(a) No carrier shall provide or renew coverage subject to this chapter until it has done all of the following:

(1) A statement has been filed with the commissioner listing all of the carrier’s benefit plan designs currently in force that are offered or proposed to be offered for sale in this state, identified by form number, and, if previously approved by the commissioner, the date approved by the commissioner as well as the standard employee risk rate for each risk category for each benefit plan design and the highest and lowest risk adjustment factors that the carrier intends to use in determining rates for each benefit plan design. When filing a new benefit plan design pursuant to Section 10705, carriers may submit both the policy form and the standard employee risk rates for each risk category at the same time.

(2) Either:

(A) Thirty days expires after that statement is filed without written notice from the commissioner specifying the reasons for his or her opinion that the carrier’s risk categories or risk adjustment factors do no comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(B) Prior to that time the commissioner gives the carrier written notice that the carrier’s risk categories and risk adjustment factors as filed comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(b) No carrier shall issue, deliver, renew, or revise a benefit plan design lawfully provided pursuant to subdivision (a), and no carrier shall change the risk categories, risk adjustment factors, or standard employee risk rates for any benefit plan design until all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The carrier files with the commissioner a statement of the specific changes which the carrier proposes in the risk categories, risk adjustment factors, or standard employee risk rates.

(2) Either:

(A) Thirty days expires after such statement is filed without written notice from the commissioner specifying the reasons for his or her opinion that the carrier’s risk categories or risk adjustment factors do not comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(B) Prior to that time the commissioner gives the carrier written notice that the carrier’s risk categories and risk adjustment factors as filed comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, when a carrier is changing the standard employee risk rates of a benefit plan design lawfully provided under (a) or (b) above but is not changing the risk categories or risk adjustment factors which have been previously authorized, the carrier need not comply with the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), but instead shall submit the revised standard employee risk rates for the benefit plan design prior to offering or renewing the benefit plan design.

(d) When submitting filings under subdivision (a), (b), or (c), a carrier may also file with the commissioner at the time of the filings a statement of the standard employee risk rate for each risk category the carrier intends to use for each month in the 12 months subsequent to the date of the filing. Once the requirements of the applicable subdivision (a), (b), or (c), have been met, these rates shall be used by the carrier for the 12-month period unless the carrier is otherwise informed by the commissioner in his or her response to the filings submitted under subdivision (a), (b), or (c), provided that any subsequent change in the standard employee risk rates charged by the carrier which differ from those previously filed with the commissioner must be newly filed in accordance with this subdivision and provided that the carrier does not change the risk categories or risk adjustment factors for the benefit plan design.

(e) If the commissioner notifies the carrier, in writing, that the carrier’s risk categories or risk adjustment factors do not comply with the requirements of this chapter, specifying the reasons for his or her opinion, it is unlawful for the carrier, at any time after the receipt of such notice, to utilize the noncomplying health benefit plan, benefit plan design, risk categories, or risk adjustment factors in conjunction with the health benefit plans or benefit plan designs for which the filing was made.

(f) Each carrier shall maintain at its principal place of business copies of all information required to be filed with the commissioner pursuant to this section.

(g) Each carrier shall make the information and documentation described in this section available to the commissioner upon request.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the commissioner to establish or approve the rates charged to policyholders for health benefit plans.

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1128, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1993. Operative July 1, 1993, by Sec. 15 of Ch. 1128.)