SB 377 — AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR NEWBORNS.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

377358 February Session, 2022 LCOSenate Bill No.

2823377 ReferredtoCommitteeonINSURANCEANDREALSenate, ESTATEApril Introduced6, by:2022 The Committee on Insurance and Real Estate reported through SEN.

(INS)LESSER ANof ACTthe CONCERNING9th HEALTHDist., INSURANCEChairperson COVERAGEof FORthe NEWBORNS.Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR NEWBORNS.

(b) Coverage for such newly born child shall consist of coverage for injury and sickness including necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities within the limits ofSB377 the/ policy.File No.

LCO358 28231 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2022SB-00377-R01SB377 ofFile 3 SB.docx Raised Bill No.

377358 (c) If payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the policypolicy. or contract may require that notification of birth of such newly born child and payment of the required premium or fees shall be furnished to the insurer, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center not later than [sixty-one] one hundred twenty-one days after the date of birth or the date of discharge from the hospital, whichever is later, in order to continue coverage beyond such [sixty-one-day] period, provided failure to furnish such notice or pay such premium or fees shall not prejudice any claim originating within such [sixty-one-day] period.

(c) If payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the policy or contract may require that notification of birth of such newly born child and payment of the required premium or fees shall be furnished to the insurer, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center not later than [sixty-one] one hundred twenty-one days after the date of birth or the date of discharge from the hospital, whichever is later, in order to continue coverage beyond such [sixty-one-day] period, provided failure to furnish such notice or pay such premium or fees shall not prejudice any claim originating within such [sixty-one-day] period.

(c) If payment of a specific premium fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the policy may require that notification of birth of such newly born child and payment of the required premium or fees shall be furnished to the insurer, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center not later than [sixty-one] one hundred twenty-one days after the date of birth or the date of discharge from the hospital, whichever is later, in order to continue coverage beyondSB377 such/ [sixty-one-day]File period, provided failure to furnish such LCO 2823 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2022SB-00377-2 of 3 R01-SB.docx } Raised Bill No.

377358 notice2 orSB377 payFile suchNo. premium shall not prejudice any claim originating within such [sixty-one-day] period.

358 beyond such [sixty-one-day] period, provided failure to furnish such notice or pay such premium shall not prejudice any claim originating within such [sixty-one-day] period.

2 January 1, 2023 38a-516 INS Joint Favorable LCOSB377 2823/ R01-SB.docxFile }OUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2022SB-00377-No. 3 of 3

358 3 SB377 File No.

358 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation There is no fiscal impact resulting from the bill, which extends the notification period that insureds must notify insurers regarding the birth of a child, from 61 days to 120 days.

The bill specifies that claims duringtheextendedperiodarenotprejudicedifnotificationorpayment ofpremiumisnot provided,andtherefore there isno anticipatedimpact to premiums to the state employee health plan, the Exchange, or municipal plans The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB377 / File No.

358 4 SB377 File No.

358 OLR Bill Analysis SB 377 AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR NEWBORNS.

SUMMARY By law, certain health insurance policies that cover family members must cover newborns from birth for a set period before requiring payment to continue the coverage.

The newborn’s coverage must include injury and sickness benefits, including for the care and treatment of congenital defects and birth abnormalities.

This bill extends the period within which the insured person must (1) notify the health carrier (i.e., insurer, HMO, or hospital or medical service corporation) about the birth and (2) pay any required premium or subscription fee to continue the newborn’s coverage beyond that period.

Specifically, it extends the period from 61 days after birth to the later of (1) 121 days after birth or (2) the hospital discharge date.

As under existing law, the bill specifies that failing to provide the notice and payment within the specified period does not prejudice claims originating during it.

The bill applies to fully insured individual and group health insurance policies delivered, issued, renewed, amended, or continued in Connecticut that cover (1) basic hospital expenses;

(2) basic medical- surgical expenses;

(3) major medical expenses;

(4) accidents;

or (5) hospital or medical services, including those provided under an HMO plan.

It also applies to individual health insurance policies that cover limited benefits.

Because of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), state insurance benefit mandates do not apply to self-insured benefit plans.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

January 1, 2023 SB377 / File No.

358 5 SB377 File No.