(a) This section shall apply to nongrandfathered individual and group health care service plan contracts that provide coverage for essential health benefits, as defined in Section 1367.005, and that are issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015.

(b) (1) For nongrandfathered health care service plan contracts in the individual or small group markets, a health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract, that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, shall provide for a limit on annual out-of-pocket expenses for all covered benefits that meet the definition of essential health benefits in Section 1367.005, including out-of-network emergency care consistent with Section 1371.4.

(2) For nongrandfathered health care service plan contracts in the large group market, a health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract, that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, shall provide for a limit on annual out-of-pocket expenses for covered benefits, including out-of-network emergency care consistent with Section 1371.4. This limit shall only apply to essential health benefits, as defined in Section 1367.005, that are covered under the plan to the extent that this provision does not conflict with federal law or guidance on out-of-pocket maximums for nongrandfathered health care service plan contracts in the large group market.

(c) (1) The limit described in subdivision (b) shall not exceed the limit described in Section 1302(c) of PPACA, and any subsequent rules, regulations, or guidance issued under that section.

(2) The limit described in subdivision (b) shall result in a total maximum out-of-pocket limit for all covered essential health benefits equal to the dollar amounts in effect under Section 223(c)(2)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with the dollar amounts adjusted as specified in Section 1302(c)(1)(B) of PPACA.

(3) For family coverage, an individual within a family shall not have a maximum out-of-pocket limit that is greater than the maximum out-of-pocket limit for individual coverage for that product.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the reduction in cost sharing for eligible enrollees described in Section 1402 of PPACA, and any subsequent rules, regulations, or guidance issued under that section.

(e) If an essential health benefit is offered or provided by a specialized health care service plan, the total annual out-of-pocket maximum for all covered essential benefits shall not exceed the limit in subdivision (b). This section shall not apply to a specialized health care service plan that does not offer an essential health benefit as defined in Section 1367.005.

(f) The maximum out-of-pocket limit shall apply to any copayment, coinsurance, deductible, and any other form of cost sharing for all covered benefits that meet the definition of essential health benefits in Section 1367.005.

(g) (1) (A) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if a health care service plan contract for family coverage includes a deductible, an individual within a family shall not have a deductible that is greater than the deductible limit for individual coverage for that product.

(B) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if a large group market health care service plan contract for family coverage that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2017, includes a deductible, an individual within a family shall not have a deductible that is more than the deductible limit for individual coverage for that product.

(2) (A) If a health care service plan contract for family coverage includes a deductible and is a high deductible health plan under the definition set forth in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, the plan contract shall include a deductible for each individual covered by the plan that is equal to either the amount set forth in Section 223(c)(2)(A)(i)(II) of Title 26 of the United States Code or the deductible for individual coverage under the plan contract, whichever is greater.

(B) If a large group market health care service plan contract for family coverage that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2017, includes a deductible and is a high deductible health plan under the definition set forth in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, the plan contract shall include a deductible for each individual covered by the plan that is equal to either the amount set forth in Section 223(c)(2)(A)(i)(II) of Title 26 of the United States Code or the deductible for individual coverage under the plan contract, whichever is greater.

(h) For nongrandfathered health plan contracts in the group market, “plan year” has the meaning set forth in Section 144.103 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. For nongrandfathered health plan contracts sold in the individual market, “plan year” means the calendar year.

(i) “PPACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), and any rules, regulations, or guidance issued thereunder.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 641, Sec. 1. (AB 1305) Effective January 1, 2016.)