apply to individual life insurance policies delivered or issued for delivery in this state on or before December 31, 1973. 10113.6. (a) An insurer that is required to deliver a life insurance policy to the owner of the policy in order to start the period running during which the owner may exercise any statutory right to return a policy for cancellation, shall accomplish the delivery by: (1) Registered or certified mail. (2) Personal delivery, with a signed, written receipt of delivery. (3) First-class mail, with a signed, written receipt of delivery. (4) Other reasonable means, as determined by the commissioner. (b) If an insurer does not deliver a policy by the means set forth in subdivision (a), the burden of proof shall be on the insurer to establish that the policy was delivered, in the event of a dispute with the owner of the policy. (c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), a policy shall be deemed to have been received six months after the date of issuance if premiums have been paid. (d) An employer or corporate policy owner, or the plan trustee of an employer or corporate policy owner who controls 100 or more policies, shall have the option to request in writing from an insurer the delivery of a sample policy with one or more census pages in a form satisfactory to the employer, corporate policy owner, or plan trustee, as an alternative to the delivery requirements of subdivision (a). However, delivery of the sample policy and census page as provided in this subdivision shall be subject to the provisions of subdivisions (a) and (b). The insurer shall deliver all of the policies listed on the census page to the employer, corporate policy owner, or plan trustee within 30 days of demand for delivery. The delivery of the actual policies shall not institute a new "free look" period. 10113.7. (a) An increase of premium on an individual life insurance policy that provides for premium changes by the insurer is not effective unless written notice is delivered to the policyholder, or mailed to his or her last known address as shown by the records of the insurer, not less than 20 days prior to the effective date of the increase. If the notice is sent with or contained as part of an ordinary premium or renewal invoice or payment request, the notice of increase shall be prominently displayed and stated separately from the ordinary statement of the amount due. (b) This section shall not apply to premium increases resulting directly from changes in coverage requested by the policyholder, or when the insurer has previously disclosed, in writing, either at the time the policy was issued or during the life of the contract, a specific date of change of premium, and the new premium amount. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit application of any other provision of law, nor shall it be construed to prevent application of any contractual provision affording greater rights to the policyholder. 10113.8. (a) Each health insurer that maintains an Internet Web site shall make a downloadable copy of the comparative benefit matrix prepared pursuant to Section 10127.14 available through a link on its site to the Internet Web sites of the department and the Department of Managed Health Care. (b) Each health insurer shall send copies of the comparative benefit matrix on an annual basis, or more frequently as the matrix is updated by the department and the Department of Managed Health Care, to solicitors and solicitor firms and employers with whom it contracts. Each health insurer shall require its representatives and the solicitors and soliciting firms with which it contracts, to provide a copy of the comparative benefit matrix to individuals when presenting any benefit package for examination or sale. (c) This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, CHAMPUS supplement, long-term care, Medicare supplement, dental-only, or vision-only insurance policies. 10113.9. (a) This section shall not apply to short-term limited duration health insurance, vision-only, dental-only, or Champus-supplement insurance, or to hospital indemnity, hospital-only, accident-only, or specified disease insurance that does not pay benefits on a fixed benefit, cash payment only basis. (b) No change in the premium rate or coverage for an individual health insurance policy shall become effective unless the insurer has delivered a written notice of the change at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the contract renewal or the date on which the rate or coverage changes. A notice of an increase in the premium rate shall include the reasons for the rate increase. (c) The written notice required pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be delivered to the individual policyholder at his or her last address known to the insurer, at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the change. The notice shall state in italics either the actual dollar amount of the premium increase or the specific percentage by which the current premium will be increased. The notice shall describe in plain, understandable English any changes in the policy or any changes in benefits, including a reduction in benefits or changes to waivers, exclusions, or conditions, and highlight this information by printing it in italics. The notice shall specify in a minimum of 10-point bold typeface, the reason for a premium rate change or a change in coverage or benefits. (d) If an insurer rejects an applicant or the dependents of an applicant for coverage or offers individual coverage at a rate that is higher than the standard rate, the insurer shall inform the applicant about the state's high-risk health insurance pool, the California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700). The information provided to the applicant by the insurer shall specifically include the program's toll-free telephone number and its Internet Web site address. The requirement to notify applicants of the availability of the California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program shall not apply when a health plan rejects an applicant for Medicare supplement coverage. 10113.95. (a) A health insurer that issues, renews, or amends individual health insurance policies shall be subject to this section. (b) An insurer subject to this section shall have written policies, procedures, or underwriting guidelines establishing the criteria and process whereby the insurer makes its decision to provide or to deny coverage to individuals applying for coverage and sets the rate for that coverage. These guidelines, policies, or procedures shall assure that the plan rating and underwriting criteria comply with Sections 10140 and 10291.5 and all other applicable provisions. (c) On or before June 1, 2006, and annually thereafter, every insurer shall file with the commissioner a general description of the criteria, policies, procedures, or guidelines that the insurer uses for rating and underwriting decisions related to individual health insurance policies, which means automatic declinable health conditions, health conditions that may lead to a coverage decline, height and weight standards, health history, health care utilization, lifestyle, or behavior that might result in a decline for coverage or severely limit the health insurance products for which they would be eligible. An insurer may comply with this section by submitting to the department underwriting materials or resource guides provided to agents and brokers, provided that those materials include the information required to be submitted by this section. (d) Commencing September 1, 2006, the commissioner shall post on the department's Web site, in a manner accessible and understandable to consumers, general, noncompany specific information about rating and underwriting criteria and practices in the individual market and information about the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program. The commissioner shall develop the information for the Web site in consultation with the Department of Managed Health Care to enhance the consistency of information provided to consumers. Information about individual health insurance shall also include the following notification: "Please examine your options carefully before declining group coverage or continuation coverage, such as COBRA, that may be available to you. You should be aware that companies selling individual health insurance typically require a review of your medical history that could result in a higher premium or you could be denied coverage entirely." (e) Nothing in this section shall authorize public disclosure of company-specific rating and underwriting criteria and practices submitted to the commissioner. (f) This section shall not apply to a closed block of business, as defined in Section 10176.10. 10114. Before an insurer may pay the proceeds of any contract of life or disability insurance to any undertaker or funeral director, as beneficiary or assignee, for funeral services, it shall require proof satisfactory to it that the services have been rendered. If proof of rendition of services is not furnished within thirty days after demand is made upon an insurer for such payment and in any event within one year from the date of the insured's death, the insurer shall pay the proceeds of such insurance to any contingent or other beneficiary designated in the policy, and if no contingent or other beneficiary is so designated, to the estate of the insured or to any person, other than to such undertaker or funeral director, equitably entitled to all or any portion of the proceeds by reason of having incurred expense or furnished funeral services for the insured, to the extent of the expense incurred or services furnished. 10115. When a payment is made equal to the full first premium at the time an application for life insurance other than group life insurance is signed by the applicant and either (1) the applicant received at that time a receipt for said payment on a form prepared by the insurer, or (2) in the absence of such a receipt the insurer receives the said payment at its home office, branch office, or the office of one of its general agencies, and in either case the insurer, pursuant to its regular underwriting practices and standards, approves the application for the issuance by it of a policy of life insurance on the plan and for the class of risk and amount of insurance applied for, and the person to be insured dies on or after the date of the application, on or after the date of the medical examination, if any, or on or after any date specially requested in the application for the policy to take effect, whichever is later, but before such policy is issued and delivered, the insurer shall pay such amount as would have been due under the terms of the policy in the same manner and subject to the same rights, conditions and defenses as if such policy had been issued and delivered on the date the application was signed by the applicant. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit an insurer from limiting the maximum amount for which it may be liable prior to actual issuance and delivery of the policy of life insurance either to (1) an amount not less than its established maximum retention, or to (2) fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), if a statement to this effect is included in the application. 10116. No group life insurance policy or disability insurance policy shall be issued or delivered in this State where the premiums or any part thereof is paid or is to be paid in whole or in part by an employer pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement unless the policy provides that in the event of a cessation of work by the employees covered by the policy as the result of a labor dispute the policy, upon timely payment of the premium, shall continue in effect with respect to all employees insured by the policy on the date of the cessation of work who continue to pay their individual contribution, and who assume and pay the contribution due from the employer, for the period of cessation of work, under the following conditions: (a) If the policyholder is not a trustee or the trustees of a fund established or maintained in whole or in part by the employer, the policy shall provide that the employee's individual contribution shall be the rate in the policy, on the date cessation of work occurs, applicable to an individual in the class to which the employee belongs as set forth in the policy. If the policy does not provide for a rate applicable to individuals, the policy shall provide that the employee's individual contribution shall be an amount equal to the amount determined by dividing (1) the total monthly premium in effect under the policy at the date of cessation of work by (2) the total number of persons insured under the policy at such date. (b) If the policyholder is a trustee or the trustees of a fund established or maintained in whole or in part by the employer, the employee's contribution shall be the amount which he and his employer would have been required to contribute to the trust for such employee if (1) the cessation of work had not occurred and (2) the agreement requiring the employer to make contributions to the trust were in full force. (c) The policy may provide that the continuation of insurance is contingent upon the collection of individual contributions by the union or unions representing the employees for policies referred to in subdivision (a) above, and by the policyholder or the policyholder' s agent with respect to policies referred to in subdivision (b) above. (d) The policy may provide that the continuation of insurance on each employee is contingent upon timely payment of contributions by the individual and timely payment of the premium by the entity responsible for collecting the individual contributions. (e) The policy may provide that each individual premium rate shall be increased by any amount up to twenty percent (20%), or any higher percent which may be approved by the commissioner, of that otherwise shown in the policy during the period of cessation of work in order to provide sufficient compensation to the insurer to cover increased administrative costs and increased mortality and morbidity. If the policy does provide for such an increase, this shall have the effect of increasing the employee's contribution by a like percent. (f) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit any right which the insurer may have in accordance with the terms of the policy to increase or decrease the premium rates before, during or after such cessation of work if, in fact, the insurer would have had the right to increase the premium rate had the cessation of work not occurred. If such a premium rate change is made, it shall be effective, notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, on such date as the insurer shall determine in accordance with the terms of the policy. (g) The policy may contain such other provisions with respect to such continuation of insurance as the commissioner may approve. (h) The policy may provide that, if a premium is unpaid at the date of cessation of work and such premium became due prior to such cessation of work, the continuation of insurance is contingent upon payment of such premium prior to the date the next premium becomes due under the terms of the policy. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the continuation of any loss of time payments included in any such group disability policy, nor of any other coverages beyond the time that seventy-five percent (75%) of the employees continue such coverage or as to any individual employee beyond the time that he takes full-time employment with another employer; nor shall anything herein be deemed to require continuation of coverage more than six (6) months after the cessation of work. Nothing in this section shall be construed as modifying or in any way affecting the operation and effect of the provisions of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code. 10116.5. (a) Every policy of disability insurance that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1999, that provides hospital, medical, or surgical expense coverage under an employer-sponsored group plan for an employer subject to COBRA, as defined in subdivision (e), or an employer group for which the disability insurer is required to offer Cal-COBRA coverage, as defined in subdivision (f), including a carrier providing replacement coverage under Section 10128.3, shall further offer the former employee the opportunity to continue benefits as required under subdivision (b), and shall further offer the former spouse of an employee or former employee the opportunity to continue benefits as required under subdivision (c). (b) (1) If a former employee worked for the employer for at least five years prior to the date of termination of employment and is 60 years of age or older on the date employment ends is entitled to and so elects to continue benefits under COBRA or Cal-COBRA for himself or herself and for any spouse, the employee or spouse may further continue benefits beyond the date coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA ends, as set forth in paragraph (2). Except as otherwise specified in this section, continuation coverage shall be under the same benefit terms and conditions as if the continuation coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA had remained in force. For the employee or spouse, continuation coverage following the end of COBRA or Cal-COBRA is subject to payment of premiums to the insurer. Individuals ineligible for COBRA or Cal-COBRA or who are eligible but have not elected or exhausted continuation coverage under federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA are not entitled to continuation coverage under this section. Premiums for continuation coverage under this section shall be billed by, and remitted to, the insurer in accordance with subdivision (d). Failure to pay the requisite premiums may result in termination of the continuation coverage in accordance with the applicable provisions in the insurer's group contract with the employer. (2) The employer shall notify the former employee or spouse or both, or the former spouse of the employee or former employee, of the availability of the continuation benefits under this section in accordance with Section 2800.2 of the Labor Code. To continue health care coverage pursuant to this section, the individual shall elect to do so by notifying the insurer in writing within 30 calendar days prior to the date continuation coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA is scheduled to end. Every disability insurer shall provide to the employer replacing a group benefit plan policy issued by the insurer, or to the employer's agent or broker representative, within 15 days of any written request, information in possession of the insurer reasonably required to administer the requirements of Section 2800.2 of the Labor Code. (3) The continuation coverage shall end automatically on the earlier of (A) the date the individual reaches age 65, (B) the date the individual is covered under any group health plan not maintained by the employer or any other insurer or health care service plan, regardless of whether that coverage is less valuable, (C) the date the individual becomes entitled to Medicare under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, (D) for a spouse, five years from the date on which continuation coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA was scheduled to end for the spouse, or (E) the date on which the employer terminates its group contract with the insurer and ceases to provide coverage for any active employees through that insurer, in which case the insurer shall notify the former employee or spouse, or both, of the right to a conversion policy. (c) (1) If a former spouse of an employee or former employee was covered as a qualified beneficiary under COBRA or Cal-COBRA, the former spouse may further continue benefits beyond the date coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA ends, as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). Except as otherwise specified in this section, continuation coverage shall be under the same benefit terms and conditions as if the continuation coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA had remained in force. Continuation coverage following the end of COBRA or Cal-COBRA is subject to payment of premiums to the insurer. Premiums for continuation coverage under this section shall be billed by, and remitted to, the insurer in accordance with subdivision (d). Failure to pay the requisite premiums may result in termination of the continuation coverage in accordance with the applicable provisions in the insurer's group contract with the employer or former employer. (2) The continuation coverage for the former spouse shall end automatically on the earlier of (A) the date the individual reaches 65 years of age, (B) the date the individual is covered under any group health plan not maintained by the employer or any other health care service plan or insurer, regardless of whether that coverage is less valuable, (C) the date the individual becomes entitled to Medicare under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, (D) five years from the date on which continuation coverage under COBRA or Cal-COBRA was scheduled to end for the former spouse, or (E) the date on which the employer or former employer terminates its group contract with the insurer and ceases to provide coverage for any active employees through that insurer, in which case the insurer shall notify the former spouse of the right to a conversion policy. (d) (1) If the premium charged to the employer for a specific employee or dependent eligible under this section is adjusted for the age of the specific employee, or eligible dependent, on other than a composite basis, the rate for continuation coverage under this section shall not exceed 102 percent of the premium charged by the insurer to the employer for an employee of the same age as the former employee electing continuation coverage in the case of an individual who was eligible for COBRA, and 110 percent in the case of an individual who was eligible for Cal-COBRA. If the coverage continued is that of a former spouse, the premium charged shall not exceed 102 percent of the premium charged by the plan to the employer for an employee of the same age as the former spouse selecting continuation coverage in the case of an individual who was eligible for COBRA, and 110 percent in the case of an individual who was eligible for Cal-COBRA. (2) If the premium charged to the employer for a specific employee or dependent eligible under this section is not adjusted for age of the specific employee, or eligible dependent, then the rate for continuation coverage under this section shall not exceed 213 percent of the applicable current group rate. For purposes of this section, the "applicable current group rate" means the total premiums charged by the insurer for coverage for the group, divided by the relevant number of covered persons. (3) However, in computing the premiums charged to the specific employer group, the insurer shall not include consideration of the specific medical care expenditures for beneficiaries receiving continuation coverage pursuant to this section. (e) For purposes of this section, "COBRA" means Section 4980B of Title 26, Section 1161 and following of Title 29, and Section 300bb of Title 42 of the United States Code, as added by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-272), and as amended. (f) For purposes of this section, "Cal-COBRA" means the continuation coverage that must be offered pursuant to Article 1.7 (commencing with Section 10128.50), or Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 1366.20) of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. (g) For the purposes of this section, "former spouse" means either an individual who is divorced from an employee or former employee or an individual who was married to an employee or former employee at the time of the death of the employee or former employee. (h) Every group benefit plan evidence of coverage that is issued, amended, or renewed after January 1, 1999, shall contain a description of the provisions and eligibility requirements for the continuation coverage offered pursuant to this section. (i) This section shall take effect on January 1, 1999. (j) This section does not apply to any individual who is not eligible for its continuation coverage prior to January 1, 2005. 10117. (a) A policy of disability insurance, self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, or nonprofit hospital service plan may not provide an exception for other coverage where the other coverage is entitlement to Medi-Cal benefits under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14500) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or medicaid benefits under Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code. Each policy of disability insurance shall be interpreted not to provide an exception for those Medi-Cal or medicaid benefits. (b) A policy of disability insurance may not provide that the benefits payable thereunder are subject to reduction if the individual insured has entitlement to such Medi-Cal benefits. (c) A policy of disability insurance, self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, or nonprofit hospital service plan shall not provide an exception for enrollment for benefits because of an applicant's entitlement to Medi-Cal benefits under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14500) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or medicaid benefits under Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code. 10117.5. No disability insurer contract that covers hospital, medical, or surgical benefits that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on and after January 1, 2002, shall contain a provision that prohibits or restricts any health facilities' compliance with the requirements of Section 1262.5 of the Health and Safety Code. 10118. A policy of disability insurance delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than 120 days after the effective date of this section, which provides that coverage of a dependent child shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children specified in the policy or contract, shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both (a) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental retardation or physical handicap and (b) chiefly dependent upon the insured for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the insurer by the insured within 31 days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as may be required by the insurer, but not more frequently than annually after the two-year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age. Disability policies currently approved by the commissioner which are delivered or issued for delivery more than 120 days after the effective date of this section shall be automatically construed to be in compliance with this section and need not be refiled or reprinted. Disability policies submitted to the commissioner for approval on and after the effective date of this section shall contain provisions in compliance with this section. 