California Code, Insurance Code - INS § 10270.9

No group disability policy shall be issued or delivered in this state nor, except as otherwise provided in Sections 10270.91 and 10270.98, shall an insurer provide or agree to provide group disability coverage until a copy of the form of the policy is filed with the commissioner and approved by him in accordance with Article 2 of this chapter as meeting in substance the reasonably applicable provisions and requirements of either Articles 3, 4 and 5  1 of this chapter or Articles 3a, 4a and 5a  1 of this chapter;  provided, however, that the insurer may, at its option, substitute for one or more of such provisions of Articles 4a and 5a corresponding provisions of different wording approved by the commissioner which are in each instance not less favorable in any respect to the policyholder, the certificate holder or the beneficiary.  On and after January 1, 1957, no group disability policy shall be issued or delivered in this state unless the form thereof has been approved, as required by this section, as meeting in substance the provisions and requirements of Articles 3a, 4a and 5a  1 of this chapter which are reasonably applicable;  provided, however, that the insurer may, at its option, substitute for one or more of such provisions of Articles 4a and 5a corresponding provisions of different wording approved by the commissioner which are in each instance not less favorable in any respect to the policyholder, the certificate holder or the beneficiary.

Except as provided by Section 10314,  2 no group disability policy shall be issued or delivered to any person in this state nor shall any endorsement for any such policy be issued which contains any provision contradictory, in whole or in part, of any of the provisions promulgated by the commissioner as being required or optional or alternative provisions to be incorporated into such policy in accordance with the rules promulgated by him for their use.