Bill Text: GA SB445 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Insurance; accident/sickness insurance; wellness incentive program; provide partial premium reimbursement for those insured under policy

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-08 - Senate Read and Referred [SB445 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SB445-Introduced.html

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10 LC 28 5118

Senate Bill 445

By: Senator Hill of the 32nd

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to provide that insurers that issue plans of individual accident and sickness insurance in this state shall include within at least one such plan offered in this state a wellness incentive program under which the insurer shall provide a partial premium reimbursement for those insureds under such policy who meet the requirements of such wellness incentive program; to provide that insurers that include and operate wellness and health promotion programs, disease and condition management programs, health risk appraisal programs, and similar provisions in their individual accident and sickness policies shall not be considered to be engaging in unfair trade practices with respect to references to the practices of illegal inducements, unfair discrimination, and rebating; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, is amended by adding a new Code section to Chapter 29, relating to individual accident and sickness insurance, to read as follows:

"33-29-3.5.

(a) Insurers that issue plans of individual accident and sickness insurance in this state shall include within at least one such plan offered in this state a wellness incentive program under which the insurer shall provide annually a partial premium cash reimbursement for those insureds under such policy who meet the requirements of such wellness incentive program, including, but not limited to, participating in wellness and health promotion programs, disease and condition management programs, and health risk appraisal programs and providing biometric data, such as blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, and body mass index values, conforming with nationally recognized standards based upon age or industry recognized biometrics.

(b) Insurers that include and operate wellness and health promotion programs, disease and condition management programs, health risk appraisal programs, and similar provisions in their individual accident and sickness policies shall not be considered to be engaging in unfair trade practices under Code Section 33-6-4 with respect to references to the practices of illegal inducements, unfair discrimination, and rebating."

SECTION 2.

Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to Chapter 30, relating to group or blanket accident and sickness insurance, as follows:

"33-30-4.6.

(a) Insurers that issue plans of group or blanket accident and sickness insurance in this state shall include within at least one such plan offered in this state a wellness incentive program under which the insurer shall provide annually a partial premium cash reimbursement for those insureds under such policy who meet the requirements of such wellness incentive program, including, but not limited to, participating in wellness and health promotion programs, disease and condition management programs, and health risk appraisal programs and providing biometric data, such as blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, and body mass index values, conforming with nationally recognized standards based upon age or industry recognized biometrics.

(b) Insurers that include and operate wellness and health promotion programs, disease and condition management programs, health risk appraisal programs, and similar provisions in their group or blanket accident and sickness policies shall not be considered to be engaging in unfair trade practices under Code Section 33-6-4 with respect to references to the practices of illegal inducements, unfair discrimination, and rebating."

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2010, and shall apply to all policies issued, delivered, or issued for delivery in this state on and after such date.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.