| 1 | 1 | | 81R13791 PMO-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Coleman H.B. No. 2714 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to group health benefit plan coverage for speech, |
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| 8 | 8 | | language, or hearing impairments. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 1365.003, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 1365.003. [OFFER OF] COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A group |
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| 13 | 13 | | health benefit plan issuer shall provide [offer and make available |
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| 14 | 14 | | under the plan] coverage for the necessary care and treatment of |
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| 15 | 15 | | loss or impairment of speech, language, or hearing. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) