(a) On or after January 1, 1986, an insurer issuing group health insurance shall offer coverage for orthotic and prosthetic devices and services under the terms and conditions that may be agreed upon between the group policyholder and the insurer. An insurer shall communicate the availability of that coverage to all group policyholders and to all prospective group policyholders with whom the insurer is negotiating. Coverage for prosthetic devices shall include original and replacement devices, as prescribed by a physician and surgeon or doctor of podiatric medicine acting within the scope of his or her license. Coverage for orthotic devices shall provide for coverage if the device, including original and replacement devices, is prescribed by a physician and surgeon or doctor of podiatric medicine acting within the scope of his or her license, or is ordered by a licensed health care provider acting within the scope of his or her license. An insurer shall have the right to conduct a utilization review to determine medical necessity before authorizing these services.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), on and after July 1, 2007, the amount of the benefit for orthotic and prosthetic devices and services shall be no less than the annual and lifetime benefit maximums applicable to all benefits in the policy. A copayment, coinsurance, deductible, and maximum out-of-pocket amount applied to the benefit for orthotic and prosthetic devices and services shall be no more than the most common amounts contained in the policy.

(c) This section shall not apply to Medicare supplement, vision-only, dental-only, or CHAMPUS supplement insurance, or to hospital indemnity, hospital-only, accident-only, or specified disease insurance that does not pay benefits on a fixed benefit, cash payment only basis.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 687, Sec. 5. (SB 910) Effective January 1, 2019.)