Bill Text: GA SB471 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Insurance; authorize Insurance Commissioner to establish coalition of other states; alternative policy approval process for comprehensive major medical policies
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-13 - House Second Readers [SB471 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB471-Engrossed.html
12 LC 28
6094ER
Senate
Bill 471
By:
Senators Hill of the 32nd and Gooch of the 51st
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 29A of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to individual health insurance coverage, so as to provide for
legislative intent; to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to establish a
coalition of other states to adopt an alternative policy approval process for
comprehensive major medical policies; to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance
to approve policies for sale in Georgia that comply with such alternative
approval process standards under certain circumstances; to provide a definition;
to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to promulgate related rules and
regulations; to provide for alternative dispute resolution; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
29A of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
individual health insurance coverage, is amended by adding a new article to read
as follows:
"ARTICLE
4
33-29A-50.
(a)
The General Assembly seeks to initiate cooperation of like-minded states to
create a multistate coalition with reciprocity agreements for approval, offer,
sale, rating, including medical underwriting, renewal, and issuance of
comprehensive major medical individual and group health insurance
policies.
(b)
The General Assembly recognizes that insured health policies must be filed in
each state for approval and compliance with each separate state's administrative
and coverage requirements. The General Assembly believes that a coalition of
states with consistent health insurance laws will lower development and
distribution costs, making the coalition states a larger attractive market for
more rapid introduction of new products and services. In addition, a multistate
market with common standards will encourage new insurers to locate and initiate
business in the coalition states' market. The increased market size and common
state requirements will increase competition among insurers and lower
premiums.
33-29A-51.
As
used in this article, the term 'comprehensive major medical' means a plan with
at least a $1 million coverage lifetime maximum, a cost sharing out-of-pocket
maximum no greater than that applicable in any given year to a high deductible
health plan as defined under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code with
applicable annual indexing, and coverage for at least:
(1)
Ambulatory patient services;
(2)
Emergency services;
(3)
Hospitalization;
(4)
Maternity and newborn care;
(5)
Mental health and substance use disorder services;
(6)
Prescription drugs;
(7)
Rehabilitative and wellness services;
(8)
Chronic disease management; and
(9)
Pediatric services.
33-29A-52.
It
shall be the duty of the Commissioner to identify at least four states with
insurance laws sufficiently consistent with the laws of this state in order to
create an efficient regional or multistate market. The Commissioner shall be
authorized to take a lead role in establishing a coalition of other states to
adopt an alternative policy approval process for comprehensive major medical
policies that utilize a common set of policy approval requirements among the
coalition states. The Commissioner shall approve for sale in Georgia
comprehensive major medical individual and group policies that have been
approved for issuance under the alternative policy approval process in the
coalition states where the insurer is authorized to engage in the business of
insurance so long as the insurer is also authorized to engage in the business of
insurance in Georgia and provided that any such policy meets the requirements
established by the Commissioner.
33-29A-53.
(a)
The Commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this
article.
(b)
Any dispute resolution mechanism or provision for notice and hearing in this
title shall apply to insurers issuing and delivering plans pursuant to this
article."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.