Section 1374.55.

(a)  On and after January 1, 1990, every health care service plan contract which is issued, amended, or renewed that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis, where the plan is not a health maintenance organization as defined in Section 1373.10, shall offer coverage for the treatment of infertility, except in vitro fertilization, under those terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group subscriber and the plan. Every plan shall communicate the availability of that coverage to all group contractholders and to all prospective group contractholders 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)  On and after January 1, 1990, every health care service plan which is a health maintenance organization, as defined in Section 1373.10, and which issues, renews, or amends a health care service plan contract that provides group coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall offer the coverage specified in subdivision (a), according to the terms and conditions that may be agreed upon between the group subscriber and the plan to group contractholders with at least 20 employees to whom the plan is offered. The plan shall communicate the availability of the coverage to those group contractholders and prospective group contractholders with whom the plan is negotiating.

(d)  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.

(e)  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.

(f)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any plan, 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.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 830, Sec. 1. Effective September 14, 1990.)