10119. On and after the operative date of this section: (a) No policy of disability insurance which, in addition to covering the insured, also covers members of the insured's immediate family, may be issued or amended in this state if it contains any disclaimer, waiver, or other limitation of coverage relative to the accident and sickness coverage or insurability of newborn infants of an insured from and after the moment of birth or of any minor child placed with an insured for adoption from and after the moment the child is placed in the physical custody of the insured for adoption. (b) Each such policy of disability insurance shall contain a provision granting immediate accident and sickness coverage to each newborn infant of, and each minor child placed for adoption with, any insured as required by subdivision (a). (c) A policy of disability insurance, self-insured care coverage, employee welfare benefit plan, or nonprofit hospital service plan, shall comply with the standards set forth in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 3750) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Family Code and Section 14124.94 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. 10119.1. (a) This section shall apply to a health insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses under an individual health benefit plan, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2007. (b) At least once each year, a health insurer shall permit an individual who has been covered for at least 18 months under an individual health benefit plan to transfer, without medical underwriting, to any other individual health benefit plan offered by that same health insurer that provides equal or lesser benefits as determined by the insurer. "Without medical underwriting" means that the health insurer shall not decline to offer coverage to, or deny enrollment of, the individual or impose any preexisting condition exclusion on the individual who transfers to another individual health benefit plan pursuant to this section. (c) The insurer shall establish, for the purposes of subdivision (b), a ranking of the individual health benefit plans it offers to individual purchasers and post the ranking on its Internet Web site or make the ranking available upon request. The insurer shall update the ranking whenever a new benefit design for individual purchasers is approved. (d) The insurer shall notify in writing all insureds of the right to transfer to another individual health benefit plan pursuant to this section, at a minimum, when the insurer changes the insured's premium rate. Posting this information on the insurer's Internet Web site shall not constitute notice for purposes of this subdivision. The notice shall adequately inform insureds of the transfer rights provided under this section including information on the process to obtain details about the individual health benefit plans available to that insured and advising that the insured may be unable to return to his or her current individual health benefit plan if the insured transfers to another individual health benefit plan. (e) The requirements of this section shall not apply to the following: (1) A federally eligible defined individual, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 10900, who purchases individual coverage pursuant to Section 10785. (2) An individual offered conversion coverage pursuant to Sections 12672 and 12682.1. (3) An individual enrolled in the Medi-Cal program pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (4) An individual enrolled in the Access for Infants and Mothers Program, pursuant to Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695). (5) An individual enrolled in the Healthy Families Program pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693). (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that individuals shall have more choice in their health care coverage when health insurers guarantee the right of an individual to transfer to another product based on the insurer's own ranking system. The Legislature does not intend for the department to review or verify the insurer's ranking for actuarial or other purposes. 10119.2. (a) Every health insurer that offers, issues, or renews health insurance under an individual health benefit plan, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, shall offer to any individual, who was covered under an individual health benefit plan that was rescinded, a new individual health benefit plan without medical underwriting that provides equal benefits. A health insurer may also permit an individual, who was covered under an individual health benefit plan that was rescinded, to remain covered under that individual health benefit plan, with a revised premium rate that reflects the number of persons remaining on the health benefit plan. (b) "Without medical underwriting" means that the health insurer shall not decline to offer coverage to, or deny enrollment of, the individual or impose any preexisting condition exclusion on the individual who is issued a new individual health benefit plan or remains covered under an individual health benefit plan pursuant to this section. (c) If a new individual health benefit plan is issued, the insurer may revise the premium rate to reflect only the number of persons covered under the new individual health benefit plan. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) and (b), if an individual was subject to a preexisting condition provision or a waiting or affiliation period under the individual health benefit plan that was rescinded, the health insurer may apply the same preexisting condition provision or waiting or affiliation period in the new individual health benefit plan. The time period in the new individual health benefit plan for the preexisting condition provision or waiting or affiliation period shall not be longer than the one in the individual health benefit plan that was rescinded and the health insurer shall credit any time that the individual was covered under the rescinded individual health benefit plan. (e) The insurer shall notify in writing all insureds of the right to coverage under an individual health benefit plan pursuant to this section, at a minimum, when the insurer rescinds the individual health benefit plan. The notice shall adequately inform insureds of the right to coverage provided under this section. (f) The insurer shall provide 60 days for insureds to accept the offered new individual health benefit plan and this plan shall be effective as of the effective date of the original individual health benefit plan and there shall be no lapse in coverage. (g) This section shall not apply to any individual whose information in the application for coverage and related communications led to the rescission. 10119.3. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agent or broker who assists an applicant in submitting an application to a health insurer has the duty to assist the applicant in providing answers to health questions accurately and completely. (b) An agent or broker who assists an applicant in submitting an application to a health insurer shall attest on the written application to both of the following: (1) That to the best of his or her knowledge, the information on the application is complete and accurate. (2) That he or she explained to the applicant, in easy-to-understand language, the risk to the applicant of providing inaccurate information and that the applicant understood the explanation. (c) If, in an attestation required by subdivision (b), a declarant willfully states as true any material fact he or she knows to be false, that person shall, in addition to any applicable penalties or remedies available under current law, be subject to a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Any public prosecutor may bring a civil action to impose that civil penalty. These penalties shall be paid to the Insurance Fund. (d) A health insurance application shall include a statement advising declarants of the civil penalty authorized under this section. 10119.5. (a) No individual or group policy of health insurance that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after July 1, 2003, that provides maternity coverage shall contain a copayment or deductible for inpatient hospital maternity services that exceeds the most common amount of the copayment or deductible contained in the policy for inpatient services provided for other covered medical conditions or contain a copayment or deductible for ambulatory care maternity services that exceeds the most common amount of the copayment or deductible contained in the policy for ambulatory care services provided for other covered medical conditions. (b) No group or blanket policy of health insurance that provides maternity benefits for a person covered continuously from conception shall be issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state if it contains any exclusion, reduction, or other limitations as to coverage, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions, as to involuntary complications of pregnancy, unless the provisions apply generally to all benefits paid under the policy. (c) For purposes of this section, involuntary complications of pregnancy shall include, but not be limited to, puerperal infection, eclampsia, cesarean section delivery, ectopic pregnancy, and toxemia. (d) This section shall not apply to Medicare supplement, vision-only, or Champus-supplement insurance, or to hospital indemnity, accident-only, and specified disease insurance that does not pay benefits on a fixed benefit, cash payment only basis. (e) This section shall not permit copayments or deductibles in the Medi-Cal program that are not otherwise authorized under state or federal law. (f) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2003. 10119.6. (a) On and after January 1, 1990, every insurer issuing, renewing, or amending a policy of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis shall offer coverage of infertility treatment, except in vitro fertilization, under those terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. Every insurer shall communicate the availability of that coverage to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom they are negotiating. (b) For purposes of this section, "infertility" means either (1) the presence of a demonstrated condition recognized by a licensed physician and surgeon as a cause of infertility, or (2) the inability to conceive a pregnancy or to carry a pregnancy to a live birth after a year or more of regular sexual relations without contraception. "Treatment for infertility" means procedures consistent with established medical practices in the treatment of infertility by licensed physicians and surgeons including, but not limited to, diagnosis, diagnostic tests, medication, surgery, and gamete intrafallopian transfer. "In vitro fertilization" means the laboratory medical procedures involving the actual in vitro fertilization process. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny or restrict in any way any existing right or benefit to coverage and treatment of infertility under an existing law, plan or policy. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any employer that is a religious organization to offer coverage for forms of treatment of infertility in a manner inconsistent with the religious organization's religious and ethical principles. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any insurer, which is a subsidiary of an entity whose owner or corporate member is a religious organization, to offer coverage for treatment of infertility in a manner inconsistent with that religious organization's religious and ethical principles. For purposes of this subdivision, "subsidiary" of a specified corporation means a corporation more than 45 percent of the voting power of which is owned directly, or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, by the specified corporation. (f) This section applies to every disability insurance policy which is issued, amended, or renewed to residents of this state regardless of the situs of the contract. 10119.7. No group or individual policy of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall be issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1981, if it contains any exclusion, reduction, or other limitations, as to coverage, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions applicable solely to conditions attributable to diethylstilbestrol or exposure to diethylstilbestrol. All policies subject to this section and issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1981, shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in any such policy which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. 10119.8. On and after January 1, 1993, every insurer issuing, amending, or renewing a policy of individual or group disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer coverage for screening for blood lead levels for covered children. This section shall not apply to specified accident, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or long-term care health insurance policies. 10119.9. (a) A disability insurance policy or certificate covering hospital, surgical, or medical expenses, that meets the definition of "health benefit plan" in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2000, shall be deemed to cover general anesthesia and associated facility charges for dental procedures rendered in a hospital or surgery center setting, when the clinical status or underlying medical condition of the insured requires dental procedures that ordinarily would not require general anesthesia to be rendered in a hospital or surgery center setting. The disability insurance policy or certificate may require prior authorization of general anesthesia and associated charges required for dental care procedures in the same manner that prior authorization is required for other covered diseases or conditions. (b) This section shall apply only to general anesthesia and associated facility charges for only the following insureds, and only if the insureds meet the criteria in subdivision (a): (1) Insureds who are under seven years of age. (2) Insureds who are developmentally disabled, regardless of age. (3) Insureds whose health is compromised and for whom general anesthesia is medically necessary, regardless of age. (c) Nothing in this section shall require insurers to cover any charges for the dental procedure itself, including the professional fee of the dentist. Coverage for anesthesia and associated facility charges pursuant to this section shall be subject to all other terms and conditions of the policy or certificate that apply generally to other benefits. (d) Nothing in this section shall require insurers to cover anesthesia or related facility charges for dental procedures that ordinarily would require general anesthesia and that do not meet the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), or (c). (e) A disability insurance policy may include coverage specified in subdivision (a) at any time prior to January 1, 2000. 10120. If a policy of disability insurance issued, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state after the effective date of this section provides in any manner for payment of all or part of the cost of a "sterilization operation or procedure" any exclusion, reduction, or limitation on such a benefit based upon the reason, or reasons, of the covered persons for requesting such sterilization shall be void and of no effect. All disability policies issued, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state after effective date of this section shall be automatically construed to be in compliance with this section and need not be refiled or reprinted. As used in this code, "sterilization operations or procedures" shall include and mean any operation or procedure altering the human body which has as its purpose, or one of its purposes, the temporary or permanent prevention of procreation by either a male or a female. 10120.2. (a) This section shall only apply to a disability insurer that issues a dental insurance policy pursuant to this part. (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) "Coordination of benefits" means the method by which a disability insurer and one or more other disability insurers, health care service plans covering dental services, or specialized health care service plans, covering dental services, pay their respective reimbursements for dental benefits when an insured is covered by multiple disability insurers, or a combination of disability insurers and health care service plans or specialized health care service plans. (2) "Primary dental benefit plan" means a dental insurance policy issued by a disability insurer regulated pursuant to this part or a health care service plan or specialized health care service plan contract regulated pursuant to Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code that provides an insured or enrollee with primary dental coverage. (3) "Secondary dental benefit plan" means a dental insurance policy issued by a disability insurer regulated pursuant to this part or a health care service plan or specialized health care service plan contract regulated pursuant to Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code that provides an insured or enrollee with secondary dental coverage. (c) A disability insurer that issues a dental insurance policy shall declare its coordination of benefits policy prominently in its evidence of coverage or insurance policy with both insured and policyholder. (d) When a primary dental benefit plan is coordinating its benefits with one or more secondary dental benefit plans, it shall pay the maximum amount required by its policy with the insured or policyholder. (e) A disability insurer that issues a dental insurance policy, when acting as a secondary dental benefit plan or insurer, shall pay the lesser of either the amount it would have paid in the absence of any other dental benefit coverage, or the insured's total out-of-pocket cost payable under the primary dental benefit plan for benefits covered under the secondary plan or policy. (f) Nothing in this section is intended to conflict with or modify the way in which a disability insurer that issues a dental insurance policy determines which dental benefit plan is primary and which is secondary in coordinating benefits with another insurer or plan pursuant to existing state law or regulation. 10120.5. Any act by a disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that violates Section 510, Section 2056, or Section 2056.1 of the Business and Professions Code shall also be a violation of this code. 10121. (a) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, issued or renewed on or after November 23, 1970, which contains coverage for sterilization operations or procedures, shall impose any disclaimer, restriction on, or limitation of, coverage relative to the covered individual's reason for sterilization. All those plans entered into or renewed on or after November 23, 1970, shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in any plan which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. (b) Every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan issued or amended on or after July 1, 1972, which provides benefits to the employee's dependents, shall contain a provision granting immediate accident and sickness coverage, from and after the moment of birth, to each newborn infant of any family covered and to each minor child placed for adoption from and after the moment the child is placed in the physical custody of the covered family for adoption. No plan may be issued or amended if it contains any disclaimer, waiver, or other limitation of coverage relative to the coverage or insurability of newborn infants of or minor children placed for adoption with a family covered as required by this section. Coverage of minor children placed for adoption with a covered family shall be required only after January 1, 1988. (c) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan which provides maternity benefits for a person covered continuously from conception shall be issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1976, if it contains any exclusion, reduction, or other limitations as to coverage, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions as to involuntary complications of pregnancy, unless those provisions apply generally to all benefits paid under the plan. If a fixed amount is specified in the plan for surgery, the fixed amounts for surgical procedures involving involuntary complications of pregnancy shall be commensurate with other fixed amounts payable for procedures of comparable difficulty and severity. In a case where a fixed amount is payable for maternity benefits, involuntary complications of pregnancy shall be deemed an illness and entitled to benefits otherwise provided by the plan. Where the plan contains a maternity deductible, the maternity deductible shall apply only to expenses resulting from normal delivery and cesarean section delivery. However, expenses for cesarean section delivery in excess of the deductible shall be treated as expenses for any other illness under the plan. This subdivision shall apply to all self-insured employee welfare benefit plans except any plan made subject to an applicable collective bargaining agreement in effect before July 1, 1976. For purposes of this subdivision, involuntary complications of pregnancy shall include, but not be limited to, puerperal infection, eclampsia, cesarean section delivery, ectopic pregnancy, and toxemia. All plans subject to this subdivision and issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1976, shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in any plan which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. (d) Every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan issued or amended on or after January 1, 1987, which provides benefits to the employee's dependents, shall offer a choice to all employees of coverage for comprehensive preventive health care for children. (e) For purposes of this section, benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children shall be consistent with the Guidelines for Health Supervision of Children and Youth, as adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in May 1982, and provide for the following: (1) Physician service for routine physical examinations. (2) Immunizations. (3) Laboratory services in connection with routine physical examinations. (f) As used in this section, "self-insured employee welfare benefit plan" means any plan or program of benefits provided by an employer or an employee organization, or both, for the purpose of providing hospital, medical, surgical, nursing, or dental services, or indemnification for the costs incurred for those services, to the employer's employees or their dependents. 10121.5. (a) When a husband and wife are both employed as employees, and both have enrolled themselves and their eligible family members under a group policy of disability insurance provided by their respective employers, and each spouse is covered as an employee under the terms of the same master policy, each spouse may claim on his or her behalf, or on behalf of his or her enrolled dependents, the combined maximum contractual benefits to which an employee is entitled under the terms of the master policy, not to exceed in the aggregate 100 percent of the charge for the covered expense or service. (b) When a husband and wife are both employed as employees, and both have enrolled themselves and their eligible family members under a self-insured employee welfare benefit plan provided by their respective employers, and each spouse is covered as an employee under the terms of the same master contract, each spouse may claim on his or her behalf, or on behalf of his or her enrolled dependents, the combined maximum contractual benefits to which an employee is entitled under the terms of the master contract, not to exceed in the aggregate 100 percent of the charge for the covered expense or service. (c) This section shall apply to every group disability insurance policy and self-insured employee welfare benefit plan which is entered into, issued, delivered, amended, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1978. 10121.6. (a) No policy of group disability insurance or self-insured employee welfare benefit plan which provides hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits for employees, insureds, or policyholders and their dependents shall exclude a dependent child from eligibility or benefits solely because the dependent child does not reside with the employee, insured, or policyholder. (b) Each policy of group disability insurance or self-insured employee welfare benefit plan which provides hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits for employees, insureds, or policyholders and their dependents shall enroll, upon application by the employer or group administrator, a dependent child of the noncustodial parent when that parent is the employee, insured, or policyholder at any time either the parent or the person having custody of the child as defined in Section 3751.5 of the Family Code, or the local child support agency makes an application for enrollment to the employer or group administrator when a court order for medical support exists. In the case of children who are eligible for medicaid, the State Department of Health Services may also make that application. 