(a) A large employer health benefit plan issuer shall obtain a written waiver from each employee who meets the participation criteria and declines coverage under a health benefit plan offered to a large employer. The waiver must ensure that the employee was not induced or pressured to decline coverage because of the employee's health status related factors.
(b) A large employer health benefit plan issuer may not provide coverage to a large employer or the employer's employees if the issuer or an agent for the issuer knows that the employer has induced or pressured an employee who meets the participation criteria or a dependent of the employee to decline coverage because of the individual's health status related factors.