Existing federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health benefit plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. Existing state law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) , also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under PPACA.
Existing law requires certain group health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 1990, to offer coverage for the treatment of infertility, except in vitro fertilization, under those terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the group subscriber or the group policyholder and the health care service plans or the health insurers. Existing law exempts any employer that is a religious organization or health care service plan or health insurer that is a subsidiary of an entity whose owner or corporate member is a religious organization from the requirement to offer coverage for forms of treatment of infertility in a manner inconsistent with the religious organization's religious and ethical principles, as specified.
This bill would require the Exchange to develop options for the inclusion of in vitro fertilization coverage as part of, or as supplementary to, coverage currently offered through Covered California, in consultation with stakeholders and by considering specified options. The bill would further require the Exchange, on or before July 1, 2020, to report the options to the Legislature and make the report publicly available on its internet website. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2022.