Bill Text: TX SB575 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to health plan and health benefit plan coverage for abortions.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 13)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-26 - Placed on Major State Calendar [SB575 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB575-Comm_Sub.html

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84R32467 E
By: Taylor of Galveston, et al. S.B. No. 575
(Farney)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 575: No.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to health plan and health benefit plan coverage for
abortions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 8, Insurance Code, is amended by adding
Subtitle L to read as follows:
SUBTITLE L. FEDERAL PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
CHAPTER 1691. LEGISLATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Sec. 1691.001. CONSTITUTIONALITY OF PATIENT PROTECTION AND
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. This subtitle does not constitute an
acknowledgment by the legislature of the legitimacy of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148) as a
constitutional exercise of the power of the United States Congress.
CHAPTER 1692. COVERAGE FOR ABORTION; PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 1692.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Abortion" and "medical emergency" have the
meanings assigned by Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Health benefit exchange" means an American Health
Benefit Exchange administered by the federal government or created
under Section 1311(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (42 U.S.C. Section 18031(b)).
(3) "Qualified health plan" has the meaning assigned
by Section 1301(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (42 U.S.C. Section 18021(a)).
Sec. 1692.002. PROHIBITED COVERAGE THROUGH HEALTH BENEFIT
EXCHANGE. (a) A qualified health plan offered through a health
benefit exchange may not provide coverage for an abortion other
than coverage for an abortion performed due to a medical emergency.
(b) Subsection (a) does not authorize coverage for an
abortion based on a potential future medical condition that may
result from a voluntary act of the woman or minor.
(c) This section does not prevent a person from purchasing
optional or supplemental coverage for abortions under a health
benefit plan other than a qualified health plan offered through a
health benefit exchange.
SECTION 2. Subtitle A, Title 8, Insurance Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 1218 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 1218. COVERAGE FOR ABORTION; PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 1218.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "abortion"
and "medical emergency" have the meanings assigned by Section
171.002, Health and Safety Code.
Sec. 1218.002. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) This chapter
applies only to a health benefit plan described by Subsection (b) or
(c).
(b) This chapter applies to group health coverage made
available by a school district in accordance with Section 22.004,
Education Code.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision in Chapter 1551, 1575,
1579, or 1601 or any other law, this chapter applies to:
(1) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;
(2) a basic plan under Chapter 1575;
(3) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;
and
(4) basic coverage under Chapter 1601.
Sec. 1218.003. COVERAGE BY HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN. (a) A
health benefit plan may provide coverage for abortion only if:
(1) the coverage is provided to an enrollee separately
from other health benefit plan coverage offered by the health
benefit plan issuer;
(2) an enrollee pays separately from, and in addition
to, the premium for other health benefit plan coverage a premium for
coverage for abortion;
(3) an enrollee provides a signature for coverage for
abortion, separately and distinct from the signature required for
other health benefit plan coverage offered by the health benefit
plan issuer; or
(4) the coverage provides benefits only for an
abortion performed due to a medical emergency.
(b) Subsection (a)(4) does not authorize coverage for an
abortion based on a potential future medical condition that may
result from a voluntary act of the enrollee.
Sec. 1218.004. CALCULATION OF PREMIUM. (a) A health
benefit plan issuer that provides coverage for abortion shall
calculate the premium for the coverage so that the premium fully
covers the estimated cost of abortion per enrollee, determined on
an average actuarial basis.
(b) In calculating a premium under Subsection (a), the
health benefit plan issuer may not take into account any cost
savings in other health benefit plan coverage offered by the health
benefit plan issuer that is estimated to result from coverage for
abortion, including costs associated with prenatal care, delivery,
or postnatal care.
(c) A health benefit plan issuer that provides coverage
other than coverage for abortion may not provide a premium discount
to or reduce the premium for an enrollee for coverage other than
coverage for abortion on the basis that the enrollee has health
benefit plan coverage for abortion.
Sec. 1218.005. NOTICE BY ISSUER. A health benefit plan
issuer that provides coverage for abortion shall at the time of
enrollment in the health benefit plan provide each enrollee with a
notice that:
(1) coverage for abortion is optional and separate
from other health benefit plan coverage offered by the health
benefit plan issuer;
(2) the premium cost for coverage for abortion is a
premium paid separately from, and in addition to, the premium for
other health benefit plan coverage offered by the health benefit
plan issuer; and
(3) the enrollee may enroll in a health benefit plan
that provides coverage other than coverage for abortion without
obtaining coverage for abortion.
Sec. 1218.006. ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL
COVERAGE BY EMPLOYEES AND GROUP MEMBERS. If a health benefit plan
offers coverage for abortion, the employer or entity offering the
health benefit plan shall provide each employee or group member
with an opportunity to accept or reject supplemental coverage for
abortion:
(1) at the beginning of employment or when the group
member's coverage begins, as applicable; and
(2) at least one time in each calendar year after the
first year of employment or group coverage.
SECTION 3. This Act applies only to a qualified health plan
offered through a health benefit exchange or a health benefit plan
that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after
January 1, 2016. A qualified health plan offered through a health
benefit exchange or a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued
for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2016, 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.