10121.7. (a) A policy of group health insurance that provides hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits shall provide equal coverage to employers or guaranteed associations, as defined in Section 10700, for the registered domestic partner of an employee, insured, or policyholder to the same extent, and subject to the same terms and conditions, as provided to a spouse of the employee, insured, or policyholder, and shall inform employers and guaranteed associations of this coverage. A policy may not offer or provide coverage for a registered domestic partner that is not equal to the coverage provided to the spouse of an employee, insured, or policyholder. (b) If an employer or guaranteed association has purchased coverage for spouses and registered domestic partners pursuant to subdivision (a), a health insurer that provides hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits for employees, insureds, or policyholders and their spouses shall enroll, upon application by the employer or group administrator, a registered domestic partner of the employee, insured, or policyholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the group contract that apply generally to all spouses under the policy, including coordination of benefits. (c) For purposes of this section, the term "domestic partner" shall have the same meaning as that term is used in Section 297 of the Family Code. (d) (1) A policy of group health insurance may require that the employee, insured, or policyholder verify the status of the domestic partnership by providing to the insurer a copy of a valid Declaration of Domestic Partnership filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 298 of the Family Code or an equivalent document issued by a local agency of this state, another state, or a local agency of another state under which the partnership was created. The policy may also require that the employee, insured, or policyholder notify the insurer upon the termination of the domestic partnership. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a policy may require the information described in that paragraph only if it also requests from the employee, insured, or policyholder whose spouse is provided coverage, verification of marital status and notification of dissolution of the marriage. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand the requirements of Section 4980B of Title 26 of the United States Code, Section 1161, and following, of Title 29 of the United States Code, or Section 300bb-1, and following, of Title 42 of the United States Code, as added by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-272), and as those provisions may be later amended. (f) A group health insurance policy subject to this section that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 2, 2005, shall be deemed to provide coverage for registered domestic partners that is equal to the coverage provided to a spouse of an employee, insured, or policyholder. 10122. If a policy of group disability insurance issued or issued for delivery or amended in this state after the effective date of this section provides in any manner for coverage for an employee and one or more covered persons dependent upon such employee and provides for an extension of coverage for any period following a termination of employment of the employee, the policy shall provide that such extension of coverage shall apply to dependents upon the same terms and conditions precedent as applied to the covered employee, for the same period of time, subject to payment of premiums, if any, as required by the terms of the policy and subject to any applicable collective bargaining agreement. All such group disability policies issued or issued for delivery or amended in this state after the effective date of this section shall be automatically construed to be in compliance with this section and need not be refiled or reprinted. 10122.1. On and after the effective date of this section, every policy of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis shall offer coverage to physically handicapped individual members of the group under the same terms and conditions as are normally offered to individual members of the group without physical handicap. The availability of such coverage shall be communicated to group policyholders and to prospective group policyholders during negotiations. Group policies shall not be required to cover hospital, medical, or surgical expenses arising as a direct result of an individual member's physical handicap. 10122.2. If a policy of group disability insurance issued, delivered, amended, or renewed in this state on or after the effective date of this section provides in any manner for coverage for an employee and a covered spouse dependent upon such employee, the policy shall not provide for coverage under conditions less favorable for employees than coverage provided for covered spouses dependent upon the employees. 10123. (a) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this section, which provides coverage for an employee and one or more covered persons dependent upon such employee and provides for an extension of coverage for any period following a termination of employment of the employee, shall fail to provide that such extension of coverage shall apply to dependents upon the same terms and conditions precedent as applied to the covered employee, for the same period of time, subject to payment of premiums, if any, as required by the terms of the policy and subject to any limitations or conditions set forth in any applicable collective-bargaining agreement. All such plans entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of this section shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in any such plan which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. (b) A plan contract which provides benefits that accrue after a certain time of confinement in a health care facility shall specify what constitutes a day of confinement or the number of consecutive hours of confinement which are requisite to the commencement of benefits. (c) As used in subdivisions (a) and (b), "self-insured employee welfare benefit plan" has the same meaning as that specified in subdivision (d) of Section 10121. 10123.1. Every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in Section 10121, issued, amended as to benefits, or renewed after January 1, 1977, shall comply with the requirements of Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 10128) of this chapter. 10123.2. On and after the effective date of this section, every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan which provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer coverage to physically handicapped persons for such expenses incurred, under such terms and conditions as are normally provided by the self-insured welfare benefit plan and a member without physical handicap. Every self-insured welfare benefit plan shall communicate the availability of such coverage to all members and prospective members. The self-insured welfare benefit plan shall not be required to cover hospital, medical, or surgical expenses arising as a direct result of a physically disabled person's handicap. 10123.3. (a) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan shall refuse to enroll any person or accept any person as a subscriber or renew any person as a subscriber after appropriate application on the basis of a person's genetic characteristics that may, under some circumstances, be associated with disability in that person or that person's offspring. No plan shall require a higher rate or charge, or offer or provide different terms, conditions, or benefits, on the basis of a person's genetic characteristics that may, under some circumstances, be associated with disability in that person or that person's offspring than is at the time required of any other individual in an otherwise identical classification, nor shall any plan make or require any rebate, discrimination, or discount upon the amount to be paid or the service to be rendered under the plan because the person carries those traits. (b) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan shall seek information about a person's genetic characteristics for any nontherapeutic purpose. (c) No discrimination shall be made in the fees or commissions of a solicitor or solicitor firm for an enrollment or a subscription or the renewal of an enrollment or subscription of any person on the basis of a person's genetic characteristics that may, under some circumstances, be associated with disability in that person or that person's offspring. (d) "Genetic characteristics" as used in this section means either of the following: (1) Any scientifically or medically identifiable gene or chromosome, or combination or alteration thereof, that is known to be a cause of a disease or disorder in a person or his or her offspring, or that is determined to be associated with a statistically increased risk of development of a disease or disorder, and that is presently not associated with any symptoms of any disease or disorder. (2) Inherited characteristics that may derive from the individual or family member, that are known to be a cause of a disease or disorder in a person or his or her offspring, or that are determined to be associated with a statistically increased risk of development of a disease or disorder, and that are presently not associated with any symptoms of any disease or disorder. 10123.31. (a) In addition to any other remedy permitted by law, the commissioner shall have the administrative authority to assess penalties specified in this section against self-insured employee welfare benefit plans engaged in the business of health insurance for violations of Section 10123.3. (b) Any plan that violates Section 10123.3 is liable for administrative penalties of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the first violation and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each subsequent violation. (c) Any plan that violates Section 10123.3 with a frequency that indicates a general business practice or commits a knowing violation of that section, is liable for administrative penalties of not less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) and not more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation. (d) An act or omission that is inadvertent and that results in incorrect rates being charged to more than one subscriber shall be a single violation for the purpose of this section. 10123.35. (a) This section shall apply to the disclosure of genetic test results contained in an applicant or enrollee's medical records by a self-insured welfare benefit plan. (b) Any person who negligently discloses results of a test for a genetic characteristic to any third party in a manner that identifies or provides identifying characteristics of the person to whom the test results apply, except pursuant to a written authorization as described in subdivision (g), shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) plus court costs, as determined by the court, which penalty and costs shall be paid to the subject of the test. (c) Any person who willfully discloses the results of a test for a genetic characteristic to any third party in a manner that identifies or provides identifying characteristics of the person to whom the test results apply, except pursuant to a written authorization as described in subdivision (g), shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and no more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) plus court costs, as determined by the court, which penalty and costs shall be paid to the subject of the test. (d) Any person who willfully or negligently discloses the results of a test for a genetic characteristic to a third party in a manner that identifies or provides identifying characteristics of the person to whom the test results apply, except pursuant to a written authorization as described in subdivision (g), that results in economic, bodily, or emotional harm to the subject of the test, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (e) In addition to the penalties listed in subdivisions (b) and (c), any person who commits any act described in subdivision (b) or (c) shall be liable to the subject for all actual damages, including damages for economic, bodily, or emotional harm which is proximately caused by the act. (f) Each disclosure made in violation of this section is a separate and actionable offense. (g) The applicant's "written authorization," as used in this section, shall satisfy the following requirements: (1) Is written in plain language. (2) Is dated and signed by the individual or a person authorized to act on behalf of the individual. (3) Specifies the types of persons authorized to disclose information about the individual. (4) Specifies the nature of the information authorized to be disclosed. (5) States the name or functions of the persons or entities authorized to receive the information. (6) Specifies the purposes for which the information is collected. (7) Specifies the length of time the authorization shall remain valid. (8) Advises the person signing the authorization of the right to receive a copy of the authorization. Written authorization is required for each separate disclosure of the test results, and the authorization shall set forth the person or entity to whom the disclosure would be made. (h) This section shall not apply to disclosures required by the Department of Health Services necessary to monitor compliance with Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 124975) of Part 5 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, nor to disclosures required by the Department of Managed Health Care necessary to administer and enforce compliance with Section 1374.7 of the Health and Safety Code. 10123.36. (a) On or before July 1, 1999, for purposes of public disclosure, every disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, and authorizes insureds to select providers who have contracted with the insurer for alternative rates of payment as described in Section 10133, and the disability insurer or any of its contracting providers or provider groups utilize economic profiling related to services provided to insureds, shall file with the department a description of any policies and procedures related to economic profiling utilized by the insurer and any of its contracting providers and provider groups. The filing shall describe how these policies and procedures are used in utilization review, peer review, incentive and penalty programs, and in provider retention and termination decisions. The filing shall also indicate in what manner, if any, the economic profiling system being used takes into consideration risk adjustments that reflect case mix, type and severity of patient illness, age of patients, and other policyholder characteristics that may account for higher or lower than expected costs or utilization of services. Any changes to the policies and procedures shall be filed expeditiously with the commissioner. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict or impair the department, in its discretion, from utilizing the information filed pursuant to this section for purposes of ensuring compliance with this chapter. (b) The commissioner shall make each disability insurer filing available to the public upon request. The commissioner shall not publicly disclose any information submitted pursuant to this section that is determined by the commissioner to be confidential pursuant to state law. (c) Each disability insurer that uses economic profiling shall, upon request, provide a copy of economic profiling information related to a contracting provider or provider group to the profiled provider or group. In addition, each disability insurer shall require as a condition of contract that its contracting provider groups that maintain economic profiles of individual providers who may be selected by insureds shall, upon request, provide a copy of individual economic profiling information to individual providers who are profiled. The economic profiling information provided pursuant to this section shall be provided upon request until 60 days after the date upon which the contract between the insurer and the individual provider or provider group terminates, or until 60 days after the date the contract between the provider group and the individual provider terminates, whichever is applicable. (d) For the purposes of this section, "economic profiling" shall mean any evaluation of a particular physician, provider, or provider group based in whole or in part on the economic costs or utilization of services associated with medical care provided or authorized by the physician, provider, or provider group. 10123.4. If a self-insured employee welfare benefit plan issued, amended, or renewed in this state on or after the effective date of this section provides in any manner for coverage for an employee and a covered spouse dependent upon such employee, the plan shall not provide for coverage under conditions less favorable for employees than coverage provided for covered spouses dependent upon the employees. As used in this section, "self-insured employee welfare benefit plan" has the same meaning as that specified in subdivision (b) of Section 10121. 10123.5. (a) On or after January 1, 1993, every insurer issuing group disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall provide benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children 16 years of age or younger under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. Every insurer shall communicate the availability of such benefits to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom they are negotiating. (b) For purposes of this section, benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children shall comply with both of the following: (1) Be consistent with both of the following: (A) The Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care, as adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in September of 1987. (B) The most current version of the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule/United States, jointly adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, unless the State Department of Health Services determines, within 45 days of the published date of the schedule, that the schedule is not consistent with the purposes of this section. (2) Provide for the following: (A) Periodic health evaluations. (B) Immunizations. (C) Laboratory services in connection with periodic health evaluations. 10123.55. (a) On or after January 1, 1993, every insurer issuing group disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children 17 and 18 years of age under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. Every insurer shall communicate the availability of these benefits to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom they are negotiating. (b) For purposes of this section, benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children shall comply with both of the following: (1) Be consistent with both of the following: (A) The Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care, as adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in September of 1987. (B) The most current version of the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule/United States, jointly adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, unless the State Department of Health Services determines, within 45 days of the published date of the schedule, that the schedule is not consistent with the purposes of this section. (2) Provide for the following: (A) Periodic health evaluations. (B) Immunizations. (C) Laboratory services in connection with periodic health evaluations. 10123.6. On and after January 1, 1990, every insurer issuing group disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer coverage for the treatment of alcoholism under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. Every insurer shall communicate the availability of such coverage to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom they are negotiating. If the group subscriber or policyholder agrees to such coverage or to coverage for treatment of chemical dependency, or nicotine use, the treatment may take place in facilities licensed to provide alcoholism or chemical dependency services under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. Treatment for nicotine use may be subject to separate deductibles, copayments, and overall cost limitations as determined by the policy. 10123.67. (a) On or before July 1, 1997, every disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, as described in subdivision (b), shall file with the department a written policy, which is not subject to approval or disapproval by the department, describing the manner in which the insurer determines if a second medical opinion is medically necessary and appropriate. Notice of the policy and information regarding the manner in which an insured may receive a second medical opinion shall be provided to all insureds in the insurer's evidence of coverage. The written policy shall describe the manner in which requests for a second medical opinion are reviewed by the insurer. (b) This section shall only apply to disability insurers covering hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that contract with providers for alternative rates pursuant to Section 10133 or 11512 and that limit payments under those policies to services secured by insureds from providers charging alternative rates pursuant to the contracts. (c) Nothing in this section shall require the disability insurer to cover services or provide benefits that are not otherwise covered under the terms and conditions of the plan contract, nor to provide services through providers who are not under contract with the plan. 10123.68. (a) When requested by an insured or contracting health professional who is treating an insured, a disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall authorize a second opinion by an appropriately qualified health care professional. Reasons for a second opinion to be provided or authorized shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) If the insured questions the reasonableness or necessity of recommended surgical procedures. (2) If the insured questions a diagnosis or plan of care for a condition that threatens loss of life, loss of limb, loss of bodily function, or substantial impairment, including, but not limited to, a serious chronic condition. (3) If clinical indications are not clear or are complex and confusing, a diagnosis is in doubt due to conflicting test results, or the treating health professional is unable to diagnose the condition and the insured requests an additional diagnosis. (4) If the treatment plan in progress is not improving the medical condition of the insured within an appropriate period of time given the diagnosis and plan of care, and the insured requests a second opinion regarding the diagnosis or continuance of the treatment. (5) If the insured has attempted to follow the plan of care or consulted with the initial provider concerning serious concerns about the diagnosis or plan of care. (b) For purposes of this section, an appropriately qualified health care professional is a primary care physician or a specialist who is acting within his or her scope of practice and who possesses a clinical background, including training and expertise, related to the particular illness, disease, condition or conditions associated with the request for a second opinion. (c) If an insured or participating health professional who is treating an insured requests a second opinion pursuant to this section, an authorization or denial shall be provided in an expeditious manner. When the insured's condition is such that the insured faces an imminent and serious threat to his or her health, including, but not limited to, the potential loss of life, limb, or other major bodily function, or lack of timeliness that would be detrimental to the insured's life or health or could jeopardize the insured's ability to regain maximum function, the second opinion shall be rendered in a timely fashion appropriate to the nature of the insured's condition, not to exceed 72 hours after the insurer's receipt of the request, whenever possible. Each insurer shall file with the Department of Insurance timelines for responding to requests for second opinions for cases involving emergency needs, urgent care, and other requests by July 1, 2000, and within 30 days of any amendment to the timelines. The timelines shall be made available to the public upon request. (d) If an insurer approves a request by an insured for a second opinion, the insured shall be responsible only for the costs of applicable copayments that the insurer requires for similar referrals. (e) If the insured is requesting a second opinion about care from his or her primary care physician, the second opinion shall be provided by an appropriately qualified health care professional of the insured's choice who is contracted with the insurer. (f) If the insured is requesting a second opinion about care from a specialist, the second opinion shall be provided by any provider of the same or equivalent specialty, of the insured's choice, within the insurer's provider network, if the insurance contract limits second opinions to within a network. (g) The insurer may limit second opinions to its network of providers if the insurance contract limits the benefit to within a network of providers and there is a participating provider who meets the standard specified in subdivision (b). If there is no participating provider who meets this standard, then the insurer shall authorize a second opinion by an appropriately qualified health professional outside of the insurer's provider network. In approving a second opinion either inside or outside of the insurer's provider network, the insurer shall take into account the ability of the insured to travel to the provider. (h) The insurer shall require the second opinion health professional to provide the insured and the initial health professional with a consultation report, including any recommended procedures or tests that the second opinion health professional believes appropriate. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the insurer from authorizing, based on its independent determination, additional medical opinions concerning the medical condition of an insured. (i) If the insurer denies a request by an insured for a second opinion, it shall notify the insured in writing of the reasons for the denial and shall inform the insured of the right to dispute the denial, and the procedures for exercising that right. (j) If the insurance contract limits health care services to within a network of providers, in order for coverage to be in force, the insured shall obtain services only from a provider who is participating in, or under contract with, the insurer pursuant to the specific insurance contract under which the insured is entitled to health care service benefits. (k) This section shall not apply to any policy or contract of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and that does not limit second opinions, subject to all other terms and conditions of the contract. (l) This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity health insurance policies. 