(a) A disability insurance policy or certificate covering hospital, surgical, or medical expenses, that meets the definition of “health benefit plan” in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2000, shall be deemed to cover general anesthesia and associated facility charges for dental procedures rendered in a hospital or surgery center setting, when the clinical status or underlying medical condition of the insured requires dental procedures that ordinarily would not require general anesthesia to be rendered in a hospital or surgery center setting. The disability insurance policy or certificate may require prior authorization of general anesthesia and associated charges required for dental care procedures in the same manner that prior authorization is required for other covered diseases or conditions.

(b) This section shall apply only to general anesthesia and associated facility charges for only the following insureds, and only if the insureds meet the criteria in subdivision (a):

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(1) Insureds who are under seven years of age.

(2) Insureds who are developmentally disabled, regardless of age.

(3) Insureds whose health is compromised and for whom general anesthesia is medically necessary, regardless of age.

(c) Nothing in this section shall require insurers to cover any charges for the dental procedure itself, including the professional fee of the dentist. Coverage for anesthesia and associated facility charges pursuant to this section shall be subject to all other terms and conditions of the policy or certificate that apply generally to other benefits.

(d) Nothing in this section shall require insurers to cover anesthesia or related facility charges for dental procedures that ordinarily would require general anesthesia and that do not meet the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), or (c).

(e) A disability insurance policy may include coverage specified in subdivision (a) at any time prior to January 1, 2000.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 790, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)