Section 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) (1) A health insurer that declines to offer coverage to or denies enrollment for an individual or his or her dependents applying for individual coverage or that offers individual coverage at a rate that is higher than the standard rate shall, at the time of the denial or offer of coverage, provide the applicant with the specific reason or reasons for the decision in writing, in clear, easily understandable language.

(2) 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 60 days prior to the effective date of the policy 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.

(3) The written notice required pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be delivered to the individual policyholder at his or her last address known to the insurer, at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the change. The notice shall state in italics and in 12-point type the actual dollar amount of the premium increase and 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.

(4) 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 (MRMIP) (Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700)), and the federal temporary high risk pool established pursuant to Part 6.6 (commencing with Section 12739.5). The information provided to the applicant by the insurer shall be in accordance with standards developed by the department, in consultation with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and shall specifically include the toll-free telephone number and Internet Web site address for MRMIP and the federal temporary high risk pool. The requirement to notify applicants of the availability of MRMIP and the federal temporary high risk pool shall not apply when a health plan rejects an applicant for Medicare supplement coverage.

(c) A notice provided pursuant to this section is a private and confidential communication and, at the time of application, the insurer shall give the applicant the opportunity to designate the address for receipt of the written notice in order to protect the confidentiality of any personal or privileged information.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 661, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2011.)