(a) “Minimum essential coverage” means any of the following:

(1) Coverage under any of the following government-sponsored programs:

(A) The Medicare program under Part A or Part C of Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act.

(B) Full scope coverage under the Medi-Cal program, including the Medi-Cal Access Program and Medi-Cal for Pregnant Women, and other full scope health coverage programs administered and determined to be minimum essential coverage by the State Department of Health Care Services.

(C) The Medicaid program under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.

(D) The CHIP program under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act or under a qualified CHIP look-alike program, as defined in Section 2107(g) of the federal Social Security Act.

(E) Medical coverage under Chapter 55 of Title 10 of the United States Code, including coverage under the TRICARE program.

(F) A health care program under Chapter 17 or Chapter 18 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

(G) A health plan under Section 2504(e) of Title 22 of the United States Code, relating to Peace Corps volunteers.

(H) The Nonappropriated Fund health benefits program of the Department of Defense, established under Section 349 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995.

(I) Refugee Medical Assistance, supported by the Administration for Children and Families, which is authorized under Section 412(e)(7)(A) of The Immigration and Nationality Act.

(J) A successor program to one of the above programs, as determined by the department or, pursuant to subparagraph (B), by the State Department of Health Care Services.

(2) The University of California Student Health Insurance Plan and the University of California Voluntary Dependent Plan.

(3) Coverage under an eligible employer-sponsored plan, including grandfathered plans and policies. “Eligible employer-sponsored plan” means a group health plan offered in connection with employment to an employee or related individuals, including a governmental plan within the meaning of Section 2791(d)(8) of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 201 et seq.) or any other plan, group health care service plan contract, or group health insurance policy offered in the small or large group market within the state.

(4) Coverage under an individual health care service plan contract or individual health insurance policy, including grandfathered contracts and policies, or student health coverage that substantially meets all the requirements of Title I of the Affordable Care Act pertaining to nongrandfathered, individual health insurance coverage.

(5) Any other health benefits coverage similar in form and substance to the benefits described in this subdivision that is determined by the department to constitute minimum essential coverage pursuant to this section.

(b) “Minimum essential coverage” does not include health coverage as follows:

(1) Coverage of the following excepted benefits:

(A) Coverage only for accident or disability income insurance, or a combination of the two.

(B) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance.

(C) Liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance.

(D) Workers’ compensation or similar insurance.

(E) Automobile medical payment insurance.

(F) Credit-only insurance.

(G) Coverage for onsite medical clinics.

(H) Other similar health coverage, under which benefits for medical care are secondary or incidental to other health benefits.

(2) Coverage of the following excepted benefits, if offered separately:

(A) Limited scope dental or vision benefits, or benefits limited to any other single specialized area of health care.

(B) Benefits for long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination thereof.

(C) Other similar, limited benefits.

(3) Coverage of the following excepted benefits if offered as independent, noncoordinated benefits.

(A) Coverage only for a specified disease or illness.

(B) Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance.

(4) Coverage of the following excepted benefits if offered as a separate contract for health care coverage:

(A) Medicare supplemental health insurance, as defined under Section 1395ss(g)(1) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(B) Coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under Chapter 55 (commencing with Section 1071) of Title 10 of the United States Code.

(c) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, or the State Department of Health Care Services, may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of guidance or instructions, without taking regulatory action.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 38, Sec. 14. (SB 78) Effective June 27, 2019.)