Section 10755.08.

(a) A health benefit plan shall not impose a preexisting condition provision upon any individual.

(b) A health benefit plan may apply a waiting period of up to 60 days as a condition of employment if applied equally to all eligible employees and dependents and if consistent with PPACA. A waiting period shall not be based on a preexisting condition of an employee or dependent, the health status of an employee or dependent, or any other factor listed in subdivision (j) of Section 10705. During the waiting period, the health benefit plan is not required to provide health care services and no premium shall be charged to the policyholder or insureds.

(c) In determining whether a waiting period applies to any person, a carrier shall credit the time the person was covered under creditable coverage, provided the person becomes eligible for coverage under the succeeding plan contract within 62 days of termination of prior coverage, exclusive of any waiting period, and applies for coverage with the succeeding plan contract within the applicable enrollment period. A carrier shall also credit any time an eligible employee must wait before enrolling in the plan, including any employer-imposed waiting period. However, if a person's employment has ended, the availability of health coverage offered through employment or sponsored by an employer has terminated, or an employer's contribution toward health coverage has terminated, a carrier shall credit the time the person was covered under creditable coverage if the person becomes eligible for health coverage offered through employment or sponsored by an employer within 180 days, exclusive of any waiting period, and applies for coverage under the succeeding health benefit plan within the applicable enrollment period.

(d) A carrier providing aggregate or specific stop loss coverage or any other assumption of risk with reference to a health benefit plan shall provide that the plan meets all requirements of this section concerning waiting periods. The requirements of this subdivision shall only be exercised to the extent they are not preempted by ERISA.

(e) An individual's period of creditable coverage shall be certified pursuant to subsection (e) of Section 2704 of Title XXVII of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-3(e)).

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 852, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2013.)