<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?><section number="31A-22-610.1"><effdate>1/1/2018</effdate><histories><history>Amended by Chapter <modchap sess="2017GS">292</modchap>, 2017 General Session</history><modyear>2017</modyear></histories><catchline>Indemnity benefit for adoption or infertility treatments.</catchline><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)"><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)"><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(i)">
If an insured has coverage for maternity benefits on the date of an adoptive placement, the insured's policy shall provide an adoption indemnity benefit payable to the insured, if a child is placed for adoption with the insured within 90 days of the child's birth.  If more than one child from the same birth is placed for adoption with the insured, only one adoption indemnity benefit is required.</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(ii)">
This section does not prevent an accident and health insurer from:
<subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(ii)(A)">
adjusting the benefit payable under this section for cost sharing measures imposed under the policy or contract for maternity benefit coverage; or</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(ii)(B)">
providing additional adoption indemnity benefits including:<subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(ii)(B)(I)">
extending the period of time after birth in which a child must be placed with an insured; or</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(ii)(B)(II)">
providing a benefit in excess of the amount specified in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="31A-22-610.1(1)(c)" start="0">(1)(c)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(b)">
An insurer that has paid the adoption indemnity benefit under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)" start="0">(1)(a)</xref> may seek reimbursement of the benefit if:<subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(b)(i)">
the postplacement evaluation disapproves the adoption placement; and</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(b)(ii)">
a court rules the adoption may not be finalized because of an act or omission of an adoptive parent or parents that affects the child's health or safety.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(c)"><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(c)(i)">
The amount of the adoption indemnity benefit provided under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="31A-22-610.1(1)" start="0">(1)</xref> is $4,000 subject to the adjustments permitted by Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)(ii)" start="0">(1)(a)(ii)</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(c)(ii)">
An insurer may comply with the provisions of this section by providing the $4,000 adoption indemnity benefit to an enrollee to be used for the purpose of the enrollee obtaining infertility treatments rather than seeking reimbursement for an adoption in accordance with terms designated by the insurer.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(d)">
Each insurer shall pay its pro rata share of the adoption indemnity benefit if each adoptive parent:<subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(d)(i)">
has coverage for maternity benefits with a different insurer; and</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(1)(d)(ii)">
makes a claim for the adoption indemnity benefit provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="31A-22-610.1(1)(a)" start="0">(1)(a)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(2)">
If a policy offers optional maternity benefits, it shall also offer coverage for adoption indemnity benefits if:
<subsection number="31A-22-610.1(2)(a)">
a child is placed for adoption with the insured within 90 days of the child's birth; and</subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(2)(b)">
the adoption is finalized within one year of the child's birth.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="31A-22-610.1(3)">
If an insured qualifies for the adoption indemnity benefit under this section and receives services from a network provider, the network provider may only collect from the insured the amount that the contracting health care provider is entitled to receive for such services under the contract, including any applicable copayment.</subsection></section>
