AB 952: Dental coverage disclosures.

Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the acts requirements a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law imposes specified coverage and disclosure requirements on health care service plans and health insurers, including specialized plans and insurers, that cover dental services.

This bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer that issues, sells, renews, or offers a contract covering dental services, including a specialized health care service plan or specialized health insurer covering dental services, to disclose whether an enrollees or insureds dental coverage is State Regulated through a provider portal, if available, or otherwise upon request, on or after January 1, 2025. The bill would require a plan or insurer to include the statement State Regulated, if the enrollees or insureds dental coverage is subject to regulation by the appropriate department, on an electronic or physical identification card, or both if available, for contracts covering dental services issued on or after January 1, 2025. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.