BUSINESS INSURANCE
Governor signs several bills impacting insurance industry
Published: Monday, October 13, 2008 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 4:22 p.m.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed an unprecedented 34 percent of bills last
month, tossing several insurance-related pieces, including a package of bills
closely resembling his universal health care plan.
Some related to the industry were among the 771 bills salvaged before the Sept. 30 deadline. The following is a brief list of a few that did receive the governor’s signature.
AB 1150, Ted Lieu, D-Torrance: Insurance companies can no longer legally pay bonuses for rescinding policies or set goals related to the number of policies dropped.
SB 1379, Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego: Fines paid by insurers for illegally rescinding policies will be used to subsidize the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Program and reimburse loans for physicians working in underserved areas.
AB 2842, Patty Berg, D-Eureka: Prevents insurance agents from making “cold calls” for private Medicare plans to residents or using “bait-and-switch” tactics.
AB 1894, Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank: Insurers are required to cover routine HIV testing.
AB 2569, Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles: If a policy is rescinded, dependents of the policyholder must be offered separate coverage options.
SB 1168, George Runner, R-Antelope Valley: Allows adult, dependent children to retain coverage under their parents’ plan in cases where they are on medical leave from school.
AB 1203, Mary Salas, D-Chula Vista: Requires emergency room departments to seek payments directly from insurance carriers if the patient’s provider is not contracted with the hospital.
SB 1279, Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria: Eliminates statutory requirements for paper-based insurance transactions as an effort to save energy and paper.
SB 1145, Michael Machado, D-Linden: Allows the appointment of several executive staff to the State Compensation Insurance Fund and makes meetings subject to the open meeting act and public records act.
AB 1874, Joe Coto, D-San Jose: Increases the number of board members for the State Compensation Insurance Fund and increases required qualifications.
Some related to the industry were among the 771 bills salvaged before the Sept. 30 deadline. The following is a brief list of a few that did receive the governor’s signature.
AB 1150, Ted Lieu, D-Torrance: Insurance companies can no longer legally pay bonuses for rescinding policies or set goals related to the number of policies dropped.
SB 1379, Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego: Fines paid by insurers for illegally rescinding policies will be used to subsidize the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Program and reimburse loans for physicians working in underserved areas.
AB 2842, Patty Berg, D-Eureka: Prevents insurance agents from making “cold calls” for private Medicare plans to residents or using “bait-and-switch” tactics.
AB 1894, Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank: Insurers are required to cover routine HIV testing.
AB 2569, Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles: If a policy is rescinded, dependents of the policyholder must be offered separate coverage options.
SB 1168, George Runner, R-Antelope Valley: Allows adult, dependent children to retain coverage under their parents’ plan in cases where they are on medical leave from school.
AB 1203, Mary Salas, D-Chula Vista: Requires emergency room departments to seek payments directly from insurance carriers if the patient’s provider is not contracted with the hospital.
SB 1279, Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria: Eliminates statutory requirements for paper-based insurance transactions as an effort to save energy and paper.
SB 1145, Michael Machado, D-Linden: Allows the appointment of several executive staff to the State Compensation Insurance Fund and makes meetings subject to the open meeting act and public records act.
AB 1874, Joe Coto, D-San Jose: Increases the number of board members for the State Compensation Insurance Fund and increases required qualifications.
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