(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is in the public interest to ensure that the health care protections established by the federal Affordable Care Act continue to protect Maryland residents in light of continued threats to the federal Affordable Care Act.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the following provisions of Title I, Subtitles A, C, and D of the Affordable Care Act apply to individual health insurance coverage and health insurance coverage offered in the small group and large group markets, as those terms are defined in the federal Public Health Service Act, issued or delivered in the State by an authorized insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization:
(1) coverage of children up to the age of 26 years;
(2) preexisting condition exclusions;
(3) policy rescissions;
(4) bona fide wellness programs;
(5) lifetime limits;
(6) annual limits for essential benefits;
(7) waiting periods;
(8) designation of primary care providers;
(9) access to obstetrical and gynecological services;
(10) emergency services;
(11) summary of benefits and coverage explanation;
(12) minimum loss ratio requirements and premium rebates;
(13) disclosure of information;
(14) annual limitations on cost sharing;
(15) child–only plan offerings in the individual market;
(16) minimum benefit requirements for catastrophic plans;
(17) health insurance premium rates;
(18) coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials;
(19) contract requirements for stand–alone dental plans sold on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange;
(20) guaranteed availability of coverage;
(21) prescription drug benefit requirements; and
(22) preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management.
(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not apply to coverage for excepted benefits, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 146.145.
(d) The Commissioner may enforce this section under any applicable provisions of this article.