Individual coverage is the main alternative for those not covered through employment.
California's
small-group health insurance market is regulated by a special set of rules designed to strike a balance between the broad
social goal of allowing small employers fair access to health coverage and the needs of insurance carriers to avoid unpredictable
costs.
California law governing the small-group market affords several key protections, including guaranteed
issue, rating protections, portability, and fair marketing provisions.