(a) At least 20 business days prior to renewing or amending a health benefit plan contract subject to this chapter, or at least 20 business days prior to the initial offering of a health benefit plan subject to this chapter, a carrier shall file a statement with the commissioner in the same manner as required for small employers as outlined in Section 10717. The statement shall include a statement certifying that the carrier is in compliance with subdivision (a) of Section 10901.3 and with Section 10901.9. Any action by the commissioner, as permitted under Section 10717, to disapprove, suspend, or postpone the plan’s use of a carrier’s health benefit plan design shall be in writing, specifying the reasons the health benefit plan does not comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(b) Prior to making any changes in the premium, the carrier shall file an amendment in the same manner as required for small employers as outlined in Section 10717, and shall include a statement certifying the carrier is in compliance with subdivision (a) of Section 10901.3 and with Section 10901.9. All other changes to a health benefit plan previously filed with the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be filed as an amendment in the same manner as required for small employers as outlined in Section 10717.

(c) (1) On and after January 1, 2014, and except as provided in paragraph (2), this section shall apply only to individual grandfathered health plans previously issued pursuant to this section to federally eligible defined individuals.

(2) If Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by Section 1501 of PPACA, is repealed or amended to no longer apply to the individual market, as defined in Section 2791 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300gg-91), paragraph (1) shall become inoperative on the date of that repeal or amendment and this section shall apply to health benefit plans issued, amended, or renewed on or after that date.

(3) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:

(A) “Grandfathered health plan” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 1251 of PPACA.

(B) “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 pursuant to that law.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 441, Sec. 21. (AB 1180) Effective October 1, 2013.)