(a) For purposes of this article, a bridge plan product shall mean an individual health benefit plan, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 1399.845, that is offered by a health care service plan licensed under this chapter that contracts with the Exchange pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code.

(b) Until December 31, 2014, a health care service plan that contracts with the California Health Benefit Exchange to offer a qualified bridge plan product pursuant to Section 100504 of the Government Code shall do all of the following:

(1) As of the effective date of this section, if the health care service plan has not been approved by the director to offer individual health benefit plans pursuant to this chapter, the plan shall file a material modification pursuant to Section 1352 to expand its license to include individual health benefit plans.

(2) As of the effective date of this section, if the health care service plan has been approved by the director to offer individual health benefit plans pursuant to this chapter, the plan shall, pursuant to Section 1352, file an amendment to expand its license to include a bridge plan product as an individual health benefit plan.

(c) During the time the health care service plan’s material modification or amendment is pending approval by the director, the health care service plan shall be deemed to comply with subdivision (b) of Section 100507 of the Government Code.

(d) A health care service plan shall maintain a medical loss ratio of 85 percent for the bridge plan product. A health care service plan shall utilize, to the extent possible, the same methodology for calculating the medical loss ratio for the bridge plan product that is used for calculating the health care service plan medical loss ratio pursuant to Section 1367.003 and shall report its medical loss ratio for the bridge plan product to the department as provided in Section 1367.003.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 1399.849, a health care service plan selling a bridge plan product shall not be required to fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell the health care service plan’s bridge plan product except to individuals eligible for the bridge plan product pursuant to the State Department of Health Care Services and the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s contract entered into pursuant to Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, provided the health care service plan meets the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 1399.849, a health care service plan selling a bridge plan product shall provide an initial open enrollment period of six months, and an annual enrollment period and a special enrollment period consistent with the annual enrollment and special enrollment periods of the Exchange.

(g) This section shall become inoperative on the October 1 that is five years after the date that federal approval of the bridge plan option occurs, and, as of the second January 1 thereafter, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before that date deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

(Added by Stats. 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 10. (SB 3 1x) Effective September 30, 2013. Conditionally inoperative, on date prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed, by its own provisions, on second January 1 after inoperative date.)