CA bill to allow sale of stand-alone adult vision coverage from insurance exchange

Sacramento, CA-The California Assembly unanimously passed a bill requiring the Covered California state health insurance exchange to link buyers to a separate website selling adult vision.

If signed by California Governor Jerry Brown, Assembly Bill 1877 will create the California Vision Care Access Council to develop a website to help consumers compare adult vision plans.

CA scope bill no longer active

The council and website will be funded by vision health care plans that voluntarily participate because the Affordable Care Act that led to the establishment of public state insurance exchanges does not allow the actual transaction to be completed within the exchange itself and prevents federal subsidies to be used for the sale of non-essential benefits.

If the law is passed, buyers on the Covered California insurance exchange will be asked if they are interested in vision coverage for adults. They will then be routed to an external website where they will access information on providers and purchase options.