Health insurance companies offering group plans in the California market will be updating some of their plans to comply with new maternity services definitions and expansion.
AB 210 (Roger Hernández): Maternity services
10123.866. (a) Commencing no later than July 1, 2012, every group
health insurance policy shall provide coverage for maternity
services for all insureds covered under the policy.
(b) For purposes of this section, "maternity services" include prenatal care, ambulatory care maternity services, involuntary complications of pregnancy, neonatal care, and inpatient hospital maternity care, including labor and delivery and postpartum care.
While many of the group health plans offered in California already cover these basic maternity services, there are some plans that did not specifically designate some of the covered benefits.
Anthem Blue Cross announced April 13th, “Beginning July 1, 2012, the Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company Elements and BeneFits Hospital Only plans are being updated to comply with California Assembly Bill 210, Maternity Services (AB210). AB210 requires that all group health insurance policies cover maternity services, including office visits. Such services may be subject to applicable copayments, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses including office visits. A communication on Individual business regarding California Senate Bill 222, Maternity Services (SB222) will be sent to you shortly.”