2014 -- H 7177

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LC003663

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Walsh, Finn, Tanzi, O`Grady, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2014

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness

Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-18-82. Gender rating. – (a) No individual and/or group health insurance contract,

plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state, which provides medical

coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician’s office, and no policy

which provides major medical and/or similar comprehensive-type coverage, excluding disability

income, long-term care, and insurance supplemental policies which only provide coverage for

specified diseases or other supplemental policies, shall vary the premium rate for a health

coverage plan based on the gender of the individual policy holders, enrollees, subscribers, or

members.

     (b) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for any of the

following:

     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

     (2) Disability income;

     (3) Accident only;

     (4) Long-term care;

     (5) Medicare supplement;

     (6) Limited benefit health;

     (7) Specified diseased indemnity;

     (8) Sickness of bodily injury or death by accident or both; and/or

     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-19-73. Gender rating. – (a) No individual and/or group health insurance contract,

plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state, which provides medical

coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician’s office, and no policy

which provides major medical and/or similar comprehensive-type coverage, excluding disability

income, long-term care, and insurance supplemental policies which only provide coverage for

specified diseases or other supplemental policies, shall vary the premium rate for a health

coverage plan based on the gender of the individual policy holders, enrollees, subscribers, or

members.

     (b) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for any of the

following:

     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

     (2) Disability income;

     (3) Accident only;

     (4) Long-term care;

     (5) Medicare supplement;

     (6) Limited benefit health;

     (7) Specified diseased indemnity;

     (8) Sickness of bodily injury or death by accident or both; and/or

     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-20-69. Gender rating. – (a) No individual and/or group health insurance contract,

plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state, which provides medical

coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician’s office, and no policy

which provides major medical and/or similar comprehensive-type coverage, excluding disability

income, long-term care, and insurance supplemental policies which only provide coverage for

specified diseases or other supplemental policies, shall vary the premium rate for a health

coverage plan based on the gender of the individual policy holders, enrollees, subscribers, or

members.

     (b) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for any of the

LC003663 - Page 2 of 4

following:

     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

     (2) Disability income;

     (3) Accident only;

     (4) Long-term care;

     (5) Medicare supplement;

     (6) Limited benefit health;

     (7) Specified diseased indemnity;

     (8) Sickness of bodily injury or death by accident or both; and/or

     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-41-86. Gender rating. – (a) No individual and/or group health insurance contract,

plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state, which provides medical

coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician’s office, and no policy

which provides major medical and/or similar comprehensive-type coverage, excluding disability

income, long-term care, and insurance supplemental policies which only provide coverage for

specified diseases or other supplemental policies, shall vary the premium rate for a health

coverage plan based on the gender of the individual policy holders, enrollees, subscribers, or

members.

     (b) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for any of the

following:

     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

     (2) Disability income;

     (3) Accident only;

     (4) Long-term care;

     (5) Medicare supplement;

     (6) Limited benefit health;

     (7) Specified diseased indemnity;

     (8) Sickness of bodily injury or death by accident or both; and/or

     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC003663

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

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     This act would prohibit insurance companies from varying the premium rates charged for

a health coverage plan based on the gender of the individual policy holder, enrollee, subscriber, or

member.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003663

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