(a) (1) For a small employer health care service plan contract offered, sold, or renewed on or after January 1, 2014, the deductible under the plan shall not exceed:

(A) Two thousand dollars ($2,000) in the case of a plan contract covering a single individual.

(B) Four thousand dollars ($4,000) in the case of any other plan contract.

(2) The dollar amounts in this section shall be indexed consistent with Section 1302(c)(4) of PPACA and any federal rules or guidance pursuant to that section.

(3) The limitation in this subdivision shall be applied in a manner that does not affect the actuarial value of any small employer health care service plan contract.

(4) For small group products at the bronze level of coverage, as defined in Section 1367.008, the department may permit plans to offer a higher deductible in order to meet the actuarial value requirement of the bronze level. In making this determination, the department shall consider affordability of cost sharing for enrollees and shall also consider whether enrollees may be deterred from seeking appropriate care because of higher cost sharing.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a plan contract to have a deductible that applies to preventive services as defined in Section 1367.002.

(c) “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. 2. (AB 1305) Effective January 1, 2016.)