10123.7. (a) On or after January 1, 1986, every insurer issuing group health insurance shall offer coverage for orthotic and prosthetic devices and services under the terms and conditions that may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. Every insurer shall communicate the availability of that coverage to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom they are negotiating. Any coverage for prosthetic devices shall include original and replacement devices, as prescribed by a physician and surgeon or doctor of podiatric medicine acting within the scope of his or her license. Any coverage for orthotic devices shall provide for coverage when the device, including original and replacement devices, is prescribed by a physician and surgeon or doctor of podiatric medicine acting within the scope of his or her license, or is ordered by a licensed health care provider acting within the scope of his or her license. Every insurer shall have the right to conduct a utilization review to determine medical necessity prior to authorizing these services. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), on and after July 1, 2007, the amount of the benefit for orthotic and prosthetic devices and services shall be no less than the annual and lifetime benefit maximums applicable to all benefits in the policy. Any copayment, coinsurance, deductible, and maximum out-of-pocket amount applied to the benefit for orthotic and prosthetic devices and services shall be no more than the most common amounts contained in the policy. (c) This section shall not apply to Medicare supplement, short-term limited duration health insurance, vision-only, dental-only, or CHAMPUS supplement insurance, or to hospital indemnity, hospital-only, accident-only, or specified disease insurance that does not pay benefits on a fixed benefit, cash payment only basis. 10123.8. (a) Every policy of disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000, shall provide coverage for screening for, diagnosis of, and treatment for, breast cancer. (b) No policy of disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall deny enrollment or coverage to an individual solely due to a family history of breast cancer, or who has had one or more diagnostic procedures for breast disease but has not developed or been diagnosed with breast cancer. (c) Every policy of disability insurance shall cover screening and diagnosis of breast cancer, consistent with generally accepted medical practice and scientific evidence, upon the referral of the insured's participating physician. (d) Treatment for breast cancer under this section shall include coverage for prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery to restore and achieve symmetry for the patient incident to a mastectomy. Coverage for prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery shall be subject to the deductible and coinsurance conditions applied to the mastectomy and all other terms and conditions applicable to other benefits. (e) As used in this section, "mastectomy" means the removal of all or part of the breast for medically necessary reasons, as determined by a licensed physician and surgeon. (f) As used in this section, "prosthetic devices" means the provision of initial and subsequent devices pursuant to an order of the patient's physician and surgeon. (g) For purposes of this section, disability insurance does not include accident only, credit, disability income, specified disease and hospital confinement indemnity, coverage of Medicare services pursuant to contracts with the United States government, Medicare supplement, long-term care insurance, dental, vision, coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance, insurance arising out of a workers' compensation or similar law, automobile medical payment insurance, or insurance under which benefits are payable with or without regard to fault and that is statutorily required to be contained in any liability insurance policy or equivalent self-insurance. 10123.81. On or after January 1, 2000, every individual or group policy of disability insurance or self-insured employee welfare benefit plan that is issued, amended, or renewed, shall be deemed to provide coverage for at least the following, upon the referral of a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician, providing care to the patient and operating within the scope of practice provided under existing law for breast cancer screening or diagnostic purposes: (a) A baseline mammogram for women age 35 to 39, inclusive. (b) A mammogram for women age 40 to 49, inclusive, every two years or more frequently based on the women's physician's recommendation. (c) A mammogram every year for women age 50 and over. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an individual or group policy to cover the surgical procedure known as mastectomy or to prevent application of deductible or copayment provisions contained in the policy or plan, nor shall this section be construed to require that coverage under an individual or group policy be extended to any other procedures. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an insured or plan member to receive the coverage required by this section if that coverage is furnished by a nonparticipating provider, unless the insured or plan member is referred to that provider by a participating physician, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife providing care. 10123.82. Every policy of disability insurance which provides for the surgical procedure known as a laryngectomy and which is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1993, shall include coverage for prosthetic devices to restore a method of speaking for the patient incident to the laryngectomy. Coverage for prosthetic devices shall be subject to the deductible and coinsurance conditions applied to the laryngectomy, and all other terms and conditions applicable to other benefits. As used in this section, "laryngectomy" means the removal of the larynx for medically necessary reasons, as determined by a licensed physician and surgeon. Any provision in any policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1993, which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. As used in this section, "prosthetic devices" means and includes the provision of initial and subsequent prosthetic devices, including installation accessories, pursuant to an order of the patient's physician and surgeon. "Prosthetic devices" does not include electronic voice producing machines. 10123.83. (a) On or after January 1, 1995, every policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state shall include obstetrician-gynecologists as eligible primary care physicians provided they meet the insurer's written eligibility criteria for all specialists seeking primary care physician status. (b) For purposes of this section, the term "primary care physician" means a physician, as defined in Section 14254 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, who has the responsibility for providing initial and primary care to patients, for maintaining the continuity of patient care, and for initiating referral for specialist care. This means providing care for the majority of health care problems, including, but not limited to, preventive services, acute and chronic conditions, and psychosocial issues. 10123.835. (a) Every individual or group policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical benefits that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 1999, shall be deemed to provide coverage for the screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer, including, but not limited to, prostate-specific antigen testing and digital rectal examinations, when medically necessary and consistent with good professional practice. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an individual or group policy to cover the surgical and other procedures known as radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy, radiation seed implants, and combined hormonal therapy, or to prevent application of deductible or copayment provisions contained in the policy, nor shall this section be construed to require that coverage under an individual or group policy be extended to any other procedures. (c) This section shall not apply to specified accident, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or long-term care health insurance policies. 10123.84. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the unique, private, and personal relationship between women patients and their obstetricians and gynecologists warrants direct access to obstetrical and gynecological physician services. (b) Commencing January 1, 1999, every policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, and that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state, shall allow a policyholder the option to seek obstetrical and gynecological physician services directly from an obstetrician and gynecologist or directly from a participating family practice physician and surgeon designated by the plan as providing obstetrical and gynecological services. (c) In implementing this section, a disability insurer may establish reasonable provisions governing utilization protocols and the use of obstetricians and gynecologists or family practice physicians and surgeons, as provided for in subdivision (b), provided that these provisions shall be consistent with the intent of this section and shall be those customarily applied to other physicians and surgeons, including primary care physicians and surgeons, to whom the policyholder has direct access, and shall not be more restrictive for the provision of obstetrical and gynecological physician services. A policyholder shall not be required to obtain prior approval from another physician, another provider, or the insurer prior to obtaining direct access to obstetrical and gynecological physician services, but the insurer may establish reasonable requirements for the participating obstetrician and gynecologist or the family practice physician and surgeon, as provided in subdivision (b), to communicate with the policyholder's primary care physician regarding the policyholder's condition, treatment, and any need for followup care. (d) This section shall not be construed to diminish the provisions of Section 10123.83. (e) The Insurance Commissioner shall report to the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2000, on the implementation of this section. 10123.85. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the practice of telemedicine as a legitimate means by which an individual may receive medical services from a health care provider without person-to-person contact with the provider. (b) For the purposes of this section, the meaning of "telemedicine" is as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code. (c) On and after January 1, 1997, no disability insurance contract that is issued, amended, or renewed for hospital, medical, or surgical coverage shall require face-to-face contact between a health care provider and a patient for services appropriately provided through telemedicine, subject to all terms and conditions of the contract agreed upon between the policyholder or contractholder and the insurer. (d) Disability insurers shall not be required to pay for consultation provided by the health care provider by telephone or facsimile machines. 10123.86. (a) Every policy of disability insurance covering hospital, surgical, or medical expenses that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 1999, that provides coverage for surgical procedures known as mastectomies and lymph node dissections, shall do all of the following: (1) Allow the length of a hospital stay associated with those procedures to be determined by the attending physician and surgeon in consultation with the patient, consistent with sound clinical principles and processes. No disability insurer shall require a treating physician and surgeon to receive prior approval in determining the length of hospital stay following those procedures. (2) Cover prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery, including devices or surgery to restore and achieve symmetry for the patient incident to the mastectomy. Coverage for prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery shall be subject to the deductible and coinsurance conditions applicable to other benefits. (3) Cover all complications from a mastectomy, including lymphedema. (b) As used in this section, all of the following definitions apply: (1) "Coverage for prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery" means any initial and subsequent reconstructive surgeries or prosthetic devices, and followup care deemed necessary by the attending physician and surgeon. (2) "Prosthetic devices" means and includes the provision of initial and subsequent prosthetic devices pursuant to an order of the patient's physician and surgeon. (3) "Mastectomy" shall have the same meaning as in Section 10123.8. (4) "To restore and achieve symmetry" means that, in addition to coverage of prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery for the diseased breast on which the mastectomy was performed, prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery for a healthy breast is also covered if, in the opinion of the attending physician and surgeon, this surgery is necessary to achieve normal symmetrical appearance. (c) No individual, other than a licensed physician and surgeon competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care requested, may deny requests for authorization of health care services pursuant to this section. (d) No insurer shall do any of the following in providing the coverage described in subdivision (a): (1) Reduce or limit the reimbursement of the attending provider for providing care to an insured in accordance with the coverage requirements. (2) Provide monetary or other incentives to an attending provider to induce the provider to provide care to an insured in a manner inconsistent with the coverage requirements. (3) Provide monetary payments or rebates to an insured to encourage acceptance of less than the coverage requirements. (e) On or after July 1, 1999, every insurer shall include notice of the coverage required by this section in the insurer's evidence of coverage or certificate of insurance. (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit retrospective utilization review and quality assurance activities by the insurer. (g) This section shall only apply to health benefit plans, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, except that for accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance. 10123.87. (a) No individual or group policy of disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, and surgical benefits that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after the effective date of the act adding this section, that provides maternity coverage, shall do any of the following: (1) Restrict benefits for inpatient hospital care to a time period less than 48 hours following a normal vaginal delivery and less than 96 hours following a delivery by caesarean section. However, coverage for inpatient hospital care may be for a time period less than 48 or 96 hours if both of the following conditions are met: (A) The decision to discharge the mother and newborn before the 48- or 96-hour time period is made by the treating physicians in consultation with the mother. (B) The policy covers a postdischarge followup visit for the mother and newborn within 48 hours of discharge, when prescribed by the treating physician. The visit shall be provided by a licensed health care provider whose scope of practice includes postpartum care and newborn care. The visit shall include, at a minimum, parent education, assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding, and the performance of any necessary maternal or neonatal physical assessments. The treating physician shall disclose to the mother the availability of a postdischarge visit, including an in-home visit, physician office visit, or a visit to a facility under contract with the insurer. The treating physician, in consultation with the mother, shall determine whether the postdischarge visit shall occur at home, the contracted facility, or the treating physician's office after assessment of certain factors. These factors shall include, but not be limited to, the transportation needs of the family, and environmental and social risks. (2) Reduce or limit the reimbursement of the attending provider for providing care to an individual insured in accordance with the coverage requirements. (3) Provide monetary or other incentives to an attending provider to induce the provider to provide care to an individual insured in a manner inconsistent with the coverage requirements. (4) Deny a mother or her newborn eligibility, or continued eligibility, to enroll or to renew coverage solely to avoid the coverage requirements. (5) Provide monetary payments or rebates to a mother to encourage her to accept less than the minimum coverage requirements. (6) Restrict inpatient benefits for the second day of hospital care in a manner that is less than favorable to the mother or her newborn than those provided during the preceding portion of the hospital stay. (7) Require the treating physician to obtain authorization from the insurer prior to prescribing any services covered by this section. (b) (1) Every individual or group policy of disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, and surgical benefits shall include notice of the coverage specified in subdivision (a) in the insurer's evidence of coverage or certificate of insurance for evidences of coverage or certificates of insurance issued on or after January 1, 1998. (2) Every insurer that issues a policy of disability insurance under paragraph (1) shall provide additional written notice to all females between the ages of 10 and 50 who are covered under those policies of the coverage under subdivision (a) within 60 days of the effective date of this act. The insurer shall provide additional written notice of the coverage specified in subdivision (a) during the course of prenatal care if both of the following conditions are met: (A) The insurer previously notified policyholders that hospital stays for delivery would be inconsistent with the requirement in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). (B) The insurer received notice, whether by receipt of a claim, a request for preauthorization for pregnancy-related services, or other actual notice that the insured is pregnant. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer from negotiating the level and type of reimbursement with a provider for care provided in accordance with this section. 10123.88. (a) Every policy of health insurance covering hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered in this state on or after July 1, 1999, shall cover reconstructive surgery, as defined in subdivision (c), that is necessary to achieve the purposes specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a policy to provide coverage for cosmetic surgery, as defined in subdivision (d). This section shall only apply to health benefit plans, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, except that for accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance. (b) No individual, other than a licensed physician competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care requested, may deny initial requests for authorization of coverage for treatment pursuant to this section. For a treatment authorization request submitted by a podiatrist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the request may be reviewed by a similarly licensed individual, competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care requested. (c) (1) "Reconstructive surgery" means surgery performed to correct or repair abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease to do either of the following: (A) To improve function. (B) To create a normal appearance, to the extent possible. (2) As of July 1, 2010, "reconstructive surgery" shall include medically necessary dental or orthodontic services that are an integral part of reconstructive surgery, as defined in paragraph (1), for cleft palate procedures. (3) For purposes of this section, "cleft palate" means a condition that may include cleft palate, cleft lip, or other craniofacial anomalies associated with cleft palate. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an insurer to provide coverage for cosmetic surgery. "Cosmetic surgery" means surgery that is performed to alter or reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient's appearance. (e) In interpreting the definition of reconstructive surgery, an insurer may utilize prior authorization and utilization review that may include, but need not be limited to, any of the following: (1) Denial of the proposed surgery if there is another more appropriate surgical procedure that will be approved for the enrollee. (2) Denial of the proposed surgery or surgeries if the procedure or procedures, in accordance with the standard of care as practiced by physicians specializing in reconstructive surgery, offer only a minimal improvement in the appearance of the enrollee. (3) Denial of payment for procedures performed without prior authorization. 10123.89. (a) On and after July 1, 2000, every policy of disability insurance issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall provide coverage for the testing and treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) under the terms and conditions of the policy. (b) Coverage for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) shall include those formulas and special food products that are part of a diet prescribed by a licensed physician and managed by a health care professional in consultation with a physician who specializes in the treatment of metabolic disease and who participates in or is authorized by the insurer, provided that the diet is deemed medically necessary to avert the development of serious physical or mental disabilities or to promote normal development or function as a consequence of phenylketonuria (PKU). (c) Coverage pursuant to this section is not required except to the extent that the cost of necessary formulas and special food products exceeds the cost of a normal diet. (d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Formula" means an enteral product or enteral products for use at home that are prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner, or ordered by a registered dietician upon referral by a health care provider authorized to prescribe dietary treatments, as medically necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). (2) "Special food product" means a food product that is both of the following: (A) Prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) and is consistent with the recommendations and best practices of qualified health professionals with expertise germane to, and experience in the treatment and care of, phenylketonuria (PKU). It does not include a food that is naturally low in protein, but may include a food product that is specially formulated to have less than one gram of protein per serving. (B) Used in place of normal food products, such as grocery store foods, used by the general population. (e) This section shall not apply to vision-only, dental-only, accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, or disability income insurance, except that for accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity coverage, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy or contract. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance. 10123.9. On and after January 1, 1980, every group policy of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis, and which offers maternity coverage in such groups, shall also offer coverage for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders of the fetus by means of diagnostic procedures in cases of high-risk pregnancy. Such coverage shall be offered under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the insurer and the group policyholder. Every group policy of disability insurance shall communicate the availability of such coverage to all group policyholders and to all groups with whom they are negotiating. 10123.91. (a) On or after January 1, 2009, every insurer that issues, amends, or renews an individual or group policy of health insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall provide coverage for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, regardless of whether the testing is related to a primary diagnosis. (b) It shall remain within the sole discretion of the health insurer as to the provider of the testing with which it chooses to contract. Reimbursement shall be provided according to the respective principles and policies of the health insurer. 