(a) (1) During each open enrollment period, every carrier offering health benefit plans in the individual market, other than individual grandfathered plan coverage, shall offer to the responsible party for a child coverage for the child that does not exclude or limit coverage due to any preexisting condition of the child.

(b) A carrier offering coverage in the individual market shall not reject an application for a health benefit plan from a child or filed on behalf of a child by the responsible party during an open enrollment period or from a late enrollee during a period no longer than 63 days from the qualifying event listed in subdivision (d) of Section 10950.

(c) Except to the extent permitted by federal law, rules, regulations, or guidance issued by the relevant federal agency, a carrier shall not condition the issuance or offering of individual coverage on any of the following factors:

(1) Health status.

(2) Medical condition, including physical and mental illnesses.

(3) Claims experience.

(4) Receipt of health care.

(5) Medical history.

(6) Genetic information.

(7) Evidence of insurability, including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence.

(8) Disability.

(9) Any other health status-related factor as determined by department.

This subdivision shall not apply to a health benefit plan providing individual grandfathered plan coverage.

(d) When a responsible party for a child 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 health benefit plan 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 the month, coverage shall become effective no later than the first day of the second month following delivery or postmark of the payment.

(e) A carrier offering coverage in the individual market shall not reject the request of a responsible party for a child to include that child as a dependent on an existing health benefit plan that includes dependent coverage during an open enrollment period.

(f) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a carrier offering coverage in the individual market from establishing rules for eligibility for coverage and offering coverage pursuant to those rules for children and individuals based on factors otherwise authorized under federal and state law for health benefit plans in addition to those offered on a guaranteed issue basis during an open enrollment period to children or late enrollees pursuant to this chapter. However, a carrier, other than a carrier providing individual grandfathered plan coverage, shall not impose a preexisting condition provision on coverage, including dependent coverage, offered to a child.

(g) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a carrier to establish a new service area or to offer health care coverage on a statewide basis, outside of the carrier’s existing service area.

(h) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a carrier from offering coverage to a family member of an enrollee in grandfathered health plan coverage consistent with Section 1251 of PPACA.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 656, Sec. 6. (AB 2244) Effective January 1, 2011. Inoperative, pursuant to Section 10960.5, on January 1, 2014, subject to condition for resuming operation.)