§ 1374.194

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 557, Sec. 1. (AB 1048) Effective January 1, 2024.
(a)The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:
(1)“Dental waiting period provision” means a plan contract provision that limits coverage for a specified period of time following an enrollee’s effective date of coverage.
(2)“Plan” means a health care service plan that issues, sells, renews, or offers a plan contract covering dental services, including a specialized health care service plan covering dental services.
(3)“Preexisting condition provision” means a contract provision that excludes or limits coverage for

services, charges, or expenses incurred following an enrollee’s effective date of coverage for a condition for which dental services, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received preceding the effective date of coverage.

(b)On and after January 1, 2025, a plan shall not issue, amend, renew, or offer a plan contract that imposes a dental waiting period provision in a large group plan or preexisting condition provision

for any plan.

(c)This section does not apply to Medi-Cal dental managed care contracts authorized under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

This content is for reference, learning, and study purposes only. All legal text should be verified against the official California Legislative Information website, which is the authoritative source for California law. Data last processed: February 8, 2026.