10123.10. (a) Every disability insurer transacting business in this state shall, on or after January 1, 1979, make available and offer to include in every group disability policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits payable on an expense incurred basis, to be delivered or issued for delivery in this state, benefits for home health care as set forth in this section provided by a licensed home health agency subject to the right of the group policyholder to reject the benefits or to select any alternative level of benefits as may be offered by the insurer. In rural areas where there are no licensed health agencies or in which the supply of home health agency services does not meet the needs of the community, the services of visiting nurses, if available, may be substituted for the services of the home health agency, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in subdivision (c). (b) Every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan containing hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits or service benefits delivered on or after January 1, 1979, shall make available and offer to include benefits for home health care as set forth in this section provided by a licensed home health agency subject to the right of the employer or the employee organization to reject the benefits or accept any alternative level of benefits as may be offered by the self-insured welfare benefit plan. In rural areas where there are no licensed health agencies or in which the supply of home health agency services does not meet the needs of the community, the services of visiting nurses, if available, may be substituted for the services of the home health agency, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in subdivision (c). (c) As used in this section: (1) "Home health care" means the continued care and treatment of an insured person who is under the direct care and supervision of a physician but only if (i) continued hospitalization would have been required if home health care were not provided, (ii) the home health treatment plan is established and approved by a physician within 14 days after an inpatient hospital confinement has ended and such treatment plan is for the same or related condition for which the insured person was hospitalized, and (iii) home health care commences within 14 days after the hospital confinement has ended. "Home health services" consist of, but shall not be limited to, the following: (i) part-time or intermittent skilled nursing services provided by a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse; (ii) part-time or intermitent home health aide services which provide supportive services in the home under the supervision of a registered nurse or a physical, speech or occupational therapist; (iii) physical, occupational or speech therapy; and (iv) medical supplies, drugs and medicines prescribed by a physician and related pharmaceutical services, and laboratory services to the extent such charges or costs would have been covered under the policy if the insured person had remained in the hospital. (2) "Home health agency" means a public or private agency or organization licensed by the State Department of Health Services in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1725) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. (d) The policy may contain a limitation on the number of home health visits for which benefits are payable, but the number of such visits shall not be less than 100 in any calendar year or in any continuous 12-month period for each person covered under the policy. Except for a home health aide, each visit by a representative of a home health agency shall be considered as one home health visit. A visit of four hours or less by a home health aide shall be considered as one home health visit. (e) Home health care benefits may be subject to an annual deductible of not more than fifty dollars ($50) for each person covered under a policy, and may be subject to a coinsurance provision which provides coverage of not less than 80 percent of the reasonable charges for such services. (f) Nothing in this section shall preclude an insurer or plan offering other health care benefits provided in the home. 10123.11. (a) No insurer shall deny a claim under a group disability policy for hospital, medical, surgical, dental, or optometric services for the sole reason that the individual served was confined in a city or county jail as a prisoner, or was a juvenile detained in any facility if such individual is otherwise entitled to benefits under such group disability policy and incurs expense for the services so provided during confinement. This provision shall apply to any group disability policy entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 1980, whether or not such policy contains any provision terminating benefits under such policy upon an individual's confinement in a city or county jail or juvenile detention facility. (b) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan shall deny a claim under a plan for hospital, medical, surgical, dental, or optometric services for the reason that the individual served was confined in a city or county jail as a prisoner, or was a juvenile detained in any facility, if such individual is otherwise entitled to benefits under such plan and incurs expense for the services so provided during confinement. This provision shall apply to any self-insured employee welfare benefit plan entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 1980, whether or not such plan contains any provision terminating benefits under such plan upon an individual's confinement in a city or county jail or juvenile detention facility. 10123.12. Every health insurer, including those insurers that contract for alternative rates of payment pursuant to Section 10133, and every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan that will affect the choice of physician, hospital, or other health care providers shall include within its disclosure form and within its evidence or certificate of coverage a statement clearly describing how participation in the policy or plan may affect the choice of physician, hospital, or other health care providers, and describing the nature and extent of the financial liability that is, or that may be, incurred by the insured, enrollee, or covered dependents if care is furnished by a provider that does not have a contract with the insurer or plan to provide service at alternative rates of payment pursuant to Section 10133. The form shall clearly inform prospective insureds or plan enrollees that participation in the policy or plan will affect the person's choice in this regard by placing the following statement in a conspicuous place on all material required to be given to prospective insureds or plan enrollees including promotional and descriptive material, disclosure forms, and certificates and evidences of coverage: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SO YOU WILL KNOW FROM WHOM OR WHAT GROUP OF PROVIDERS HEALTH CARE MAY BE OBTAINED It is not the intent of this section to require that the names of individual health care providers be enumerated to prospective insureds or enrollees. If a health insurer providing coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses provides a list of facilities to patients or contracting providers, the insurer shall include within the provider listing a notification that insureds or enrollees may contact the insurer in order to obtain a list of the facilities with which the health insurer is contracting for subacute care and/or transitional inpatient care. 10123.13. (a) Every insurer issuing group or individual policies of health insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, including those telemedicine services covered by the insurer as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code, shall reimburse claims or any portion of any claim, whether in state or out of state, for those expenses as soon as practical, but no later than 30 working days after receipt of the claim by the insurer unless the claim or portion thereof is contested by the insurer, in which case the claimant shall be notified, in writing, that the claim is contested or denied, within 30 working days after receipt of the claim by the insurer. The notice that a claim is being contested or denied shall identify the portion of the claim that is contested or denied and the specific reasons including for each reason the factual and legal basis known at that time by the insurer for contesting or denying the claim. If the reason is based solely on facts or solely on law, the insurer is required to provide only the factual or the legal basis for its reason for contesting or denying the claim. The insurer shall provide a copy of the notice to each insured who received services pursuant to the claim that was contested or denied and to the insured's health care provider that provided the services at issue. The notice shall advise the provider who submitted the claim on behalf of the insured or pursuant to a contract for alternative rates of payment and the insured that either may seek review by the department of a claim that the insurer contested or denied, and the notice shall include the address, Internet Web site address, and telephone number of the unit within the department that performs this review function. The notice to the provider may be included on either the explanation of benefits or remittance advice and shall also contain a statement advising the provider of its right to enter into the dispute resolution process described in Section 10123.137. The notice to the insured may also be included on the explanation of benefits. (b) If an uncontested claim is not reimbursed by delivery to the claimant's address of record within 30 working days after receipt, interest shall accrue and shall be payable at the rate of 10 percent per annum beginning with the first calendar day after the 30-working day period. (c) For purposes of this section, a claim, or portion thereof, is reasonably contested when the insurer has not received a completed claim and all information necessary to determine payer liability for the claim, or has not been granted reasonable access to information concerning provider services. Information necessary to determine liability for the claims includes, but is not limited to, reports of investigations concerning fraud and misrepresentation, and necessary consents, releases, and assignments, a claim on appeal, or other information necessary for the insurer to determine the medical necessity for the health care services provided to the claimant. If an insurer has received all of the information necessary to determine payer liability for a contested claim and has not reimbursed a claim determined to be payable within 30 working days of receipt of that information, interest shall accrue and be payable at a rate of 10 percent per annum beginning with the first calendar day after the 30-working day period. (d) The obligation of the insurer to comply with this section shall not be deemed to be waived when the insurer requires its contracting entities to pay claims for covered services. 10123.131. (a) An insurer shall pay a provider for duplicating all information it requests in connection with a contested claim, and for patient records, as follows: (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the insurer shall pay the provider for copying twenty-five cents ($0.25) per page, or fifty cents ($0.50) per page for records that are copied from microfilm. (2) The insurer shall pay the provider all reasonable costs, not exceeding actual costs, incurred by the provider in providing the insurer copies of X-rays, or tracings derived from electrocardiography, electroencephalography, or electromyography. (b) No insurer subject to this section shall request information that is not reasonably necessary to determine liability for payment of a claim. (c) The obligation of the insurer to comply with this section shall not be deemed to be waived when the insurer requires its contracting entities to pay claims for covered services. (d) This section shall not apply to contractual arrangements between an insurer and its agent, an insurer and a provider, or a provider and its agent for the costs associated with the provision of duplication services. 10123.132. (a) Every disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and that reviews and approves the medical necessity or appropriateness of requests by providers prior to, or concurrently with, the provision of health care services to insureds, shall prominently indicate on each insured's identification card whether a separate telephone number must be called to verify eligibility for benefits and coverage. (b) A written notice shall accompany the initial mailing of the insured's identification card modified pursuant to subdivision (a). The notice shall indicate that the insured's identification card includes a telephone number that may be used to verify eligibility for benefits and coverage. The notice shall also inform the insured that review and approval of a health care service based on medical necessity or appropriateness does not constitute eligibility for benefits and coverage pursuant to the policy or contract. 10123.135. (a) Every disability insurer, or an entity with which it contracts for services that include utilization review or utilization management functions, that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and that prospectively, retrospectively, or concurrently reviews and approves, modifies, delays, or denies, based in whole or in part on medical necessity, requests by providers prior to, retrospectively, or concurrent with the provision of health care services to insureds, or that delegates these functions to medical groups or independent practice associations or to other contracting providers, shall comply with this section. (b) A disability insurer that is subject to this section, or any entity with which an insurer contracts for services that include utilization review or utilization management functions, shall have written policies and procedures establishing the process by which the insurer prospectively, retrospectively, or concurrently reviews and approves, modifies, delays, or denies, based in whole or in part on medical necessity, requests by providers of health care services for insureds. These policies and procedures shall ensure that decisions based on the medical necessity of proposed health care services are consistent with criteria or guidelines that are supported by clinical principles and processes. These criteria and guidelines shall be developed pursuant to subdivision (f). These policies and procedures, and a description of the process by which an insurer, or an entity with which an insurer contracts for services that include utilization review or utilization management functions, reviews and approves, modifies, delays, or denies requests by providers prior to, retrospectively, or concurrent with the provision of health care services to insureds, shall be filed with the commissioner, and shall be disclosed by the insurer to insureds and providers upon request, and by the insurer to the public upon request. (c) If the number of insureds covered under health benefit plans in this state that are issued by an insurer subject to this section constitute at least 50 percent of the number of insureds covered under health benefit plans issued nationwide by that insurer, the insurer shall employ or designate a medical director who holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine in this state issued pursuant to Section 2050 of the Business and Professions Code or the Osteopathic Initiative Act, or the insurer may employ a clinical director licensed in California whose scope of practice under California law includes the right to independently perform all those services covered by the insurer. The medical director or clinical director shall ensure that the process by which the insurer reviews and approves, modifies, delays, or denies, based in whole or in part on medical necessity, requests by providers prior to, retrospectively, or concurrent with the provision of health care services to insureds, complies with the requirements of this section. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as restricting the existing authority of the Medical Board of California. (d) If an insurer subject to this section, or individuals under contract to the insurer to review requests by providers, approve the provider's request pursuant to subdivision (b), the decision shall be communicated to the provider pursuant to subdivision (h). (e) An individual, other than a licensed physician or a licensed health care professional who is competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the health care services requested by the provider, may not deny or modify requests for authorization of health care services for an insured for reasons of medical necessity. The decision of the physician or other health care provider shall be communicated to the provider and the insured pursuant to subdivision (h). (f) (1) An insurer shall disclose, or provide for the disclosure, to the commissioner and to network providers, the process the insurer, its contracting provider groups, or any entity with which it contracts for services that include utilization review or utilization management functions, uses to authorize, delay, modify, or deny health care services under the benefits provided by the insurance contract, including coverage for subacute care, transitional inpatient care, or care provided in skilled nursing facilities. An insurer shall also disclose those processes to policyholders or persons designated by a policyholder, or to any other person or organization, upon request. (2) The criteria or guidelines used by an insurer, or an entity with which an insurer contracts for utilization review or utilization management functions, to determine whether to authorize, modify, delay, or deny health care services, shall comply with all of the following: (A) Be developed with involvement from actively practicing health care providers. (B) Be consistent with sound clinical principles and processes. (C) Be evaluated, and updated if necessary, at least annually. (D) If used as the basis of a decision to modify, delay, or deny services in a specified case under review, be disclosed to the provider and the policyholder in that specified case. (E) Be available to the public upon request. An insurer shall only be required to disclose the criteria or guidelines for the specific procedures or conditions requested. An insurer may charge reasonable fees to cover administrative expenses related to disclosing criteria or guidelines pursuant to this paragraph that are limited to copying and postage costs. The insurer may also make the criteria or guidelines available through electronic communication means. (3) The disclosure required by subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) shall be accompanied by the following notice: "The materials provided to you are guidelines used by this insurer to authorize, modify, or deny health care benefits for persons with similar illnesses or conditions. Specific care and treatment may vary depending on individual need and the benefits covered under your insurance contract." (g) If an insurer subject to this section requests medical information from providers in order to determine whether to approve, modify, or deny requests for authorization, the insurer shall request only the information reasonably necessary to make the determination. (h) In determining whether to approve, modify, or deny requests by providers prior to, retrospectively, or concurrent with the provision of health care services to insureds, based in whole or in part on medical necessity, every insurer subject to this section shall meet the following requirements: (1) Decisions to approve, modify, or deny, based on medical necessity, requests by providers prior to, or concurrent with, the provision of health care services to insureds that do not meet the requirements for the 72-hour review required by paragraph (2), shall be made in a timely fashion appropriate for the nature of the insured' s condition, not to exceed five business days from the insurer's receipt of the information reasonably necessary and requested by the insurer to make the determination. In cases where the review is retrospective, the decision shall be communicated to the individual who received services, or to the individual's designee, within 30 days of the receipt of information that is reasonably necessary to make this determination, and shall be communicated to the provider in a manner that is consistent with current law. For purposes of this section, retrospective reviews shall be for care rendered on or after January 1, 2000. (2) When the insured's condition is such that the insured faces an imminent and serious threat to his or her health, including, but not limited to, the potential loss of life, limb, or other major bodily function, or the normal timeframe for the decisionmaking process, as described in paragraph (1), would be detrimental to the insured's life or health or could jeopardize the insured's ability to regain maximum function, decisions to approve, modify, or deny requests by providers prior to, or concurrent with, the provision of health care services to insureds shall be made in a timely fashion, appropriate for the nature of the insured's condition, but not to exceed 72 hours after the insurer's receipt of the information reasonably necessary and requested by the insurer to make the determination. (3) Decisions to approve, modify, or deny requests by providers for authorization prior to, or concurrent with, the provision of health care services to insureds shall be communicated to the requesting provider within 24 hours of the decision. Except for concurrent review decisions pertaining to care that is underway, which shall be communicated to the insured's treating provider within 24 hours, decisions resulting in denial, delay, or modification of all or part of the requested health care service shall be communicated to the insured in writing within two business days of the decision. In the case of concurrent review, care shall not be discontinued until the insured's treating provider has been notified of the insurer's decision and a care plan has been agreed upon by the treating provider that is appropriate for the medical needs of that patient. (4) Communications regarding decisions to approve requests by providers prior to, retrospectively, or concurrent with the provision of health care services to insureds shall specify the specific health care service approved. Responses regarding decisions to deny, delay, or modify health care services requested by providers prior to, retrospectively, or concurrent with the provision of health care services to insureds shall be communicated to insureds in writing, and to providers initially by telephone or facsimile, except with regard to decisions rendered retrospectively, and then in writing, and shall include a clear and concise explanation of the reasons for the insurer's decision, a description of the criteria or guidelines used, and the clinical reasons for the decisions regarding medical necessity. Any written communication to a physician or other health care provider of a denial, delay, or modification or a request shall include the name and telephone number of the health care professional responsible for the denial, delay, or modification. The telephone number provided shall be a direct number or an extension, to allow the physician or health care provider easily to contact the professional responsible for the denial, delay, or modification. Responses shall also include information as to how the provider or the insured may file an appeal with the insurer or seek department review under the unfair practices provisions of Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 790) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 1 and the regulations adopted thereunder. (5) If the insurer cannot make a decision to approve, modify, or deny the request for authorization within the timeframes specified in paragraph (1) or (2) because the insurer is not in receipt of all of the information reasonably necessary and requested, or because the insurer requires consultation by an expert reviewer, or because the insurer has asked that an additional examination or test be performed upon the insured, provided that the examination or test is reasonable and consistent with good medical practice, the insurer shall, immediately upon the expiration of the timeframe specified in paragraph (1) or (2), or as soon as the insurer becomes aware that it will not meet the timeframe, whichever occurs first, notify the provider and the insured, in writing, that the insurer cannot make a decision to approve, modify, or deny the request for authorization within the required timeframe, and specify the information requested but not received, or the expert reviewer to be consulted, or the additional examinations or tests required. The insurer shall also notify the provider and enrollee of the anticipated date on which a decision may be rendered. Upon receipt of all information reasonably necessary and requested by the insurer, the insurer shall approve, modify, or deny the request for authorization within the timeframes specified in paragraph (1) or (2), whichever applies. (6) If the commissioner determines that an insurer has failed to meet any of the timeframes in this section, or has failed to meet any other requirement of this section, the commissioner may assess, by order, administrative penalties for each failure. A proceeding for the issuance of an order assessing administrative penalties shall be subject to appropriate notice to, and an opportunity for a hearing with regard to, the person affected. The administrative penalties shall not be deemed an exclusive remedy for the commissioner. These penalties shall be paid to the Insurance Fund. (i) Every insurer subject to this section shall maintain telephone access for providers to request authorization for health care services. (j) Nothing in this section shall cause a disability insurer to be defined as a health care provider for purposes of any provision of law, including, but not limited to, Section 6146 of the Business and Professions Code, Sections 3333.1 and 3333.2 of the Civil Code, and Sections 340.5, 364, 425.13, 667.7, and 1295 of the Code of Civil Procedure. 10123.137. (a) Each contract between a health insurer and a provider shall contain provisions requiring a fast, fair, and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanism under which providers may submit disputes to the insurer, and requiring the insurer to inform its providers, upon contracting with the insurer, or upon change to these provisions, of the procedures for processing and resolving disputes, including the location and telephone number where information regarding disputes may be submitted. (b) An insurer shall also ensure that a dispute resolution mechanism is accessible to noncontracting providers for the purpose of resolving billing and claims disputes. (c) Disputes are to be submitted to the insurer in writing and shall include provider name, provider tax identification number, patient name, insurer's identification information, dates of service, description of dispute, and, if applicable, billed and paid amounts. The insurer shall resolve each provider dispute consistent with applicable law and issue a written determination within 45 working days after the date of receipt of the provider dispute. (d) On and after July 1, 2007, an insurer shall annually submit a report to the department regarding its dispute resolution mechanism. The report shall be public information and include, at a minimum, information on the number of providers that utilized the dispute resolution mechanism and a summary of the disposition of those disputes. To the extent the commissioner requires detailed information disclosing emerging or established patterns of provider disputes or corrective action by the insurer, the commissioner may maintain the confidentiality of any information found to be proprietary, upon written request of the insurer. In no event shall the commissioner find the required minimum information described in this subdivision to be proprietary. (e) If an insurer has an affiliated or subsidiary company that is licensed as a health care service plan under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, the insurer may use the same procedures relating to the provider dispute resolution process established by the affiliated or subsidiary entity pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1367 of the Health and Safety Code. 10123.14. On and after January 1, 1990, every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan containing hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits or service benefits may provide coverage for the treatment of alcoholism, chemical dependency, or nicotine use under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the self-insured welfare benefit plan and the member, where the treatment may take place in facilities licensed to provide alcoholism or chemical dependency services under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. Treatment for nicotine use may be subject to separate deductibles, copayments, and overall cost limitations as determined by the plan. 10123.141. (a) Every policy of expense incurred hospital, medical, or surgical insurance issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 1991, on a group basis, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage, shall offer coverage as an option for special footwear needed by persons who suffer from foot disfigurement under the terms and conditions agreed upon between the group contract holder and the insurer. (b) As used in this section, foot disfigurement shall include, but not be limited to, disfigurement from cerebral palsy, arthritis, polio, spina bifida, and diabetes, and foot disfigurement caused by accident or developmental disability. 