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H.B. 95 Enrolled

                 

CLARIFICATION OF DEPENDENT HEALTH

                 
CARE COVERAGE AMENDMENTS

                 
2004 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Todd E. Kiser

                 
                  LONG TITLE
                  General Description:
                      This bill specifies that when a parent is required by court order to provide health
                  insurance to a child who lives outside the insurer's service area, the child is subject to the
                  out-of-service area contract terms of the insurance policy.
                  Highlighted Provisions:
                      This bill:
                      .    specifies that when a parent is required by court order to provide health insurance to
                  a child who lives outside the insurer's service area, the child is subject to the
                  out-of-service area contract terms of the insurance policy.
                  Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
                      None
                  Other Special Clauses:
                      This bill provides a coordination clause.
                  Utah Code Sections Affected:
                  AMENDS:
                      31A-22-610.5, as last amended by Chapters 116 and 207, Laws of Utah 2001
                 
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 31A-22-610.5 is amended to read:
                       31A-22-610.5. Dependent coverage.
                      (1) As used in this section, "child" has the same meaning as defined in Section 78-45-2 .
                      (2) (a) Any individual or group health insurance policy or health maintenance


                  organization contract that provides coverage for a policyholder's or certificate holder's dependent
                  shall not terminate coverage of an unmarried dependent by reason of the dependent's age before
                  the dependent's 26th birthday and shall, upon application, provide coverage for all unmarried
                  dependents up to age 26.
                      (b) The cost of coverage for unmarried dependents 19 to 26 years of age shall be included
                  in the premium on the same basis as other dependent coverage.
                      (c) This section does not prohibit the employer from requiring the employee to pay all or
                  part of the cost of coverage for unmarried dependents.
                      (3) An individual or group health insurance policy or health maintenance organization
                  contract shall reinstate dependent coverage, and for purposes of all exclusions and limitations,
                  shall treat the dependent as if the coverage had been in force since it was terminated; if:
                      (a) the dependent has not reached the age of 26 by July 1, 1995;
                      (b) the dependent had coverage prior to July 1, 1994;
                      (c) prior to July 1, 1994, the dependent's coverage was terminated solely due to the age
                  of the dependent; and
                      (d) the policy has not been terminated since the dependent's coverage was terminated.
                      (4) (a) When a parent is required by a court or administrative order to provide health
                  insurance coverage for a child, an accident and health insurer may not deny enrollment of a child
                  under the accident and health insurance plan of the child's parent on the grounds the child:
                      (i) was born out of wedlock and is entitled to coverage under Subsection [(6)] (5);
                      (ii) was born out of wedlock and the custodial parent seeks enrollment for the child under
                  the custodial parent's policy;
                      (iii) is not claimed as a dependent on the parent's federal tax return; or
                      (iv) does not reside with the parent or in the insurer's service area.
                      [(b) An accident and health insurer providing enrollment under Subsection (4)(a)(iv) is
                  subject to the requirements of Subsection (5).]
                      [(5) A health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization may use
                  alternative delivery systems or indemnity insurers to provide coverage under Subsection (4)(a)(iv)

