Section 10112.25.

(a) Every health insurer that issues, sells, renews, or offers health insurance policies for health care coverage in this state, including a grandfathered health plan, but not including specialized health insurance policies, shall provide an annual rebate to each insured under such coverage, on a pro rata basis, if the ratio of the amount of premium revenue expended by the health insurer on the costs for reimbursement for clinical services provided to insureds under such coverage and for activities that improve health care quality to the total amount of premium revenue, excluding federal and state taxes and licensing or regulatory fees and after accounting for payments or receipts for risk adjustment, risk corridors, and reinsurance, is less than the following:

(1) With respect to a health insurer offering coverage in the large group market, 85 percent.

(2) With respect to a health insurer offering coverage in the small group market or in the individual market, 80 percent.

(b) Every health insurer that issues, sells, renews, or offers health insurance policies for health care coverage in this state, including a grandfathered health plan, shall comply with the following minimum medical loss ratios:

(1) With respect to a health insurer offering coverage in the large group market, 85 percent.

(2) With respect to a health insurer offering coverage in the small group market or in the individual market, 80 percent.

(c) (1) The total amount of an annual rebate required under this section shall be calculated in an amount equal to the product of the following:

(A) The amount by which the percentage described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) exceeds the ratio described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a).

(B) The total amount of premium revenue, excluding federal and state taxes and licensing or regulatory fees and after accounting for payments or receipts for risk adjustment, risk corridors, and reinsurance.

(2) A health insurer shall provide any rebate owing to an insured no later than August 1 of the calendar year following the year for which the ratio described in subdivision (a) was calculated.

(d) (1) The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) that are necessary to implement the medical loss ratio as described under Section 2718 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-18), and any federal rules or regulations issued under that section.

(2) The commissioner may also adopt emergency regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) when it is necessary to implement the applicable provisions of this section and to address specific conflicts between state and federal law that prevent implementation of federal law and guidance pursuant to Section 2718 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-18). The initial adoption of the emergency regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare.

(e) The department shall consult with the Department of Managed Health Care in adopting necessary regulations, and in taking any other action for the purpose of implementing this section.

(f) This section shall be implemented to the extent required by federal law and shall comply with, and not exceed, the scope of Section 2791 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-91) and the requirements of Section 2718 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-18) and any rules or regulations issued under those sections.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to a health care service plan contract or insurance policy issued, sold, renewed, or offered for health care services or coverage provided in the Medi-Cal program (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), the Healthy Families Program (Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693)), the Access for Infants and Mothers Program (Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695)), the California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700)), or the Federal Temporary High Risk Insurance Pool (Part 6.6 (commencing with Section 12739.5)), to the extent consistent with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148).

(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 644, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2012.)