SB486: relative to insurance plans that cover maternity benefits.

SB 486-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2020 SESSION

20-2959

01/04

SENATE BILL 486-FN

AN ACT relative to insurance plans that cover maternity benefits.

SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Rep. Campion, Graf. 12; Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 6; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 5; Rep. Butler, Carr. 7

COMMITTEE: Commerce

ANALYSIS

This bill requires insurance plans which cover maternity benefits to provide coverage for emergency or elective abortion services.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2959

01/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

AN ACT relative to insurance plans that cover maternity benefits.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Name of Act. This act shall be known as the Women's Reproductive Health Parity Act of 2020.

2 New Section; Insurance Plans That Cover Maternity Benefits. Amend RSA 417-D by inserting after section 2-b the following new section:

417-D:2-c Insurance Plans That Cover Maternity Benefits. Every insurer subject to this chapter that provides individual or group coverage for maternity services shall provide coverage for emergency or elective abortion services for persons who are residents of this state. A health plan that provides coverage in accordance with this section may contain provisons for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles, and exclusions. All contracts under this section shall be deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

II. If the commissioner determines that enforcement of any policy described under paragraph I may adversely affect the allocation of federal funds to New Hampshire, the commissioner may grant an exemption to the requirements of this section only to the minimum extent necessary to ensure the continued receipt of federal funds.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.

LBAO

20-2959

12/18/19

SB 486-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to insurance plans that cover maternity benefits.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

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Expenditures

$0

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Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other

COUNTY:

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

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LOCAL:

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

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Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires insurance plans which cover maternity benefits to provide coverage for emergency or elective abortion services.

The Insurance Department indicates, to the extent these services are not currently covered, this bill would lead to an expansion of covered services. This may place inflationary pressure on claims, which may lead to either increased premiums or coverage buy downs. This could impact premium tax revenue collected by the State. The Department notes that federal law requires the cost of State coverage mandates for policies sold through the insurance exchange to be borne by the State.

The Department of Administrative Services indicates there would be no impact on the State Health Benefit Plan for Employees and Retirees (the Plan). The Department states, because the plan is a governmental self-insured plan, it is not subject to managed care law and the bill would have no impact on the Plan.

The Department of Health and Human Services indicates this bill would have no impact to the Department. The Department assumes the bill would apply to commercial carriers and not to the Medicaid program.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Departments of Insurance, Administrative Services and Health and Human Services