EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0936*
HOUSE BILL 936
J5 5lr1940
By: Delegates Shetty, Forbes, D. Jones, Kaufman, J. Lewis, McCaskill, Smith,
Solomon, and Watson Watson, Bagnall, Bhandari, Chisholm, Cullison,
Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Kipke, Lopez,
Martinez, Pena –Melnyk, Reilly, Rosenberg, Szeliga, Taveras,
White Holland, Woods, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Insurance – Cancellation and Nonrenewal of Coverage – Required Notice 2
FOR the purpose of requiring that a carrier provide the notice by certain electronic means, 3
in addition to written notice, of cancellation or nonrenewal of a small group market 4
health benefit plan by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by electronic 5
means and include information regarding additional health benefit coverage options 6
in the notice; and generally relating to cancellation and nonrenewal of health benefit 7
plans in the State. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Insurance 10
Section 15–1212(h) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Insurance 15
Section 15–1212(i) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
2 HOUSE BILL 936
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Insurance 3
15–1212. 4
(h) When a carrier elects not to renew a particular product for all small employers 5
in the State, the carrier shall: 6
(1) provide notice of the nonrenewal at least 90 days before the date of the 7
nonrenewal to: 8
(i) each affected: 9
1. small employer; and 10
2. enrolled employee; and 11
(ii) the Commissioner; 12
(2) offer to each affected small employer the option to purchase all other 13
health benefit plans currently offered by the carrier in the small group market; and 14
(3) act uniformly without regard to the claims experience of any affected 15
small employer, or any health status–related factor of any affected individual. 16
(i) (1) Within 7 days after cancellation or nonrenewal of a health benefit plan, 17
the carrier shall send to each enrolled employee: 18
(I) written notice of its action BY CERTIFIED MAIL , RETURN 19
RECEIPT REQUESTED ; AND 20
(II) NOTICE DELIVERED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS THA T 21
COMPLIES WITH § 27–601.2 OF THIS ARTICLE . 22
(2) THE NOTICE REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 23
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL HEALTH BE NEFIT 24
COVERAGE OPTIONS , INCLUDING CONTINUATI ON OF CO VERAGE THROUGH THE 25
CONSOLIDATED OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT (COBRA), IF 26
AVAILABLE, AND PLANS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT 27
EXCHANGE. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall apply to all 29
policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or 30
after January 1, 2026. 31 HOUSE BILL 936 3
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
July 1, 2025 January 1, 2026. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.