Section 10701 Of Article 1. Definitions From California Insurance Code >> Division 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 8. >> Article 1.
10701
. (a) For purposes of this chapter, "health benefit plan" does
not include policies or certificates of specified disease or
hospital confinement indemnity provided that the carrier offering
those policies or certificates complies with the following:
(1) The carrier files, on or before March 1 of each year, a
certification with the commissioner that contains the statement and
information described in paragraph (2).
(2) The certification required in paragraph (1) shall contain the
following:
(A) A statement from the carrier certifying that policies or
certificates described in this section (i) are being offered and
marketed as supplemental health insurance and not as a substitute for
hospital or medical expense insurance, health care service plans, or
major medical expense insurance, (ii) the disclosure forms as
described in Section 10603 contains the following statement
prominently on the first page: "This is a supplement to health
insurance. It is not a substitute for hospital or medical expense
insurance, a health maintenance organization (HMO) contract, or major
medical expense insurance," and (iii) are not being offered,
marketed, or sold in a manner that would make the purchase of the
policies contingent upon the sale of any product sold under Sections
10700 and 10718, or under Section 1357 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B) A summary description of each policy or certificate described
in this section, including the average annual premium rates, or range
of premium rates in cases where premiums vary by age, gender, or
other factors, charged for the policies and certificates in this
state.
(3) In the case of a policy or certificate that is described in
this section and that is offered for the first time in this state on
or after January 1, 1997, the carrier files with the commissioner the
information and statement required in paragraph (2) at least 30 days
prior to the date such a policy or certificate is issued or
delivered in this state.
(b) As used in this section, "policies or certificates of
specified disease" and "policies or certificates of hospital
confinement indemnity" mean policies or certificates of insurance
sold to an insured to supplement other health insurance coverage as
specified in this section. An insurer issuing a "policy or
certificate of specified disease" or a "policy or certificate of
hospital confinement indemnity" shall require that the person to be
insured is covered by an individual or group policy or contract that
arranges or provides medical, hospital, and surgical coverage not
designed to supplement other private or governmental plans.