10123.145. (a) Whenever an insurer issuing group or individual policies of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses determines that in reimbursing a claim for provider services an institutional or professional provider has been overpaid, and then notifies the provider in writing through a separate notice identifying the overpayment and the amount of the overpayment, the provider shall reimburse the insurer within 30 working days of receipt by the provider of the notice of overpayment unless the overpayment or portion thereof is contested by the provider in which case the insurer shall be notified, in writing, within 30 working days. The notice that an overpayment is being contested shall identify the portion of the overpayment that is contested and the specific reasons for contesting the overpayment. If the provider does not make reimbursement for an uncontested overpayment within 30 working days after receipt, interest shall accrue at the rate of 10 percent per annum beginning with the first calendar day after the 30-working-day period. (b) (1) This subdivision shall only apply to a health insurance policy covering dental services or a specialized health insurance policy covering dental services. (2) The insurer's notice of overpayment shall inform the provider how to access the insurer's dispute resolution mechanism offered pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10123.137. The notice shall include the name and address to which the dispute should be submitted and a statement that Section 10123.145 of the Insurance Code requires a provider to reimburse the insurer for an overpayment within 30 working days of receipt by the provider of the notice of overpayment unless the provider contests the overpayment within 30 working days. The notice shall also include information clearly identifying the claim, the name of the patient, the date of service, and a clear explanation of the basis upon which the insurer believes the amount paid on the claim was in excess of the amount due, including interest and penalties on the claim. The notice shall also include a statement that if the provider does not make reimbursement of an uncontested overpayment within 30 working days after receipt of the notice, interest shall accrue at a rate of 10 percent per annum. 10123.147. (a) Every insurer issuing group or individual policies of health insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, including those telemedicine services covered by the insurer as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code, shall reimburse each complete claim, or portion thereof, whether in state or out of state, as soon as practical, but no later than 30 working days after receipt of the complete claim by the insurer. However, an insurer may contest or deny a claim, or portion thereof, by notifying the claimant, in writing, that the claim is contested or denied, within 30 working days after receipt of the complete claim by the insurer. The notice that a claim, or portion thereof, is contested shall identify the portion of the claim that is contested, by revenue code, and the specific information needed from the provider to reconsider the claim. The notice that a claim, or portion thereof, is denied shall identify the portion of the claim that is denied, by revenue code, and the specific reasons for the denial, including the factual and legal basis known at that time by the insurer for each reason. If the reason is based solely on facts or solely on law, the insurer is required to provide only the factual or legal basis for its reason to deny the claim. The insurer shall provide a copy of the notice required by this subdivision to each insured who received services pursuant to the claim that was contested or denied and to the insured' s health care provider that provided the services at issue. The notice required by this subdivision shall include a statement advising the provider who submitted the claim on behalf of the insured or pursuant to a contract for alternative rates of payment and the insured that either may seek review by the department of a claim that was contested or denied by the insurer and the address, Internet Web site address, and telephone number of the unit within the department that performs this review function. The notice to the provider may be included on either the explanation of benefits or remittance advice and shall also contain a statement advising the provider of its right to enter into the dispute resolution process described in Section 10123.137. An insurer may delay payment of an uncontested portion of a complete claim for reconsideration of a contested portion of that claim so long as the insurer pays those charges specified in subdivision (b). (b) If a complete claim, or portion thereof, that is neither contested nor denied, is not reimbursed by delivery to the claimant's address of record within the 30 working days after receipt, the insurer shall pay the greater of fifteen dollars ($15) per year or interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum beginning with the first calendar day after the 30-working-day period. An insurer shall automatically include the fifteen dollars ($15) per year or interest due in the payment made to the claimant, without requiring a request therefor. (c) For the purposes of this section, a claim, or portion thereof, is reasonably contested if the insurer has not received the completed claim. A paper claim from an institutional provider shall be deemed complete upon submission of a legible emergency department report and a completed UB 92 or other format adopted by the National Uniform Billing Committee, and reasonable relevant information requested by the insurer within 30 working days of receipt of the claim. An electronic claim from an institutional provider shall be deemed complete upon submission of an electronic equivalent to the UB 92 or other format adopted by the National Uniform Billing Committee, and reasonable relevant information requested by the insurer within 30 working days of receipt of the claim. However, if the insurer requests a copy of the emergency department report within the 30 working days after receipt of the electronic claim from the institutional provider, the insurer may also request additional reasonable relevant information within 30 working days of receipt of the emergency department report, at which time the claim shall be deemed complete. A claim from a professional provider shall be deemed complete upon submission of a completed HCFA 1500 or its electronic equivalent or other format adopted by the National Uniform Billing Committee, and reasonable relevant information requested by the insurer within 30 working days of receipt of the claim. The provider shall provide the insurer reasonable relevant information within 15 working days of receipt of a written request that is clear and specific regarding the information sought. If, as a result of reviewing the reasonable relevant information, the insurer requires further information, the insurer shall have an additional 15 working days after receipt of the reasonable relevant information to request the further information, notwithstanding any time limit to the contrary in this section, at which time the claim shall be deemed complete. (d) This section shall not apply to claims about which there is evidence of fraud and misrepresentation, to eligibility determinations, or in instances where the plan has not been granted reasonable access to information under the provider's control. An insurer shall specify, in a written notice to the provider within 30 working days of receipt of the claim, which, if any, of these exceptions applies to a claim. (e) If a claim or portion thereof is contested on the basis that the insurer has not received information reasonably necessary to determine payer liability for the claim or portion thereof, then the insurer shall have 30 working days after receipt of this additional information to complete reconsideration of the claim. If a claim, or portion thereof, undergoing reconsideration is not reimbursed by delivery to the claimant's address of record within the 30 working days after receipt of the additional information, the insurer shall pay the greater of fifteen dollars ($15) per year or interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum beginning with the first calendar day after the 30-working-day period. An insurer shall automatically include the fifteen dollars ($15) per year or interest due in the payment made to the claimant, without requiring a request therefor. (f) An insurer shall not delay payment on a claim from a physician or other provider to await the submission of a claim from a hospital or other provider, without citing specific rationale as to why the delay was necessary and providing a monthly update regarding the status of the claim and the insurer's actions to resolve the claim, to the provider that submitted the claim. (g) An insurer shall not request or require that a provider waive its rights pursuant to this section. (h) This section shall apply only to claims for services rendered to a patient who was provided emergency services and care as defined in Section 1317.1 of the Health and Safety Code in the United States on or after September 1, 1999. (i) This section shall not be construed to affect the rights or obligations of any person pursuant to Section 10123.13. (j) This section shall not be construed to affect a written agreement, if any, of a provider to submit bills within a specified time period. 10123.15. Every group policy of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, and surgical expenses on a group basis, and which offers coverage for disorders of the brain shall also offer coverage in the same manner for the treatment of the following biologically based severe mental disorders: schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar disorders and delusional depressions, and pervasive developmental disorder. Coverage for these mental disorders shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applied to the treatment of other disorders of the brain; however, an insurer may reserve the right to confirm diagnoses and to review the appropriateness of specific treatment plans as necessary to ensure that coverage under this section is provided for only those diagnostic and treatment services which are medically necessary. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the scope of licensure of any health care professional nor to impair rights to reimbursement guaranteed health care providers pursuant to Section 10176. 10123.16. Except for a preexisting condition, every disability insurer issuing policies of individual or group disability insurance in this state that offers group or individual coverage for long-term care facility services or home-based care shall not exclude persons covered by the plan from receiving these benefits, if they are diagnosed as having any significant destruction of brain tissue with resultant loss of brain function, including, but not limited to, progressive, degenerative, and dementing illnesses, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, from the coverage offered for long-term care facility services or home-based care. For purposes of this section, where a particular disease can be determined only with an autopsy, "diagnosed" means clinical diagnosis not dependent on pathological confirmation, but employing nationally accepted criteria. 10123.17. Except for a preexisting condition, every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan in this state that offers group coverage for long-term care facility services or home-based care shall not exclude persons covered by the plan from receiving these benefits, if they are diagnosed as having any significant destruction of brain tissue with resultant loss of brain function, including, but not limited to, progressive, degenerative, and dementing illnesses, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, from the coverage offered for long-term care facility services or home-based care. For purposes of this section, where a particular disease can be determined only with an autopsy, "diagnosed" means clinical diagnosis not dependent on pathological confirmation, but employing nationally accepted criteria. 10123.18. (a) Every individual or group policy of health insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, that is issued, amended, or renewed, on or after January 1, 2002, and that includes coverage for treatment or surgery of cervical cancer shall also be deemed to provide coverage, upon the referral of a patient's physician and surgeon, a nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse midwife, providing care to the patient and operating within the scope of practice otherwise permitted for the licensee, for an annual cervical cancer screening test. The coverage for an annual cervical cancer screening test provided pursuant to this section shall include the conventional Pap test, a human papillomavirus screening test that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and the option of any cervical cancer screening test approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, upon the referral of the patient's health care provider. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an individual or group policy to cover treatment or surgery for cervical cancer or to prevent application of deductible or copayment provisions contained in the policy or certificate, nor shall this section be construed to require that coverage under an individual or group policy be extended to any other procedures. (b) This section shall not apply to vision only, dental only, accident only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, CHAMPUS supplement, long-term care, or disability income insurance. For accident only, hospital indemnity, or specified disease insurance, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply only to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy or certificate. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident only, hospital indemnity, or specified disease insurance. 10123.184. Every group policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, and that provides maternity benefits, that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 1999, and every individual policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, and that provides maternity benefits, that is of a type and form first offered for sale on or after January 1, 1999, shall provide coverage for participation in the Expanded Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) program, which is a statewide prenatal testing program administered by the State Department of Health Services. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a disability insurer that provides coverage for maternity benefits shall not require participation in the statewide prenatal testing program administered by the State Department of Health Services as a prerequisite to eligibility for, or receipt of, any other service. 10123.185. (a) Every policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state and certificate of group disability insurance issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state pursuant to a master group policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in another state on or after January 1, 1994, shall be deemed to include coverage for services related to diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate management of osteoporosis. The services may include, but need not be limited to, all Food and Drug Administration approved technologies, including bone mass measurement technologies as deemed medically appropriate. (b) This section shall not apply to specified accident, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or long-term care health insurance policies. 10123.19. (a) Any disability insurance policy that includes terms that require binding arbitration to settle disputes and that restrict, or provide for a waiver of, the right to a jury trial shall include, in clear and understandable language, a disclosure that meets all of the following conditions: (1) The disclosure shall clearly state whether the plan uses binding arbitration to settle disputes, including specifically whether the plan uses binding arbitration to settle claims of medical malpractice. (2) The disclosure shall appear as a separate article in the agreement issued to the employer group or individual subscriber and shall be prominently displayed on the enrollment form signed by each subscriber or enrollee. (3) In any disability insurance policy, the disclosure required by this section shall be displayed immediately before the signature line provided for the representative of the group contracting with a disability insurer and immediately before the signature line provided for the individual enrolling in the policy. (b) Any disability insurance policy that includes a term that requires the parties to submit to binding arbitration in case of a medical malpractice claim or dispute shall, for those cases or disputes for which the total amount of damages claimed is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or less, provide for selection by the parties of a single neutral arbitrator who shall have no jurisdiction to award more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). If the parties are unable to agree on the selection of a single neutral arbitrator, the method provided in Section 1281.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be utilized. The provision shall not be subject to waiver by the policy. 10123.194. (a) Every disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, and, as part of that coverage, also covers prescription drug benefits, and that issues a card to insureds for claims processing purposes, shall issue to each of its insureds a uniform card containing uniform prescription drug information. The uniform prescription drug information card shall, at a minimum, include the following information: (1) The name or logo of the benefit administrator or disability insurer issuing the card, which shall be displayed on the front side of the card. (2) The insured's identification number, or the policyholder's identification number when the insured is a dependent who accesses services using the policy holder's identification number, which shall be displayed on the front side of the card. (3) A telephone number that pharmacy providers may call for assistance. (4) Information required by the benefit administrator or disability insurer that is necessary to commence processing the pharmacy claim, except as provided for in paragraph (5). (5) A disability insurer shall not be required to print any of the following information on an insured's card: (A) Any number that is the same for all of its insured, provided that the disability insurer provides this number to the pharmacy on an annual basis. (B) Any information that may result in fraudulent use of the card. (C) Any information that is otherwise prohibited from being included on the card. (b) Beginning July 1, 2002, the new uniform prescription drug information card required by subdivision (a) shall be issued by an insurer to an insured upon enrollment or upon any change in the insured's coverage that impacts the data content or format of the card. (c) Nothing in this section requires an insurer to issue a separate card for prescription drug coverage if the insurer issues a card for health care coverage in general and the card is able to accommodate the information required by subdivision (a). (d) "Card" as used in this section includes other technology that performs substantially the same function as a card. (e) For purposes of this section, if a disability insurer delegates responsibility for issuing the uniform prescription drug information card to a contractor or agent, then the contract between the disability insurer and its contractor or agent shall require compliance with this section. 10123.195. (a) No group or individual disability insurance policy issued, delivered, or renewed in this state or certificate of group disability insurance issued, delivered, or renewed in this state pursuant to a master group policy issued, delivered, or renewed in another state that, as a provision of hospital, medical, or surgical services, directly or indirectly covers prescription drugs shall limit or exclude coverage for a drug on the basis that the drug is prescribed for a use that is different from the use for which that drug has been approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provided that all of the following conditions have been met: (1) The drug is approved by the FDA. (2) (A) The drug is prescribed by a contracting licensed health care professional for the treatment of a life-threatening condition; or (B) The drug is prescribed by a contracting licensed health care professional for the treatment of a chronic and seriously debilitating condition, the drug is medically necessary to treat that condition, and the drug is on the insurer's formulary, if any. (3) The drug has been recognized for treatment of that condition by any of the following: (A) The American Hospital Formulary Service's Drug Information. (B) One of the following compendia, if recognized by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of an anticancer chemotherapeutic regimen: (i) The Elsevier Gold Standard's Clinical Pharmacology. (ii) The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Drug and Biologics Compendium. (iii) The Thomson Micromedex DrugDex. (C) Two articles from major peer reviewed medical journals that present data supporting the proposed off-label use or uses as generally safe and effective unless there is clear and convincing contradictory evidence presented in a major peer reviewed medical journal. (b) It shall be the responsibility of the contracting prescriber to submit to the insurer documentation supporting compliance with the requirements of subdivision (a), if requested by the insurer. (c) Any coverage required by this section shall also include medically necessary services associated with the administration of a drug subject to the conditions of the contract. (d) For purposes of this section, "life-threatening" means either or both of the following: (1) Diseases or conditions where the likelihood of death is high unless the course of the disease is interrupted. (2) Diseases or conditions with potentially fatal outcomes, where the end point of clinical intervention is survival. (e) For purposes of this section, "chronic and seriously debilitating" means diseases or conditions that require ongoing treatment to maintain remission or prevent deterioration and cause significant long-term morbidity. (f) The provision of drugs and services when required by this section shall not, in itself, give rise to liability on the part of the insurer. (g) This section shall not apply to a policy of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses which is issued outside of California to an employer whose principal place of business is located outside of California. (h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of a formulary, copayment, technology assessment panel, or similar mechanism as a means for appropriately controlling the utilization of a drug that is prescribed for a use that is different from the use for which that drug has been approved for marketing by the FDA. (i) If an insurer denies coverage pursuant to this section on the basis that its use is experimental or investigational, that decision is subject to review under the Independent Medical Review System of Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 10169). (j) This section is not applicable to vision-only, dental-only, Medicare or Champus supplement, disability income, long-term care, accident-only, specified disease or hospital confinement indemnity insurance. 10123.196. (a) Every individual and group policy of disability insurance issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2000, that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses, shall provide coverage for the following, under the same terms and conditions as applicable to all benefits: (1) A disability insurance policy that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drug benefits shall include coverage for a variety of federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription contraceptive methods, as designated by the insurer. If an insured's health care provider determines that none of the methods designated by the disability insurer is medically appropriate for the insured's medical or personal history, the insurer shall, in the alternative, provide coverage for some other FDA approved prescription contraceptive method prescribed by the patient's health care provider. (2) Outpatient prescription coverage with respect to an insured shall be identical for an insured's covered spouse and covered nonspouse dependents. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny or restrict in any way any existing right or benefit provided under law or by contract. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an individual or group disability insurance policy to cover experimental or investigational treatments. