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2004 SESSION

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HB 935 Consumer Choice Benefits Plan Act; created.

Introduced by: Daniel W. Marshall, III | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

State-mandated health insurance; Consumer Choice Benefits Plans. Permits companies offering accident or sickness insurance policies or plans to offer a policy or plan that does not offer or provide all of the existing state-mandated health benefits. Each insurer or health maintenance organization providing such a benefits plan must provide a written disclosure, that must be signed by the prospective or current insured. Any plan must include payment to dentists and certain other health care providers for covered services; coverage of cancer screenings; the prohibition against discrimination; the certificate of quality assurance requirements; coverage of newborn, adopted, and dependent children; coverage of mental health and substance abuse services; coverage for diabetes; and the option relating to conversion coverage. This bill is identical to SB 679.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

State-mandated health insurance; Consumer Choice Benefits Plan Act. Creates the Consumer Choice Benefits Plan Act, which permits companies offering accident or sickness insurance policies or plans to offer a policy or plan that, in whole or in part, does not offer or provide state-mandated health benefits. Each insurer or health maintenance organization providing a consumer choice benefits plan must provide a written disclosure that must be signed by the prospective or current insured. The disclosure must include an acknowledgement that the consumer choice benefits plan does not provide some or all of the state-mandated health benefits and a list of the mandated benefits not included. If the insured is an individual policyholder, the disclosure must also state that the purchase of the plan may limit the policyholder's future coverage options in the event the policyholder's health changes, and needed benefits are not available under the consumer choice benefits plan. Certain coverage will still be required, including payment to dentists and certain other health care providers for covered services; coverage of cancer screenings; the prohibition against discrimination in § 38.2-508.4; the certificate of quality assurance requirements pursuant to § 32.1-137.2; coverage of newborn, adopted, and dependent children; coverage of mental health and substance abuse services; coverage for diabetes; and the option relating to conversion coverage pursuant to § 38.2-3416. The bill permits the State Corporation Commission to adopt rules as necessary to implement the new act.