Bill Text: TX HB2946 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to group health benefit plan coverage for loss or impairment of speech, language, or hearing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-17 - Referred to Insurance [HB2946 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2946-Introduced.html
82R11984 TRH-F | ||
By: Coleman | H.B. No. 2946 |
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relating to group health benefit plan coverage for loss or | ||
impairment of speech, language, or hearing. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 1365, Insurance Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 1365. LOSS OR IMPAIRMENT OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, OR HEARING | ||
SECTION 2. Section 1365.003, Insurance Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as | ||
follows: | ||
(a) A group health benefit plan issuer shall offer and make | ||
available under the plan coverage for the necessary care and | ||
treatment of loss or impairment of speech, language, or hearing for | ||
a covered individual, including a person covered as a dependent | ||
under the plan. | ||
(c) A coverage or premium quotation for the purchase or | ||
renewal of a group contract must include an offer of coverage | ||
described by Subsection (a). | ||
SECTION 3. Chapter 1365, Insurance Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 1365.005 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1365.005. COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A group health | ||
benefit plan issuer shall provide coverage under the plan for the | ||
necessary care and treatment of loss or impairment of speech, | ||
language, or hearing for a person covered as a dependent child under | ||
the plan. | ||
(b) Coverage required under this section: | ||
(1) may not be less favorable than coverage for a | ||
physical illness under the plan; and | ||
(2) must be subject to the same durational limits, | ||
dollar limits, deductibles, and coinsurance factors as coverage for | ||
a physical illness under the plan. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act applies only to an insurance policy that | ||
is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, | ||
2012. A policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before | ||
January 1, 2012, is governed by the law as it existed immediately | ||
before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in | ||
effect for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |