Kansas House Bill HB2810

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/24
• Refer: 2/20/24
• Report Pass: 3/12/24
• Engrossed: 3/21/24
• Refer: 3/22/24
• Failed: 4/30/24

Caption

Amending the Kansas life and health guaranty association act to include health maintenance organizations as member insurers and broadening the assessment base for long-term care insurance insolvencies.

Impact

The passage of HB2810 is expected to strengthen the state's insurance regulatory framework, making it more inclusive and responsive to the needs of Kansas residents. It ensures that policyholders are better protected in the event of an insurer failing, particularly those who have long-term care policies. This legislative change is vital as it helps maintain consumer confidence in the insurance market while ensuring that coverage obligations are met even during times of financial distress for insurers.

Summary

House Bill 2810 amends existing provisions of the Kansas life and health insurance guaranty association act by including health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as member insurers. The bill aims to improve the financial safety net for policyholders by broadening the assessment base specifically for long-term care insurance. By including HMOs, the bill seeks to enhance the level of protection available to residents who hold health insurance policies through these organizations, reducing the risk of losing coverage due to insurer insolvency.

Contention

Although the bill passed unanimously in the House with a vote of 120-0, there may be concerns regarding the adequacy of the assessment mechanisms for HMOs and how these changes will be implemented in practice. Critics might argue about the financial implications for existing member insurers and whether the expanded assessment base will sufficiently cover future insolvencies in the long-term care sector. As this bill rolls out, stakeholders are likely to focus on ensuring that the regulatory changes do not impose undue burdens on insurers, which could ultimately affect premiums for consumers.