Health care coverage: vision care.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefits Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health plans by qualified individuals and small employers. PPACA prohibits an Exchange from making available any health plan other than a qualified health plan, except for certain stand-alone dental plans. Existing state law establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange within state government, specifies the powers and duties of the board governing the Exchange, and requires the board to facilitate the purchase of qualified health plans through the Exchange by qualified individuals and small employers by January 1, 2014. This bill would authorize the executive board that governs the California Health Benefit Exchange to construct, manage, and maintain an Internet Web site that is separate and clearly distinct from the Exchange's Internet Web site, to inform consumers about participating individual and employer-based vision plans that are available to qualified individuals and qualified employers. The bill would authorize the board to receive funds from providers of ancillary vision care products and any other nongovernmental source for this purpose. The bill would prohibit federal funds and user fees and other assessments imposed for purposes of the Exchange from being used for this purpose. The bill would require the Internet Web site to provide certain information, including the fact that enrollment in a vision plan does not constitute enrollment in a qualified health plan or enrollment through the Exchange. The bill would also require the Internet Web site to facilitate an option for consumers to obtain more information about, and enrollment in, a vision plan through a licensed agent, as specified.