Changes in Licensing Laws to Take Effect on January 1, 2010

AB 800 (Chapter 254, Statutes of 2009) Insurance Omnibus will become effective on January 1, 2010.  This bill made several changes to the California Insurance Code (CIC) for the purpose of encouraging online filings from insurance producers and to bring California closer to uniformity with other states' producer licensing laws.

Please take a moment ot review the Notice for changes that may have a direct effect on insurance producers and applicants.

Should you have any quetions, please either email the Producer Licensing Bureau or call the Producer Licensing Hotline at (800) 967-9331 or (916) 322-3555.  For emails, please be sure to include your name, telephone number, license number and current e-mail address.

New Laws for Medicare Supplement Insurance "Medigapp" (posted 3/01/10)

The federal Medicare improvements for Patients and Providrs Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-275) required states to adopt certain changes to Medicare Supplement insurance policies.  These changes became law in California on July 2, 2009 when Assembly Bill 1543 (Chapter 10, Statutes of 2009) was signed.

Medicare Supplement insurance, sometimes known as "Medigap" insurance, may be purchased by anyone enrolled in Medicare.  Medigap Plans are designed to cover some of the out-of-pocket expenses that people have to pay when using their Medicare benefits.

Under the new law, all of the Medigap Plans have been revised; some of the lettered plans were changed, some were dropped and some new ones were added. These new Medigap Plans will not take effect until June 1, 2010 - but agents may advertise and market the new Plans prior to that date.

Please take a moment to review the Medigap Notice.