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a religious employer may request a disability insurance policy without coverage for contraceptive methods that are contrary to the religious employer's religious tenets. If so requested, a disability insurance policy shall be provided without coverage for contraceptive methods. (1) For purposes of this section, a "religious employer" is an entity for which each of the following is true: (A) The inculcation of religious values is the purpose of the entity. (B) The entity primarily employs persons who share the religious tenets of the entity. (C) The entity serves primarily persons who share the religious tenets of the entity. (D) The entity is a nonprofit organization pursuant to Section 6033(a)(2)(A)(i) or (iii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (2) Every religious employer that invokes the exemption provided under this section shall provide written notice to any prospective employee once an offer of employment has been made, and prior to that person commencing that employment, listing the contraceptive health care services the employer refuses to cover for religious reasons. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive supplies ordered by a health care provider with prescriptive authority for reasons other than contraceptive purposes, such as decreasing the risk of ovarian cancer or eliminating symptoms of menopause, or for prescription contraception that is necessary to preserve the life or health of an insured. (f) This section shall only apply to disability insurance policies or contracts that are defined as health benefit plans pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, except that for accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity coverage, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy or contract. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance. 10123.198. (a) On and after July 1, 2011, in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (b), every health insurer that provides coverage for professional mental health services shall issue an identification card to each insured in order to assist the insured with accessing health benefits coverage information, including, but not limited to, in-network provider access information, and claims processing purposes. The identification card, at a minimum, shall include all of the following information: (1) The name of the health insurer issuing the identification card. (2) The insured's identification number. (3) A telephone number that insureds or providers may call for assistance with health benefits coverage information, in-network provider access information, and claims processing information, and when assessment services are provided by the health insurer, access to assessment services for the purpose of referral to an appropriate level of care or an appropriate health care provider. (4) The health insurer's Internet Web site address. (b) The identification card required by this section shall be issued by a health insurer to an insured upon commencement of coverage or upon any change in the insured's coverage that impacts the data content or format of the card. (c) Nothing in this section requires a health insurer to issue a separate identification card for professional mental health coverage if the insurer issues a card for health care coverage in general and the card provides the information required by this section. (d) If a health insurer, as described in subdivision (a), delegates responsibility for issuing the card to a contractor or agent, the contractor or agent shall be required to comply with this section. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a health insurer from meeting the standards of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) or other national uniform standards with respect to identification cards, and a health insurer shall be deemed compliant with this section if the insurer conforms with these standards, as long as the minimum requirements described in subdivision (a) have been met. (f) For the purposes of this section, "identification card" includes other technology that performs substantially the same function as an identification card. (g) (1) This section shall not apply to Medicare supplement insurance, Employee Assistance Programs, short-term limited duration health insurance, Champus-supplement insurance, or TRI-CARE supplement insurance, or to hospital indemnity, accident-only, and specified disease insurance. This section shall also not apply to specialized health insurance policies, except behavioral health-only policies. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), this section shall not apply to a behavioral health-only policy that provides coverage for professional mental health services pursuant to a contract with a health care service plan or insurer if that plan or insurer issues an identification card to its subscribers or insureds pursuant to this section or Section 1367.29 of the Health and Safety Code. 10123.199. (a) On or before January 1, 2012, every health insurer that provides coverage for professional mental health services shall establish an Internet Web site. Each Internet Web site shall include, or provide a link to, the following information: (1) A telephone number that the insured or provider can call, during normal business hours, for assistance obtaining mental health benefits coverage information, including the extent to which benefits have been exhausted, in-network provider access information, and claims processing information. (2) A link to prescription drug formularies or instructions on how to obtain formulary information. (3) A detailed summary description of the process by which the insurer reviews and approves, modifies, or denies requests for health care services as described in Section 10123.135. (4) Lists of providers or instructions on how to obtain a provider list as required by Section 10133.1. (5) A detailed summary of the health insurer's grievance process. (6) A detailed description of how the insured may request continuity of care as described in Section 10133.55. (7) Information concerning the right, and applicable procedure, of the insured to request an independent medical review pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 10169. (b) Except as otherwise specified, the material described in subdivision (a) shall be updated at least quarterly. (c) The information described in subdivision (a) may be made available through a secured Internet Web site that is only accessible to the insured. (d) The material described in subdivision (a) shall also be made available to insureds in hard copy upon request. (e) Nothing in this article shall preclude an insurer from including additional information on its Internet Web site for applicants or insureds, including, but not limited to, the cost of procedures or services by health care providers in an insurer's network. (f) The department shall include on the department's Internet Web site, a link to the Internet Web site of each health insurer described in subdivision (a). (g) This section shall not apply to Medicare supplement insurance, Employee Assistance Programs, short-term limited duration health insurance, Champus-supplement insurance, or TRI-CARE supplement insurance, or to hospital indemnity, accident-only, and specified disease insurance. This section shall also not apply to specialized health insurance policies, except behavioral health-only policies. (h) This section shall not apply to a health insurer that contracts with a specialized health care service plan, insurer, or other entity to cover professional mental health services for its insureds, provided that the health insurer provides a link on its Internet Web site to an Internet Web site operated by the specialized health care service plan, insurer, or other entity with which it contracts, and that plan, insurer, or other entity complies with this section or Section 1368.016 of the Health and Safety Code. 10123.20. (a) Every individual or group disability insurance policy that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after July 1, 2000, shall be deemed to provide coverage for all generally medically accepted cancer screening tests, subject to all other terms and conditions that would otherwise apply. (b) This section shall not apply to vision-only, dental-only, accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, or disability income insurance, except that for accident-only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy or contract. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident-only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance. 10123.21. On or after July 1, 1995, every individual or group policy of disability insurance that provides hospital, medical, or surgical coverage entered into, amended, or renewed in this state shall, subject to other terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group or individual policyholder and the insurer, provide coverage for the surgical procedure for those covered conditions directly affecting the upper or lower jawbone, or associated bone joints, if each procedure being considered for reimbursement is deemed medically-necessary by the insurer pursuant to the policy's definition of medical necessity. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the provision of dental services if dental services are specifically excluded from coverage under the terms and conditions of the contract between the group or individual policyholder and insurer. 10123.21. (a) A health insurer shall not deny coverage that is otherwise available under the health insurance policy for the costs of solid organ or other tissue transplantation services based upon the insured or policyholder being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the provision of benefits required by this section, a health insurer may utilize case management, managed care, or utilization review, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy and consistent with sound clinical processes and guidelines. 10124. (a) A self-insured employee welfare benefit plan delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than 120 days after the effective date of this section, which provides that coverage of a dependent child of an employee shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children specified in the policy or contract, shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both (a) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental retardation or physical handicap and (b) chiefly dependent upon the employee for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the employer or employee organization providing the plan or program of benefits by the employee within 31 days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as may be required by such employer or employee organization, but not more frequently than annually after the two-year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age. (b) As used in this section, "self-insured employee welfare benefit plan" means any plan or program of benefits provided by an employer or an employee organization, or both, for the purpose of providing hospital, medical, surgical, nursing, or dental services, or indemnification for the costs incurred for such services, to such employer's employees or their dependents. 10124.7. Each self-insured employee benefit plan issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this section shall provide, where feasible, that benefits for confinement in an extended care facility, as defined in subsection (j) of Section 1395x of Title 42 of the United States Code, may be provided under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the employer and the employee or employee organization. Nothing in this section shall preclude a self-insured employee benefit plan from providing benefits for confinement in institutions other than extended care facilities as defined in this section. 10125. (a) On and after January 1, 1974, every insurer issuing group disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer coverage for expenses incurred as a result of mental or nervous disorders, under the terms and conditions which may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. If the terms and conditions include coverage for inpatient care for nervous or mental disorders, the coverage shall extend to treatment provided at all of the following facilities: (1) A general acute care hospital as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code. (2) An acute psychiatric hospital as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code. (3) A psychiatric health facility as defined by Section 1250.2 of the Health and Safety Code operating pursuant to licensure by the State Department of Mental Health. Nothing in this subdivision prohibits an insurer which negotiates and enters into a contract with a professional or institutional provider for alternative rates of payment pursuant to Sections 10133 and 11512 of this code from restricting or modifying the choice of providers. (b) Every insurer shall communicate to prospective group policyholders as to the availability of outpatient coverage for the treatment of mental or nervous disorders. Every insurer shall communicate the availability of that coverage to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom they are negotiating. This coverage may include community residential treatment services, as described in Section 5458 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which are alternatives to institutional care. 10125.1. (a) Every insurer issuing group disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that offers coverage for a service that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed pharmacist may pay or reimburse the cost of the service performed by a pharmacist for the insurer if the pharmacist otherwise provides services for the insurer. (b) Payment or reimbursement may be made pursuant to this section for a service performed by a duly licensed pharmacist only when all of the following conditions are met: (1) The service performed is within the lawful scope of practice of the pharmacist. (2) The coverage otherwise provides reimbursement for identical services performed by other licensed health care providers. (c) Nothing in this section shall require the insurer to pay a claim to more than one provider for duplicate service or be interpreted to limit physician reimbursement. 10126. Every policy of group disability insurance issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 1977, which provides hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefits for employees or members and their dependents and which contains provisions granting the employee or member the right to convert the insurance coverage in the event of termination of employment or membership, shall include in such conversion provisions the same conversion rights and conditions to a covered dependent spouse of the employee or member in the event the covered dependent spouse ceases to be a qualified family member by reason of termination of marriage or death of the employee or member. Such conversion rights shall not require a physical examination or a statement of health. 10126.5. If a disability insurance policy between an insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and a provider requires that the provider accept, as payment from the insurer, the lowest payment rate charged by the provider to any patient or third party, this policy provision shall not be deemed to apply to, or take into consideration, any cash payments made to the provider by individual patients who do not have any private or public form of health care coverage for the service rendered by the provider, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 657 of the Business and Professions Code. This section shall apply to a provider contract that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this section. 10126.6. (a) Every policy of disability insurance that provides hospital, medical, or surgical coverage under a health benefit plan, defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, that provides coverage for emergency health care services, that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1999, shall include coverage for emergency medical transportation services, as defined in subdivision (b). This coverage shall be provided without regard to whether the emergency provider has a contractual arrangement with the insurer or whether there was prior authorization, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. (b) For purposes of this section, "emergency medical transportation services" means ambulance services provided through the "911" emergency response system. 10127. On and after January 1, 1974, every self-insured employee welfare benefit plan which provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer coverage for expenses incurred as a result of mental or nervous disorders, under the terms and conditions which may be agreed upon between the self-insured welfare benefit plan and the member. If the terms and conditions include coverage for services provided in a general acute care hospital, or an acute psychiatric hospital as defined in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code, and do not restrict or modify the choice of providers, the coverage shall extend to care provided by a psychiatric health facility, as defined by Section 1250.2 of the Health and Safety Code, operating pursuant to licensure by the State Department of Mental Health. Every plan shall communicate to prospective members as to the availability of outpatient coverage for the treatment of mental or nervous disorders. Every self-insured welfare benefit plan shall communicate the availability of this coverage to all members and prospective members. This coverage may include community residential treatment services, as described in Section 5458 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which are alternatives to institutional care. 10127.1. (a) No policy of disability insurance providing loss of time benefits shall contain any provision for a reduction of such benefits during a benefit period because of an increase in benefits payable under the Federal Social Security Act, as amended. (b) No self-insured employee welfare benefit plan providing loss of time benefits shall contain any provision for a reduction of such benefits during a benefit period because of an increase in benefits payable under the Federal Social Security Act, as amended. (c) This section shall apply to all disability insurance policies issued, delivered, amended, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1977, and shall apply to group disability insurance policies and self-insured employee welfare benefit plans which are entered into, amended, or renewed on or after such date or upon the expiration of any applicable collective-bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. 10127.15. Any provision contained in a policy of disability insurance or a self-insured employee welfare benefit plan for a reduction of loss of time benefits during a benefit period because of an increase in benefits payable under the federal Social Security Act, as amended, shall be null and void with respect to any such increase which occurs on or after the effective date of this section. 10127.2. Each policy of disability insurance issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this section, which policy provides benefits that accrue after a certain time of confinement in a health care facility, shall specify what constitutes a day of confinement or the number of consecutive hours of confinement which are requisite to the commencement of benefits. With respect to renewal of individual policies of disability insurance, insurers shall not be required to issue notification to the insured of the provisions of this section unless notice of policy renewal is delivered to the insured. 10127.3. On and after January 1, 1985, every insurer issuing group disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer coverage for expenses incurred as a result of treatment by holders of certificates under Section 4938 of the Business and Professions Code, under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. An insurer is not required to offer the coverage provided by this section as part of any policy covering employees of a public entity. 10127.4. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), no contract that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 1999, between a disability insurer that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical benefits and a health care provider shall contain provisions that prohibit, restrict, or limit the health care provider from advertising. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit disability insurers from establishing reasonable guidelines in connection with the activities regulated pursuant to this part, including those to prevent advertising that is, in whole or in part, untrue, misleading, deceptive, or otherwise inconsistent with this part or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For advertisements mentioning a provider's participation in a plan or product line of a disability insurer, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit disability insurers from requiring each advertisement to contain a disclaimer to the effect that the provider' s services may be covered for some, but not all, plans or product lines of the disability insurer, or that the disability insurer may cover some, but not all, provider services. (c) Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit provisions or agreements intended to protect service marks, trademarks, trade secrets, or other confidential information or property. If a health care provider participates in a provider panel or network as a result of a direct contractual agreement with a disability insurer that, in turn, has entered into a direct contractual agreement with another person or entity, pursuant to which insureds and other beneficiaries of that other person or entity may receive covered services from the health care provider, then nothing in this section is intended to prohibit reasonable provisions or agreements in the direct contractual arrangement between the health care provider and the disability insurer that protect the name or trade name of the other person or entity or requires that the health care provider obtain the consent of the disability insurer prior to the use of the name or trade name of the other person or entity in any advertising by the health care provider. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or impede the authority of the commissioner to regulate advertising, disclosure, or solicitation pursuant to this part. 10127.5. Every application for, certificate of, and policy of credit life or credit disability insurance shall set forth a statement in bold capital letters indicating that any preexisting health condition of the applicant may render the coverage void, if that is the case. For the purpose of this section, "credit life or credit disability insurance" means insurance on the life or health of any borrower sold by any creditor to provide for the repayment of the amount of a loan or other extension of credit in the event of the debtor's death or disability as defined in the policy. 10127.7. Every policy of individual life insurance with a face value of less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) which is delivered or issued for delivery in this state on and after July 1, 1974, shall have printed thereon or attached thereto a notice stating that, after receipt of the policy by the owner, the policy may be returned by the owner for cancellation by delivering it or mailing it to the insurer or to the agent through whom it was purchased. The period of time set forth by the insurer for return of the policy by the insured shall be clearly stated on the notice and this period shall be not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days. The insured may return the policy to the insurer at any time during the period specified in the notice. This delivery or mailing of the policy by the owner shall void the policy from the beginning, and the parties shall be in the same position as if no policy or contract had been issued. All premiums paid and any policy fee paid for the policy shall be refunded to the owner. This section applies to all policies issued, amended, or delivered in this state on or after January 1, 1981, but prior to January 1, 1990, and applies to any renewal thereof. All policies subject to this section which are in effect on January 1, 1981, shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in such a policy which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. This section does not apply to individual life insurance policies issued in connection with a credit transaction or issued under a contractual policy change or conversion privilege provision contained in a policy. 10127.8. (a) The purpose of this section is to assure truthful and adequate disclosure of all material and relevant information in the advertising of term life insurance which the commissioner, on the basis of an assessment of the total advertisement, determines is directed to individuals 55 years of age or older. (b) Advertisements for term life insurance directed to individuals 55 years of age or older shall: (1) Clearly and prominently distinguish basic life insurance benefits from suppplemental benefits such as accidental death benefits. (2) Prominently disclose any limitations, exceptions, or reductions affecting each benefit. (3) Prominently disclose any condition affecting the policy or certificate holder's continued insurability. If term coverage terminates at a stated age, or at the end of any designated period, that fact and the specified age or designated period shall be disclosed. (4) Prominently disclose any change in benefits resulting from the aging of the insured, policy duration, or any other factor. (5) Prominently disclose any change in premium resulting from the aging of the insured, policy duration, or any other factor. If the insurer retains any right to modify premiums in the future, that fact shall be disclosed. (c) If the benefits of the advertised policy or certificate decrease with the insured's age or with policy or certificate duration, while the premium remains approximately constant, that fact shall, in a print or broadcast advertisement, be disclosed, in the same form and with prominence or visible duration, or both, equal to that given any positive description of benefits or the telephone number or address provided for further information or application, whichever is the most prominent. (d) A television or radio advertisement for term life insurance directed to individuals 55 years of age or older shall in the spoken text contain the statement "policy (or certificate) benefits and limitations should be carefully examined prior to purchase." (e) The commissioner may, by regulation, adopt a term life insurance monetary value index, similar to the Life Insurance Surrender Cost Index of Article 12.5 (commencing with Section 2545) of Subchapter 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, to be disclosed in all advertisements of term life insurance for individuals 55 years of age or older, and on all policies and certificates of that insurance. In developing a term life insurance monetary value index, the commissioner shall consider actual premiums and policy and certificate benefits and the manner in which they are affected with the passage of time. Any term life insurance monetary value index developed pursuant to this section shall assume an insured's desire to retain coverage for at least 10 years. (f) This section does not supersede or repeal any regulation of the commissioner which governs life insurance advertising and such regulation shall continue to be in force in addition to this section. (g) The commissioner shall adopt regulations that are necessary to carry out this section. (h) This section applies to the advertisement of individual policies of insurance and any group policies or certificates delivered or issued for delivery in this state, regardless of the situs of the contract. (i) In addition to any other penalty provided by law or the availability of any administrative procedure, if an insurer, after notice and hearing, is found to have violated this section, or regulations adopted pursuant to this section, or knowingly permits any person to do so, the commissioner, in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 704, may suspend the insurer's certificate of authority to transact life insurance. Section 704.7 shall apply in any proceeding conducted pursuant to this section. 