Health care coverage: nondiscrimination.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Addis
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Health Care Coverage: No Discrimination

AB-1876 stops health care plans and insurers in California from discriminating against people based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

What This Bill Does

It says that health care service plans and insurance companies cannot exclude someone from joining their program because of who they are.
It tells these companies not to deny benefits or services to anyone based on certain personal characteristics like race or gender identity.
It defines discrimination based on sex to include things like being transgender, having intersex traits, or being pregnant.
It stops health care plans and insurers from taking actions that limit access to health programs for people because of their race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use health care service plans in California
Insurance companies that operate in California

Terms To Know

Discrimination: Treating someone unfairly because of their race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
Health care service plans: Organizations that provide health insurance to people in California.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone breaks these rules.
It is unclear how this will be enforced or who will make sure the companies follow it.

Bill History

2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 4.) (March 17). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1876, as introduced, Addis.
Health care coverage: nondiscrimination.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act’s requirements a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plans and health insurers, as specified, within 6 months after the relevant department issues specified guidance, or no later than March 1, 2025, to require all of their staff who are in direct contact with enrollees or insureds in the delivery of care or enrollee or insured services to complete evidence-based cultural competency training for the purpose of providing trans-inclusive health care for individuals who identify as transgender, gender diverse, or intersex.
This bill
would prohibit a subscriber, enrollee, policyholder, or insured from being excluded from enrollment or participation in, being denied the benefits of, or being subjected to discrimination by, any health care service plan or health insurer licensed in this state, on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The bill would define discrimination on the basis of sex for those purposes to include, among other things, sex characteristics, including intersex traits, pregnancy, and gender identity. The bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from taking specified actions relating to providing access to health programs and activities, including, but not limited to, denying or limiting health care services to an individual based upon the individual’s sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or gender otherwise recorded. The bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer, in specified circumstances, from taking various actions, including, but not
limited to, denying, canceling, limiting, or refusing to issue or renew health care service plan enrollment, health insurance coverage, or other health-related coverage, or denying or limiting coverage of a claim, or imposing additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, as specified. Because a violation of the bill’s requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF