DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Burrell HB No. 524
Abstract: Adds categories of special groups to the enumerated list of special groups which may
be covered by blanket health and accident insurance.
(1)Present law recognizes group health and accident insurance as a policy of health and
accident insurance which covers more than one person, with certain exceptions.
(2)Present law recognizes blanket health and accident insurance as a type of group health
and accident insurance that covers special groups of persons. Present law further lists
these special groups.
Proposed law retains present law and adds to the list of special groups with respect to
blanket health and accident insurance.
(3)Present law lists common carriers as a special group.
Proposed law retains present law and clarifies that the special group of "common carriers"
includes any operator, owner, or lessee of a means of transportation that operates as a
common carrier.
(4)Present law lists employers as a special group, and states that the policy of insurance shall
cover employees defined by reference to exceptional hazards incident to employment.
Proposed law alters present law to include coverage for dependents or guests of an
employer, as defined by reference to hazards incident to any activities or operations of the
employer-policyholder.
(5)Present law lists colleges, schools, and other institutions of learning as a special group,
stating that the head or principal of such institution of learning is the policyholder.
Present law states that coverage may extend to students and teachers.
Proposed law retains present law and adds school districts and school jurisdiction units to
the type of institutions of learning which may be recognized as a special group; further
includes a governing board of such institution as a potential policyholder. Proposed law
further extends coverage to employees and volunteers of such institutions.
(6)Present law lists volunteer fire departments, first aid groups, and other such groups as a special group. Present law states that coverage extends to all members of such fire
departments and first aid groups.
Proposed law retains present law and adds governmental fire departments, as well as civil
defense groups. Proposed law further extends coverage to "participants" and "volunteers"
of such departments and first aid or civil defense group, incident to sponsored or
supervised activities.
(7)Proposed law adds sports teams, camps, and their sponsors to the list of special groups,
with coverage extended to members, campers, employees, officials, supervisors, and
volunteers.
(8)Proposed law adds religious, charitable, recreational, educational, and civic organizations
to the list of special groups, with coverage extended to members participants, and
volunteers.
(9)Proposed law adds newspapers and their publishers to the list of special groups, with
coverage extended to carriers of such newspapers.
(10)Proposed law adds restaurants, hotels, motels, resorts, innkeepers, and establishments
with a high degree of customer liability to the list of special groups, with coverage
extended to patrons, guests, and volunteers.
(11)Proposed law adds health maintenance organizations, health care providers and other
arrangers of health services, with coverage extended to subscribers, patients, donors, and
surrogates. Proposed law stipulates that such coverage shall not be made a condition
precedent to such individuals receipt of care.
(12)Proposed law adds banks and other financial associations or institutions to the list of
special groups, with coverage extended to account holders, credit card holders, debtors,
guarantors, and purchasers.
(13)Proposed law adds incorporated and unincorporated associations of persons who have a
common interest other than the purpose of obtaining insurance to the list of special
groups. Coverage extends to members and participants of such associations.
(14)Proposed law adds travel agencies and organizations that provide travel related services
to the list of special groups, with coverage extended to all persons for which travel related
services are provided.
(15)Present law lists "substantially similar groups" as a special group which, subject to the
discretion of the commissioner of insurance.
Proposed law changes "substantially similar group" to "risk or class of risks" and
authorizes the commissioner to exercise his discretion on an individual risk basis or as a class of risks, or both.
(16)Present law lists policies issued to the Department of Health and Hospitals as a special
group.
Proposed law retains present law.
(17)Present law states that an individual application shall not be required of a person covered
by such a group blanket policy.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends . R.S. 22:1000(A)(3)(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), and (h); adds R.S. 22:1000(A)(3)(i)- (p))