This article shall apply to a health care service plan contract offered in the individual or group market in California, including a health care service plan contract covering dental services and a specialized health care service plan contract covering dental services. However, this article shall not apply to a nondental specialized health care service plan contract, a Medicare supplement contract subject to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 1358.1), a health care service plan contract offered in the Medi-Cal program (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), a health care service plan contract offered in the California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15870) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), a health care service plan conversion contract offered pursuant to Section 1373.6, a health care service plan contract offered to a federally eligible defined individual under Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 1366.35) or Article 10.5 (commencing with Section 1399.801), or a Mexican prepaid health plan subject to Section 1351.2. This article does not limit, impair, or interfere with the authority of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, as set forth in § 22794 of the Government Code and Article 6 (commencing with Section 22850) of Part 5 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 557, Sec. 2. (AB 1048) Effective January 1, 2024.)