The following standards are applicable to all Medicare supplement policies or certificates delivered or issued for delivery in this state with an effective date on or after June 1, 2010. No policy or certificate may be advertised, solicited, delivered, or issued for delivery in this state as a Medicare supplement policy or certificate unless it complies with these benefit plan standards. Benefit plan standards applicable to Medicare supplement policies and certificates issued with an effective date before June 1, 2010, remain subject to the requirements of Section 10192.9.

(a) (1) An issuer shall make available to each prospective policyholder and certificate holder a policy form or certificate form containing only the basic (core) benefits, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81.

(2) If an issuer makes available any of the additional benefits described in subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, or offers standardized benefit plan K or L, as described in paragraphs (8) and (9) of subdivision (e), then the issuer shall make available to each prospective policyholder and certificate holder, in addition to a policy form or certificate form with only the basic core benefits as described in paragraph (1), a policy form or certificate form containing either standardized benefit plan C, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (e), or standardized benefit plan F, as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (e).

(b) No groups, packages, or combinations of Medicare supplement benefits other than those listed in this section shall be offered for sale in this state, except as may be permitted in subdivision (f) and by Section 10192.10.

(c) Benefit plans shall be uniform in structure, language, designation, and format to the standard benefit plans listed in subdivision (e) and conform to the definitions in Section 10192.4. Each benefit shall be structured in accordance with the format provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 10192.81; or, in the case of plan K or L, in paragraph (8) or (9) of subdivision (e) and list the benefits in the order shown in subdivision (e). For purposes of this section, “structure, language, and format” means style, arrangement, and overall content of a benefit.

(d) In addition to the benefit plan designations required in subdivision (c), an issuer may use other designations to the extent permitted by law.

(e) With respect to the makeup of 2010 standardized benefit plans, the following shall apply:

(1) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan A shall include only the basic (core) benefits as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81.

(2) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan B shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81.

(3) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan C shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, 100 percent of the Medicare Part B deductible, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country, as defined in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively.

(4) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan D shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country, as defined in paragraphs (1), (3), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively.

(5) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan F shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, the skilled nursing facility care, 100 percent of the Medicare Part B deductible, 100 percent of the Medicare Part B excess charges, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country as defined in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively.

(6) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit high deductible plan F shall include only the following: 100 percent of covered expenses following the payment of the annual deductible set forth in subparagraph (B).

(A) The covered expenses include the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, 100 percent of the Medicare Part B deductible, 100 percent of the Medicare Part B excess charges, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country, as defined in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively.

(B) The annual deductible in high deductible plan F shall consist of out-of-pocket expenses, other than premiums, for services covered by plan F, and shall be in addition to any other specific benefit deductibles. The basis for the deductible shall be one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and shall be adjusted annually from 1999 by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the 12-month period ending with August of the preceding year, and rounded to the nearest multiple of ten dollars ($10).

(7) (A) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan G shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, 100 percent of the Medicare Part B excess charges, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country, as defined in paragraphs (1), (3), (5), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively.

(B) Effective January 1, 2020, the standardized benefit plans described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 10192.92 (redesignated high deductible plan G) may be offered to any individual who was eligible for Medicare prior to January 1, 2020.

(8) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan K shall include only the following:

(A) Coverage of 100 percent of the Part A hospital coinsurance amount for each day used from the 61st through the 90th day in any Medicare benefit period.

(B) Coverage of 100 percent of the Part A hospital coinsurance amount for each Medicare lifetime inpatient reserve day used from the 91st through the 150th day in any Medicare benefit period.

(C) Upon exhaustion of the Medicare hospital inpatient coverage, including the lifetime reserve days, coverage of 100 percent of the Medicare Part A eligible expenses for hospitalization paid at the applicable prospective payment system (PPS) rate, or other appropriate Medicare standard of payment, subject to a lifetime maximum benefit of an additional 365 days. The provider shall accept the issuer’s payment as payment in full and may not bill the insured for any balance.

(D) Coverage for 50 percent of the Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible amount per benefit period until the out-of-pocket limitation is met as described in subparagraph (J).

