(a) (1) An insurer or nonprofit hospital service plan or administrator acting on its behalf shall not terminate a group master policy or contract providing hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, increase premiums or charges therefor, reduce or eliminate benefits thereunder, or restrict eligibility for coverage thereunder without providing prior notice of that action. The action shall not become effective unless written notice of the action was delivered by mail to the last known address of the appropriate insurance producer and the appropriate administrator, if any, at least 45 days prior to the effective date of the action and to the last known address of the group policyholder or group contractholder at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the action. If nonemployee certificate holders or employees of more than one employer are covered under the policy or contract, written notice shall also be delivered by mail to the last known address of each nonemployee certificate holder or affected employer or, if the action does not affect all employees and dependents of one or more employers, to the last known address of each affected employee certificate holder, at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the action.

(2) The notice delivered pursuant to paragraph (1) for large group health insurance policies shall also include the following information:

(A) Whether the rate proposed to be in effect is greater than the average rate increase for individual market products negotiated by the California Health Benefit Exchange for the most recent calendar year for which the rates are final.

(B) Whether the rate proposed to be in effect is greater than the average rate increase negotiated by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System for the most recent calendar year for which the rates are final.

(C) Whether the rate change includes any portion of the excise tax paid by the health insurer.

(D) How to obtain the rate filing required under Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 10181), including whether the rate change is attributable to changes in medical trend, utilization, or other factors.

(E) How to apply to the department to have the proposed rate reviewed by the department if a request is made within 30 days of the notice.

(b) A holder of a master group policy or a master group nonprofit hospital service plan contract or administrator acting on its behalf shall not terminate the coverage of, increase premiums or charges for, or reduce or eliminate benefits available to, or restrict eligibility for coverage of a covered person, employer unit, or class of certificate holders covered under the policy or contract for hospital, medical, or surgical benefits without first providing prior notice of the action. The action shall not become effective unless written notice was delivered by mail to the last known address of each affected nonemployee certificate holder or employer, or if the action does not affect all employees and dependents of one or more employers, to the last known address of each affected employee certificate holder, at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the action.

(c) A health insurer that declines to offer coverage to or denies enrollment for a large group applying for coverage shall, at the time of the denial of coverage, provide the applicant with the specific reason or reasons for the decision in writing, in clear, easily understandable language.

(d) (1) For group health insurance policies, if the department determines that a rate is unreasonable or not justified consistent with Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 10181), the insurer shall notify the policyholder of this determination. This notification may be included in the notice required in subdivision (a) or (b).

(2) The notification to the policyholder shall be developed by the department and shall include the following statements in 14-point type:

(A) The Department of Insurance has determined that the rate for this product is unreasonable or not justified after reviewing information submitted to it by the insurer.

(B) The policyholder has the option to obtain other coverage from this insurer or another insurer, or to keep this coverage.

(C) Small business purchasers may want to contact Covered California at www.coveredca.com for help in understanding available options.

(3) The development of the notification required under this subdivision shall not be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(4) The insurer may include in the notification to the policyholder the internet website address at which the insurer’s final justification for implementing an increase that has been determined to be unreasonable by the commissioner may be found pursuant to Section 154.230 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(5) The notice shall also be provided to the agent of record for the policyholder, if any, so that the agent may assist the purchaser in finding other coverage.

(6) In developing the notification, the department shall take into consideration that this notice is required to be provided to a small group applicant pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 10181.3.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 807, Sec. 14. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2020.)