SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2009 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 2024 Health insurance, basic; increasing availability thereof in State.

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

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

Availability of basic health insurance.  Allows health insurers to offer and sell group health insurance policies or contracts that do not include state mandated health insurance benefits to employers with 50 or fewer employees to provide coverage for employees. Such a group policy or contract may include any, or none, of the state-mandated health benefits as the health insurer and the qualified small employer agree.  Applications and enrollment forms for such policies shall disclose prominently the mandated benefits that are provided by the policy. The measure also provides that a plan of correction prepared by a holder of a certificate of public need for a medical care facility may allow the holder to satisfy the conditions of the certificate regarding the provision of charity care by (i) making direct payments to a private nonprofit foundation that funds basic insurance coverage for indigents authorized under a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health to receive contributions satisfying conditions of a certificate, or (ii) other documented efforts to provide primary or specialized care to underserved populations.  The measure states that a health insurance policy or subscription contract may include caps or limits on the total annual or lifetime benefits provided thereunder at specified dollar amounts, which statement is declarative of existing law. Health insurers offering plans under this act are required to report annually to the Bureau of Insurance on the number of small employers and individuals using plans that do not offer mandated benefits, the coverage provided, and the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, which information shall be compiled, evaluated, and submitted to the Governor and General Assembly. Finally, the measure provides that employees of small employers whose group health insurance coverage does not provide for continuation of coverage under federal COBRA, and who are involuntarily terminated during the period beginning September 1, 2008, and ending December 31, 2009, or during any period for which premium assistance is specified by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as later amended, shall be offered the option to continue their existing group health insurance coverage; this provision will take effect upon passage.  HB 2209 is incorporated.


FULL TEXT

AMENDMENTS

HISTORY