(a) (1) Preexisting condition provisions of a plan contract shall not exclude coverage for a period beyond six months following the individual’s effective date of coverage and may only relate to conditions for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment, including prescription drugs, was recommended or received from a licensed health practitioner during the six months immediately preceding the effective date of coverage.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a plan contract offered to a small employer shall not impose any preexisting condition provision upon any child under 19 years of age.

(b) A plan that does not utilize a preexisting condition provision may impose a waiting or affiliation period, not to exceed 60 days, before the coverage issued subject to this article shall become effective. During the waiting or affiliation period no premiums shall be charged to the enrollee or the subscriber.

(c) In determining whether a preexisting condition provision or a waiting or affiliation period applies to any person, a plan 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 or affiliation period, and applies for coverage with the succeeding plan contract within the applicable enrollment period. A plan shall also credit any time an eligible employee must wait before enrolling in the plan, including any affiliation or employer-imposed waiting or affiliation 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 plan 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 or affiliation period, and applies for coverage under the succeeding plan contract within the applicable enrollment period.

(d) In addition to the preexisting condition exclusions authorized by subdivision (a) and the waiting or affiliation period authorized by subdivision (b), health plans providing coverage to a guaranteed association may impose on employers or individuals purchasing coverage who would not be eligible for guaranteed coverage if they were not purchasing through the association a waiting or affiliation period, not to exceed 60 days, before the coverage issued subject to this article shall become effective. During the waiting or affiliation period, no premiums shall be charged to the enrollee or the subscriber.

(e) An individual’s period of creditable coverage shall be certified pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 2701 of Title XXVII of the federal Public Health Services Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg(e)).

(f) A health care service plan issuing group coverage may not impose a preexisting condition exclusion to a condition relating to benefits for pregnancy or maternity care.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 656, Sec. 1. (AB 2244) Effective January 1, 2011.)