Bill Text: NJ S2600 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires carriers to process and render a decision on applications for individual health benefits plans within one week.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-12-30 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S2600 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2600-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Requires carriers to process and render a decision on applications for individual health benefits plans within one week.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning individual health benefits plans and supplementing P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Every carrier that offers an individual health benefits plan that provides hospital or medical expense benefits pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.) shall process an application for issuance of individual health benefits coverage and render a written decision to the applicant as to whether the application is approved or denied within one week after receipt of a completed application.
2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that an insurance carrier that receives an application for enrollment in the carrier's individual health benefits plan, offered through the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program (IHC), must evaluate and render a written decision within one week of receipt of the application.
Currently, State law provides certain eligibility and application requirements that an individual must satisfy in order to obtain coverage through the IHC. The law further provides that if the applicant qualifies for coverage, then the carrier must provide coverage within certain time periods. This bill would provide further protections for consumers seeking coverage in the individual market by requiring carriers to respond to an application for health benefits coverage within one week of receipt of the completed application.
