H. B. 2392
(By Delegates Fleischauer, Miley, Brown,
Caputo, Hatfield, Longstreth, Marshall
and Morgan)
[Introduced January 12, 2011; referred to the
Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-7f; that said
code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated
§33-15-22; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new
section, designated §33-16-18; and that said code be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-16D-17, all
relating to prohibiting gender discrimination in health care
insurance plans.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended,
by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-7f; that said
code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-15-
22; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section,
designated §33-16-18; and that said code be amended by adding
thereto a new section, designated §33-16D-17, all to read as
follows:
CHAPTER 5. GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS;
MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.
ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT.
§5-16-7f. Use of gender to establish plan rates prohibited.
Beginning January 1, 2012, no insurance plans provided in this
article may use the gender of a person as a rating factor for
premiums charged in the plan.
CHAPTER 33. INSURANCE.
ARTICLE 15. ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.
§33-15-22. Use of gender of insured to establish rates prohibited.
Beginning January 1, 2012, for every policy of insurance or
insurance plan provided in this article which provides coverage for
hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage in the State of West
Virginia, gender of a person may not be used as a basis for premium
rates charged during a rating period to the persons in that class
for the same or similar coverage.
ARTICLE 16. GROUP ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.
§33-16-18. Use of gender of insured to establish rates prohibited.
Beginning January 1, 2012, for every policy of insurance or
insurance plan provided in this article which provides coverage for
hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage in the State of West
Virginia,
gender of a person may not be used
as a basis for
premium
rates charged during a rating period to the persons in that class for the same or similar coverage
.
ARTICLE 16D. MARKETING AND RATE PRACTICES FOR SMALL EMPLOYER
ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES.
§33-16D-17. Required policy coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
Beginning January 1, 2012, for every policy of insurance or
insurance plan provided in this article which provides coverage for
hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage in the State of West
Virginia, gender of a person may not be used as a basis for premium
rates charged during a rating period to the persons in that class
for the same or similar coverage.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the use of the
gender of insured persons as a rate-making factor for health
insurance policies.
These sections are new; therefore, it has been completely
underscored.