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                  outside its service area. Section 31A-8-408 does not apply to this Subsection (5).]
                      (b) A child enrolled as required under Subsection (4)(a)(iv) is subject to the terms of the
                  accident and health insurance plan contract pertaining to services received outside of an insurer's
                  service area.
                      [(6)] (5) When a child has accident and health coverage through an insurer of a
                  noncustodial parent, and when requested by the noncustodial or custodial parent, the insurer shall:
                      (a) provide information to the custodial parent as necessary for the child to obtain benefits
                  through that coverage, but the insurer or employer, or the agents or employees of either of them,
                  are not civilly or criminally liable for providing information in compliance with this Subsection
                  [(6)] (5)(a), whether the information is provided pursuant to a verbal or written request;
                      (b) permit the custodial parent or the service provider, with the custodial parent's
                  approval, to submit claims for covered services without the approval of the noncustodial parent;
                  and
                      (c) make payments on claims submitted in accordance with Subsection [(6)] (5)(b)
                  directly to the custodial parent, the child who obtained benefits, the provider, or the state
                  Medicaid agency.
                      [(7)] (6) When a parent is required by a court or administrative order to provide health
                  coverage for a child, and the parent is eligible for family health coverage, the insurer shall:
                      (a) permit the parent to enroll, under the family coverage, a child who is otherwise
                  eligible for the coverage without regard to an enrollment season restrictions;
                      (b) if the parent is enrolled but fails to make application to obtain coverage for the child,
                  enroll the child under family coverage upon application of the child's other parent, the state
                  agency administering the Medicaid program, or the state agency administering 42 U.S.C. 651
                  through 669, the child support enforcement program; and
                      (c) (i) when the child is covered by an individual policy, not disenroll or eliminate
                  coverage of the child unless the insurer is provided satisfactory written evidence that:
                      (A) the court or administrative order is no longer in effect; or
                      (B) the child is or will be enrolled in comparable accident and health coverage through

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                  another insurer which will take effect not later than the effective date of disenrollment; or
                      (ii) when the child is covered by a group policy, not disenroll or eliminate coverage of the
                  child unless the employer is provided with satisfactory written evidence, which evidence is also
                  provided to the insurer, that Subsection [(10)] (9)(c)(i), (ii) or (iii) has happened.
                      [(8)] (7) An insurer may not impose requirements on a state agency that has been
                  assigned the rights of an individual eligible for medical assistance under Medicaid and covered for
                  accident and health benefits from the insurer that are different from requirements applicable to an
                  agent or assignee of any other individual so covered.
                      [(9)] (8) Insurers may not reduce their coverage of pediatric vaccines below the benefit
                  level in effect on May 1, 1993.
                      [(10)] (9) When a parent is required by a court or administrative order to provide health
                  coverage, which is available through an employer doing business in this state, the employer shall:
                      (a) permit the parent to enroll under family coverage any child who is otherwise eligible
                  for coverage without regard to any enrollment season restrictions;
                      (b) if the parent is enrolled but fails to make application to obtain coverage of the child,
                  enroll the child under family coverage upon application by the child's other parent, by the state
                  agency administering the Medicaid program, or the state agency administering 42 U.S.C. 651
                  through 669, the child support enforcement program;
                      (c) not disenroll or eliminate coverage of the child unless the employer is provided
                  satisfactory written evidence that:
                      (i) the court order is no longer in effect;
                      (ii) the child is or will be enrolled in comparable coverage which will take effect no later
                  than the effective date of disenrollment; or
                      (iii) the employer has eliminated family health coverage for all of its employees; and
                      (d) withhold from the employee's compensation the employee's share, if any, of premiums
                  for health coverage and to pay this amount to the insurer.
                      [(11)] (10) An order issued under Section 62A-11-326.1 may be considered a "qualified
                  medical support order" for the purpose of enrolling a dependent child in a group accident and

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                  health insurance plan as defined in Section 609(a), Federal Employee Retirement Income Security
                  Act of 1974.
                      [(12)] (11) This section does not affect any insurer's ability to require as a precondition of
                  any child being covered under any policy of insurance that:
                      (a) the parent continues to be eligible for coverage;
                      (b) the child shall be identified to the insurer with adequate information to comply with
                  this section; and
                      (c) the premium shall be paid when due.
                      [(13)] (12) The provisions of this section apply to employee welfare benefit plans as
                  defined in Section 26-19-2 .
                      Section 2. Coordinating H.B. 95 with H.B. 41.
                      If this H.B 95 and H.B. 41, Health Insurance Coverage for Dependents, both pass, it is the
                  intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel change
                  Subsection 31A-22-610.5 (4)(b) to read "(b) A child enrolled as required under Subsection
                  (4)(a)(iv) is subject to the terms of the accident and health insurance plan contract pertaining to
                  services received outside of an insurer's service area. A health maintenance organization must
                  comply with Section 31A-8-502."

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