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

Article

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.

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CA scope bill no longer active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. 

Newsletter

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Recent Videos
Clark Chang, OD, MSA, MSc, FAAO, gave a presentation alongside Susan Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, at this year's Optometry's Meeting.
Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, shares key takeaways and a personal anecdote relating to the State of Dry Eye survey results.
Devin Sasser, OD, shares his excitement for Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day multifocal for astigmatism, the first and only daily disposable multifocal toric contact lens.
Reviewing the State of Dry Eye Survey with Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO.
Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, FAAO, outlines her AOA's Optometry's Meeting 2025 presentation on nutrition and its impact on ocular health.
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, detailed a talk she gave alongside Mary Beth Yackey, OD, at Optometry's Meeting 2025.
Shelby Brogdon, OD, details opportunities for practices to answer the patient's concerns from the chair before they hit the internet for their contact lens needs.
Christi Closson, OD, FAAO, shares her excitement for the new Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day multifocal for astigmatism
Karen R. Hoffman, OD, shares how customizable scleral lenses can transform vision for patients with complex corneas, achieving 20/20 outcomes and enhanced comfort.
Janna Pham, OD, shares key takeaways from a corneal tomography session she presented alongside Travis Pfeifer, OD; and Matthew McGee, OD.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.