Connecticut House Bill HB07176

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/21/19
• Refer: 2/21/19

Caption

An Act Exempting Accident Only Insurance Policies From Required Health Insurance Coverage For Preventive Pediatric Care And Direct Access To Obstetrician-gynecologists.

Impact

If enacted, HB 07176 could change the landscape of health insurance coverage in the state by reducing the range of services that accident-only insurance policies must provide. This could lead to increased costs for families who rely on these types of policies for health-related expenses, particularly for children. The bill's introduction has raised concerns among healthcare advocates and some legislators who argue that access to preventive care is crucial for child development and public health. The exclusion from required coverage may particularly impact lower-income families who depend on accident-only policies.

Summary

House Bill 07176 aims to exempt accident-only insurance policies from the requirement to provide health insurance coverage for certain preventive pediatric care and for direct access to obstetricians-gynecologists. The bill modifies existing regulations regarding health insurance policies in order to clarify the responsibilities and coverage mandates for accident-only plans in the state. With this change, such policies will not be obligated to cover preventive services that are typically mandated for broader health insurance plans, such as routine pediatric check-ups and screenings.

Contention

The bill is likely to face opposition from various groups that advocate for health coverage expansion and those emphasizing the importance of preventive healthcare access. Critics of the bill argue that exempting accident-only policies from these coverage requirements undermines efforts to provide comprehensive preventive care to children, potentially leading to worse health outcomes in the long term. Advocates fear that as preventive care becomes less accessible, the financial burden could shift to families in the form of higher out-of-pocket costs for services that were previously covered.