(a) With respect to small employer health care service plan contracts offered outside the Exchange, after a small employer submits a completed application form for a plan contract, the health care service plan shall, within 30 days, notify the employer of the employer’s actual premium charges for that plan contract established in accordance with Section 1357.512. The employer shall have 30 days in which to exercise the right to buy coverage at the quoted premium charges.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), when a small employer submits a premium payment, based on the quoted premium charges, and that payment is delivered or postmarked, whichever occurs earlier, within the first 15 days of the month, coverage under the plan contract shall become effective no later than the first day of the following month. When that payment is neither delivered nor postmarked until after the 15th day of a month, coverage shall become effective no later than the first day of the second month following delivery or postmark of the payment.

(c) (1) With respect to a small employer health care service plan contract offered through the Exchange, a plan shall apply coverage effective dates consistent with those required under Section 155.720 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations and of subdivision (e) of Section 1399.849.

(2) With respect to a small employer health care service plan contract offered outside the Exchange for which an individual applies during a special enrollment period described in subdivision (b) of Section 1357.503, the following provisions shall apply:

(A) Coverage under the plan contract shall become effective no later than the first day of the first calendar month beginning after the date the plan receives the request for special enrollment.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of a birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, coverage under the plan contract shall become effective on the date of birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.

(d) During the first 30 days after the effective date of the plan contract, the small employer shall have the option of changing coverage to a different plan contract offered by the same health care service plan. If a small employer notifies the plan of the change within the first 15 days of a month, coverage under the new plan contract shall become effective no later than the first day of the following month. If a small employer notifies the plan of the change after the 15th day of a month, coverage under the new plan contract shall become effective no later than the first day of the second month following notification.

(e) All eligible employees and dependents listed on a small employer’s completed application shall be covered on the effective date of the health benefit plan.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 250. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)