(E) Coverage for 50 percent of the coinsurance amount for each day used from the 21st day through the 100th day in a Medicare benefit period for posthospital skilled nursing facility care eligible under Medicare Part A until the out-of-pocket limitation is met as described in subparagraph (J).

(F) Coverage for 50 percent of cost sharing for all Part A Medicare eligible expenses and respite care until the out-of-pocket limitation is met as described in subparagraph (J).

(G) Coverage for 50 percent, under Medicare Part A or B, of the reasonable cost of the first three pints of blood, or equivalent quantities of packed red blood cells, as defined under federal regulations, unless replaced in accordance with federal regulations until the out-of-pocket limitation is met as described in subparagraph (J).

(H) Except for coverage provided in subparagraph (I), coverage for 50 percent of the cost sharing otherwise applicable under Medicare Part B after the policyholder pays the Part B deductible until the out-of-pocket limitation is met as described in subparagraph (J).

(I) Coverage of 100 percent of the cost sharing for Medicare Part B preventive services after the policyholder pays the Part B deductible.

(J) Coverage of 100 percent of all cost sharing under Medicare Parts A and B for the balance of the calendar year after the individual has reached the out-of-pocket limitation on annual expenditures under Medicare Parts A and B of four thousand dollars ($4,000) in 2006, indexed each year by the appropriate inflation adjustment specified by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(9) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan L shall include only the following:

(A) The benefits described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (I) of paragraph (8).

(B) The benefit described in subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H) of paragraph (8), but substituting 75 percent for 50 percent.

(C) The benefit described in subparagraph (J) of paragraph (8), but substituting two thousand dollars ($2,000) for four thousand dollars ($4,000).

(10) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan M shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 50 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country, as defined in paragraphs (2), (3), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively.

(11) Standardized Medicare supplement benefit plan N shall include only the following: the basic (core) benefit as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 10192.81, plus 100 percent of the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country, as defined in paragraphs (1), (3), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 10192.81, respectively, with copayments in the following amounts:

(A) The lesser of twenty dollars ($20) or the Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment for each covered health care provider office visit, including visits to medical specialists.

(B) The lesser of fifty dollars ($50) or the Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment for each covered emergency room visit; however, this copayment shall be waived if the insured is admitted to any hospital and the emergency visit is subsequently covered as a Medicare Part A expense.

(f) (1) (A) An issuer may, with the prior approval of the commissioner, offer policies or certificates with new or innovative benefits, in addition to the standardized benefits provided in a policy or certificate that otherwise complies with the applicable standards. The new or innovative benefits shall include only benefits that are appropriate to Medicare supplement insurance, are new or innovative, are not otherwise available, and are cost effective. Approval of new or innovative benefits shall not adversely impact the goal of Medicare supplement simplification.

(B) New or innovative benefits shall exclude an outpatient prescription drug benefit. New or innovative benefits shall not be used to change or reduce benefits, including a change of any cost-sharing provision, in any standardized plan.

(C) Commencing July 1, 2020, the portion of the premium attributed to the new or innovative benefits shall be identified as a separate line item on the payment invoice or bill.

(2) In the interest of full and fair disclosure, and to ensure the availability of necessary consumer information to current and prospective policyholders and certificate holders, for purposes of implementing this paragraph, the department shall collaborate with the Department of Managed Health Care, consumer group representatives, and issuers to develop and implement policies and procedures, as necessary, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The development and dissemination of information and material about any new or innovative benefits approved for sale.

(B) The revision of materials described in Sections 10192.15 and 10192.18 of this code, and Sections 1358.15 and 1358.18 of the Health and Safety Code, as may be necessary.

(C) The standardization of new or innovative benefits, as appropriate, for purposes of allowing consumer comparison of benefits, out-of-pocket costs, and premiums.

(3) On or before July 1, 2020, the commissioner may issue guidance to issuers regarding compliance with this section and that guidance 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). Any guidance issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be effective only through December 31, 2022, or until the commissioner adopts and effects regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, whichever occurs first.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 157, Sec. 4) by Stats. 2019, Ch. 549, Sec. 3. (SB 407) Effective January 1, 2020.)