HLS 19RS-882 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 308
BY REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
INSURANCE/HEALTH: Prohibits lifetime and annual limits on health insurance benefits
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 22:1066.1, relative to dollar amount limits on health insurance benefits; to
3 prohibit lifetime limits; to prohibit annual limits; to provide for applicability; to
4 establish exceptions; to provide for interpretation; to define key terms; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 22:1066.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1066.1. Benefit limits; lifetime; annual
9 A. Except as provided for in Subsection C of this Section, any health
10 coverage plan issued for delivery, delivered, renewed, or otherwise contracted for in
11 this state on or after January 1, 2020, shall provide coverage without any lifetime
12 limit on the dollar amount of benefits for any individual.
13 B. Except as provided for in Subsections C and D of this Section, any health
14 coverage plan newly issued for delivery, delivered, renewed, or otherwise contracted
15 for in this state on or after January 1, 2020, shall provide coverage without any
16 annual limit on the dollar amount of benefits for any individual.
17 C. This Section shall apply only to covered benefits that are either of the
18 following:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 308
1 (1) Included among the covered benefits of the base-benchmark plan
2 selected for the state of Louisiana for calendar year 2019 pursuant to 45 CFR Section
3 156.
4 (2) Required as a state mandated health benefit pursuant to Title 22 of the
5 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
6 D. Subsection B of this Section shall not apply to a health coverage plan that
7 meets all of the following criteria:
8 (1) Is health insurance coverage offered only to individuals in the individual
9 market.
10 (2) Covers only individuals who have been continuously covered by the
11 health coverage plan since March 23, 2010.
12 (3) Is qualified as a grandfathered health plan coverage pursuant to 29 CFR
13 Section 2590.715-1251 as of calendar year 2019.
14 E. No provision of this Section shall be interpreted to require any health
15 coverage plan issued for delivery, delivered, renewed, or otherwise contracted for in
16 this state to include particular covered benefits.
17 F. As used in this Section, "health coverage plan" shall mean any hospital,
18 health, or medical expense insurance policy, hospital or medical service contract,
19 employee welfare benefit plan, contract or agreement with a health maintenance
20 organization or a preferred provider organization, health and accident insurance
21 policy, or any other insurance contract of this type, including a group insurance plan
22 and the Office of Group Benefits plans.
23 G. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to limited benefit health
24 insurance policies or contracts, as defined by R.S. 22:47.
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HB NO. 308
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)]
HB 308 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Jordan
Abstract: Prohibits annual and lifetime dollar amount limits on health insurance benefits.
Proposed law requires any health coverage plan issued for delivery, delivered, renewed, or
otherwise contracted for in this state on or after Jan. 1, 2020, to provide coverage without
any lifetime limit or annual limit on the dollar amount of benefits for any individual.
Proposed law applies only to covered benefits that are either of the following:
(1)Included among the covered benefits of the base-benchmark plan selected for the
state of Louisiana for calendar year 2019.
(2)Required as a state mandated health benefit pursuant to the La. Insurance Code.
Proposed law does not apply to limited benefit health insurance policies or contracts or to
a health coverage plan that meets all of the following criteria:
(1)Is health insurance coverage offered only to individuals in the individual market.
(2)Covers only individuals who have been continuously covered by the health coverage
plan since March 23, 2010.
(3)Is qualified as a grandfathered health plan coverage pursuant to federal law as of
calendar year 2019.
Proposed law shall not be interpreted to require any health coverage plan issued for delivery,
delivered, renewed, or otherwise contracted for in this state to include particular covered
benefits.
Proposed law defines "health coverage plan".
(Adds R.S. 22:1066.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Insurance to the
original bill:
1. Limit the exemption for grandfathered health coverage plans to those that are
offered to individuals in the individual market who have been continuously
covered by the health coverage plan since March 23, 2010.
2. Add an exemption for limited benefit health insurance policies.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.