2019 -- S 0445

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LC001800

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Crowley, Goldin, Euer, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     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:

     27-18-85. Gender rating.

     (a) No individual 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 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 disease indemnity;

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

     (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:

     27-19-77. Gender rating.

     (a) No individual 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 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 disease indemnity;

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

     (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:

     27-20-73. Gender rating.

     (a) No individual 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 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

LC001800 - Page 2 of 5

following:

     (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

     (2) Disability income;

     (3) Accident only;

     (4) Long-term care;

     (5) Medicare supplement;

     (6) Limited benefit health;

     (7) Specified disease indemnity;

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

     (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:

     27-41-90. Gender rating.

     (a) No individual 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 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 disease indemnity;

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

     (9) Other limited benefit policies.

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     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

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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 on January 1, 2020.

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