SB 1208 Summary

• Requires insurers offering individual health insurance to issue at least one child-only health plan as a condition of market participation.

• Establishes two annual open enrollment periods (January and July) for child-only plan enrollment, each lasting one month with a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins.

• Guarantees coverage to all applicants under age 19 on a guaranteed-issue basis during open enrollment periods, with exceptions for existing creditable coverage.

• Allows insurers to impose a surcharge of up to 50% for up to 12 months if an applicant previously dropped child-only coverage with a lapse exceeding 63 days.

• Requires insurers to annually report to the Insurance Commissioner on applications received, enrollments, and denials; requires prominent display of enrollment information on insurer websites; sunsets on January 1, 2014.