(a) Commencing on October 1, 2013, a health insurer or agent or broker shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the following activities:

(1) Encourage or direct an individual to refrain from filing an application for individual coverage with an insurer because of the health status, claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location, provided that the location is within the insurer’s approved service area, of the individual.

(2) Encourage or direct an individual to seek individual coverage from another health care service plan or health insurer or the California Health Benefit Exchange because of the health status, claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location, provided that the location is within the insurer’s approved service area, of the individual.

(3) Employ marketing practices or benefit designs that will have the effect of discouraging the enrollment of individuals with significant health needs or discriminate based on an individual’s race, color, national origin, present or predicted disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, expected length of life, degree of medical dependency, quality of life, or other health conditions.

(b) Commencing on October 1, 2013, a health insurer shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into any contract, agreement, or arrangement with a broker or agent that provides for or results in the compensation paid to a broker or agent for the sale of an individual health benefit plan to be varied because of the health status, claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location of the individual. This subdivision does not apply to a compensation arrangement that provides compensation to a broker or agent on the basis of percentage of premium, provided that the percentage shall not vary because of the health status, claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic area of the individual.

(c) This section shall only apply with respect to individual health benefit plans for policy years on or after January 1, 2014.

(d) This section shall be enforced in the same manner as Section 790.03, including through Sections 790.05 and 790.035.

(Added by Stats. 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 1, Sec. 19. (AB 2 1x) Effective September 30, 2013.)