10127.9. (a) Every policy of individual life insurance which is initially delivered or issued for delivery in this state on and after January 1, 1990, shall have printed thereon or attached thereto a notice stating that, after receipt of the policy by the owner, the policy may be returned by the owner for cancellation by delivering it or mailing it to the insurer or to the agent through whom it was purchased. The period of time set forth by the insurer for return of the policy by the insured shall be clearly stated on the notice and this period shall be not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days. The insured may return the policy to the insurer by mail or otherwise at any time during the period specified in the notice. In the case of individual life insurance policies (other than variable contracts and modified guaranteed contracts), by delivering or mailing the policy pursuant to this section during the cancellation period, the owner shall void the policy from the beginning, and the parties shall be in the same position as if no policy had been issued. All premiums paid and any policy fee paid for the policy shall be refunded by the insurer to the owner within 30 days from the date that the insurer is notified that the insured has canceled the policy. In the case of variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance contracts, and modified guaranteed contracts, return of the contract during the cancellation period shall entitle the owner to a refund of account value and any policy fee paid for the policy. The account value and policy fee shall be refunded by the insurer to the owner within 30 days from the date that the insurer is notified that the owner has canceled the policy. (b) This section applies to all policies issued or delivered in this state on or after January 1, 1990, but does not apply to any policy subject to Section 10127.7. All policies subject to this section which are in effect on January 1, 1990, shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in any policy which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. (c) This section does not apply to individual life insurance policies issued in connection with a credit transaction or issued under a contractual policy-change or conversion privilege provision contained in a policy. 10127.10. (a) Every policy of individual life insurance and every individual annuity contract that is initially delivered or issued for delivery to a senior citizen in this state on and after July 1, 2004, shall have printed thereon or attached thereto a notice stating that, after receipt of the policy by the owner, the policy may be returned by the owner for cancellation by delivering it or mailing it to the insurer or agent from whom it was purchased. The period of time set forth by the insurer for return of the policy by the owner shall be clearly stated on the notice and this period shall be not less than 30 days. The owner may return the policy to the insurer by mail or otherwise at any time during the period specified in the notice. During the 30-day cancellation period, the premium for a variable annuity may be invested only in fixed-income investments and money-market funds, unless the investor specifically directs that the premium be invested in the mutual funds underlying the variable annuity contract. Return of the policy within the 30-day cancellation period shall have one of the following effects: (1) In the case of individual life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts for which the owner has not directed that the premium be invested in the mutual funds underlying the contract during the cancellation period, return of the policy during the cancellation period shall have the effect of voiding the policy from the beginning, and the parties shall be in the same position as if no policy had been issued. All premiums paid and any policy fee paid for the policy shall be refunded by the insurer to the owner within 30 days from the date that the insurer is notified that the owner has canceled the policy. The premium and policy fee shall be refunded by the insurer to the owner within 30 days from the date that the insurer is notified that the owner has canceled the policy. (2) In the case of a variable annuity for which the owner has directed that the premium be invested in the mutual funds underlying the contract during the 30-day cancellation period, cancellation shall entitle the owner to a refund of the account value. The account value shall be refunded by the insurer to the owner within 30 days from the date that the insurer is notified that the owner has canceled the contract. (b) This section applies to all individual policies issued or delivered to senior citizens in this state on or after January 1, 2004. All policies subject to this section which are in effect on January 1, 2003, shall be construed to be in compliance with this section, and any provision in any policy which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect. (c) Every individual life insurance policy and every individual annuity contract, other than variable contracts and modified guaranteed contracts, subject to this section, that is delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall have the following notice either printed on the cover page or policy jacket in 12-point bold print with one inch of space on all sides or printed on a sticker that is affixed to the cover page or policy jacket: "IMPORTANT YOU HAVE PURCHASED A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY OR ANNUITY CONTRACT. CAREFULLY REVIEW IT FOR LIMITATIONS. THIS POLICY MAY BE RETURNED WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE YOU RECEIVED IT FOR A FULL REFUND BY RETURNING IT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR AGENT WHO SOLD YOU THIS POLICY. AFTER 30 DAYS, CANCELLATION MAY RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY, KNOWN AS A SURRENDER CHARGE." The phrase "after 30 days, cancellation may result in a substantial penalty, known as a surrender charge" may be deleted if the policy does not contain those charges or penalties. (d) Every individual variable annuity contract, variable life insurance contract, or modified guaranteed contract subject to this section, that is delivered or issued for delivery in this state, shall have the following notice either printed on the cover page or policy jacket in 12-point bold print with one inch of space on all sides or printed on a sticker that is affixed to the cover page or policy jacket: "IMPORTANT YOU HAVE PURCHASED A VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT (VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE CONTRACT, OR MODIFIED GUARANTEED CONTRACT). CAREFULLY REVIEW IT FOR LIMITATIONS. THIS POLICY MAY BE RETURNED WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE YOU RECEIVED IT. DURING THAT 30-DAY PERIOD, YOUR MONEY WILL BE PLACED IN A FIXED ACCOUNT OR MONEY-MARKET FUND, UNLESS YOU DIRECT THAT THE PREMIUM BE INVESTED IN A STOCK OR BOND PORTFOLIO UNDERLYING THE CONTRACT DURING THE 30-DAY PERIOD. IF YOU DO NOT DIRECT THAT THE PREMIUM BE INVESTED IN A STOCK OR BOND PORTFOLIO, AND IF YOU RETURN THE POLICY WITHIN THE 30-DAY PERIOD, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF THE PREMIUM AND POLICY FEES. IF YOU DIRECT THAT THE PREMIUM BE INVESTED IN A STOCK OR BOND PORTFOLIO DURING THE 30-DAY PERIOD, AND IF YOU RETURN THE POLICY DURING THAT PERIOD, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF THE POLICY'S ACCOUNT VALUE ON THE DAY THE POLICY IS RECEIVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR AGENT WHO SOLD YOU THIS POLICY, WHICH COULD BE LESS THAN THE PREMIUM YOU PAID FOR THE POLICY. A RETURN OF THE POLICY AFTER 30 DAYS MAY RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY, KNOWN AS A SURRENDER CHARGE." The words "known as a surrender charge" may be deleted if the contract does not contain those charges. (e) This section does not apply to life insurance policies issued in connection with a credit transaction or issued under a contractual policy-change or conversion privilege provision contained in a policy. Additionally, this section shall not apply to contributory and noncontributory employer group life insurance, contributory and noncontributory employer group annuity contracts, and group term life insurance, with the exception of subdivision (f). (f) When an insurer, its agent, group master policyowner, or association collects more than one month's premium from a senior citizen at the time of application or at the time of delivery of a group term life insurance policy or certificate, the insurer must provide the senior citizen a prorated refund of the premium if the senior citizen delivers a cancellation request to the insurer during the first 30 days of the policy period. (g) For purposes of this chapter, a senior citizen means an individual who is 60 years of age or older on the date of purchase of the policy. 10127.11. Every insurer and life agent offering for sale individual life insurance policies or individual annuity contracts that are initially delivered or issued for delivery to senior citizens in this state on and after January 1, 1995, with the use of nonpreprinted illustrations of nonguaranteed values shall disclose on those illustrations or on an attached cover sheet, in bold or underlined capitalized print, or in the form of a contrasting color sticker, bright highlighter pen, or in any manner that makes it more prominent than the surrounding material, with at least one-half inch space on all four sides, the following statement: "THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION ONLY. AN ILLUSTRATION IS NOT INTENDED TO PREDICT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. INTEREST RATES, DIVIDENDS, OR VALUES THAT ARE SET FORTH IN THE ILLUSTRATION ARE NOT GUARANTEED, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS CLEARLY LABELED AS GUARANTEED." All preprinted policy illustrations shall contain this notice in 12-point bold print with at least one-half inch space on all four sides and shall be printed on the illustration form itself or on an attached cover sheet, or in the form of a contrasting color sticker placed on the front of the illustration. All preprinted illustrations containing nonguaranteed values shall show the columns of guaranteed values in bold print. All other columns used in the illustration shall be in standard print. "Values" as used here includes cash value, surrender value, and death benefit. 10127.12. Whenever an insurer provides an annual statement to a senior citizen policyowner of an individual life insurance policy or an individual annuity contract issued after January 1, 1995, the insurer shall also provide the current accumulation value and the current cash surrender value. 10127.13. All individual life insurance policies and individual annuity contracts for senior citizens that contain a surrender charge period shall either disclose the surrender period and all associated penalties in 12-point bold print on the cover sheet of the policy or disclose the location of the surrender information in bold 12-point print on the cover page of the policy, or printed on a sticker that is affixed to the cover page or to the policy jacket. The notice required by this section may appear on a cover sheet that also contains the disclosure required by subdivision (d) of Section 10127.10. 10127.14. (a) The department and the Department of Managed Health Care shall compile information required by this section and Section 1363.06 of the Health and Safety Code into two comparative benefit matrices. The first matrix shall compare benefit packages offered pursuant to Section 1373.62 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 10127.15. The second matrix shall compare benefit packages offered pursuant to Sections 1366.35, 1373.6, and 1399.804 of the Health and Safety Code and Sections 10785, 10901.2, and 12682.1. (b) The comparative benefit matrix shall include: (1) Benefit information submitted by health care service plans pursuant to Section 1363.06 of the Health and Safety Code and by health insurers pursuant to subdivision (d). (2) The following statements in at least 12-point type at the top of the matrix: (A) "This benefit summary is intended to help you compare coverage and benefits and is a summary only. For a more detailed description of coverage, benefits, and limitations, please contact the health care service plan or health insurer." (B) "The comparative benefit summary is updated annually, or more often if necessary to be accurate." (C) "The most current version of this comparative benefit summary is available on (address of the plan's or insurer's site)." This subparagraph applies only to those health insurers that maintain an Internet Web site. (3) The telephone number or numbers that may be used by an applicant to contact either the department or the Department of Managed Health Care, as appropriate, for further assistance. (c) The department and the Department of Managed Health Care shall jointly prepare two standardized templates for use by health care service plans and health insurers in submitting the information required pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1363.06 and subdivision (d). The templates shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (d) Health insurers shall submit the following to the department by January 31, 2003, and annually thereafter: (1) A summary explanation of the following for each product described in subdivision (a): (A) Eligibility requirements. (B) The full premium cost of each benefit package in the service area in which the individual and eligible dependents work or reside. (C) When and under what circumstances benefits cease. (D) The terms under which coverage may be renewed. (E) Other coverage that may be available if benefits under the described benefit package cease. (F) The circumstances under which choice in the selection of physicians and providers is permitted. (G) Lifetime and annual maximums. (H) Deductibles. (2) A summary explanation of the following coverages, together with the corresponding copayments and limitations, for each product described in subdivision (a): (A) Professional services. (B) Outpatient services. (C) Hospitalization services. (D) Emergency health coverage. (E) Ambulance services. (F) Prescription drug coverage. (G) Durable medical equipment. (H) Mental health services. (I) Residential treatment. (J) Chemical dependency services. (K) Home health services. (L) Custodial care and skilled nursing facilities. (3) The telephone number or numbers that may be used by an applicant to access a health insurer customer service representative and to request additional information about the insurance policy. (4) Any other information specified by the department in the template. (e) Each health insurer shall provide the department with updates to the information required by subdivision (d) at least annually, or more often if necessary to maintain the accuracy of the information. (f) The department and the Department of Managed Health Care shall make the comparative benefit matrices available on their respective Internet Web sites and to the health care service plans and health insurers for dissemination as required by Section 1373.6 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 12682.1, after confirming the accuracy of the description of the matrices with the health insurers and health care service plans. (g) As used in this section, "benefit matrix" shall have the same meaning as benefit summary. (h) This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, CHAMPUS supplement, long-term care, Medicare supplement, dental-only, or vision-only insurance policies. 10127.16. (a) After the termination of the pilot program under Section 10127.15, a health insurer shall continue to provide coverage under the same terms and conditions specified in Section 10127.15 as it existed on January 1, 2006, including the terms of the standard benefit plan and the subscriber payment amount, to each individual who was terminated from the program, pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 12725 of the Insurance Code during the term of the pilot program and who enrolled or applied to enroll in a standard benefit plan within 63 days of termination. The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board shall continue to pay the amount described in Section 10127.15 for each of those individuals. A health insurer shall not be required to offer the coverage described in Section 10127.15 after the termination of the pilot program to individuals not already enrolled in the program. (b) If the state fails to expend, pursuant to this section, sufficient funds for the state's contribution amount to any health insurer, the health insurer may increase the monthly payments that its subscribers are required to pay for any standard benefit plan to the amount that the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board would charge without a state subsidy for the same insurance product issued to the same individual within the program. 10127.17. (a) The Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund is hereby created as a special account within the Insurance Fund. Each insurer admitted to transact insurance in this state shall pay a fee to be determined by the commissioner, not to exceed one dollar ($1), for each individual life insurance policy and each individual annuity product that it issues to a resident of this state with a value of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or more. If an insurer elects to charge the purchaser of a life insurance policy or annuity product this fee, the fee shall be set forth as a separate charge in the contract schedule or premium notice. Life insurance or annuity forms are not required to be filed again for review as a consequence of this provision. This fee shall be assessed on all new individual life insurance policies and annuity products issued during the prior 12 months, and shall be deposited into the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund. (b) Moneys in the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund shall be distributed by the commissioner and shall be exclusively dedicated to protecting consumers of life insurance and annuity products in this state. Moneys in the fund shall not be used for any other purpose. (c) Fifty percent of these funds shall be distributed within the department for consumer protection functions related to individual life insurance and annuity products, including, but not limited to: (1) Investigating and prosecuting financial abuse by insurance licensees, or persons holding themselves out to be insurance licensees, or any person purporting to be engaged in the business of insurance. (2) Responding to consumer inquiries and complaints related to life insurance or annuity products. (3) Educating consumers in all aspects of life insurance and annuity products, consumer protection, purchasing and using insurance and annuity products, claim filing, benefit delivery, and dispute resolution. (4) Regulating and overseeing life insurance and annuity products and advertising for these products directed toward consumers. (d) Fifty percent of the funds shall be distributed to district attorneys for investigating and prosecuting individual life insurance and annuity product financial abuse cases involving insurance licensees, or persons holding themselves out to be insurance licensees, or any person purporting to be engaged in the business of insurance, and for other projects beneficial to insurance consumers. (1) The commissioner shall distribute funds to district attorneys who are able to show a likely positive outcome that will benefit consumers in the local jurisdiction based on specific criteria promulgated by the commissioner. Each local district attorney desiring a portion of those funds shall submit to the commissioner an application, including, at a minimum: (A) The proposed use of the moneys and the anticipated outcome. (B) A list of all prior relevant cases or projects and a copy of the final accounting for each. If cases or projects are ongoing, the most recent accounting shall be provided. (C) A detailed budget, including salaries, and general expenses, and specifically identifying the cost of purchase or rental of equipment or supplies. (2) Each district attorney that receives funds pursuant to this section shall submit a final detailed accounting at the conclusion or closure of each case or project. For cases or projects that continue longer than six months, interim accountings shall be submitted every six months, or as otherwise directed by the commissioner. (3) Each district attorney that receives funds pursuant to this section shall submit a final report to the commissioner, that may be made public, as to the success of the case or project conducted. The report shall provide information and statistics on the number of active investigations, arrests, indictments, and convictions. The applications for moneys, the distribution of moneys, and the annual reports shall be public documents. (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, information submitted to the commissioner pursuant to this section concerning criminal investigations, whether active or inactive, shall be confidential. (5) The commissioner may conduct a fiscal audit of the programs administered under this subdivision. This fiscal audit shall be conducted by an internal audit unit of the department. The cost of any fiscal audits shall be paid for from the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund established by this section. (6) If the commissioner determines that a district attorney is unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute a relevant financial abuse case, the commissioner may discontinue distribution of funds allocated for that matter and may redistribute those funds to other eligible district attorneys. (e) The funds received under this section shall be deposited in the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund within the Insurance Fund, and shall be expended and distributed as appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of this section. The total amount contained in the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund shall not exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000) annually. If, as of June 30 of any calendar year, the moneys in the fund exceed this amount, the commissioner shall adjust the amount of the assessment for the following year. An insurer, upon receipt of an invoice, shall transmit payment to the department for deposit in the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund. Any balance remaining in the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be retained in the account and carried forward to the next fiscal year. (f) The commissioner may develop guidelines for implementing or clarifying these provisions, including guidelines for the allocation, distribution, and potential return of unused funds. The commissioner may, from time to time, issue regulations for implementing or clarifying these provisions. (g) The Commissioner shall provide a consolidated report annually on the department's Internet Web site, which shall include, but is not limited to, the following information: (1) The number of opened consumer complaints related to life insurance or annuity products. (2) The number of opened investigations related to life insurance or annuity products. (3) The number of investigations related to life insurance or annuity products referred to and reported by prosecuting agencies. (4) The number of administrative or regulatory cases related to life insurance or annuity products referred to the department's legal division. (5) The number of administrative or regulatory enforcement actions taken in cases related to life insurance or annuity products. (6) Descriptions of education programs and efforts by the department to educate consumers in all aspects of life insurance and annuity products, consumer protection, purchasing and using insurance and annuity products, claim filing, benefit delivery, and dispute resolution. (h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2015, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends that date. 10127.18. (a) On and after January 1, 2005, a health insurer issuing individual policies of health insurance that ceases to offer individual coverage in this state shall offer coverage to the policyholders who had been covered by those policies at the time of withdrawal under the same terms and conditions as provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (b), subdivisions (c) to (e), inclusive, and subdivision (h) of Section 12682.1. (b) The department may adopt regulations to implement this section. (c) This section shall not apply when a plan participating in Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Access for Infants and Mothers, or any other contract between the plan and a government entity no longer contracts with the government entity to provide health coverage in the state, or a specified area of the state, nor shall this section apply when a plan ceases entirely to market, offer, and issue any and all forms of coverage in any part of this state after the effective date of this section.
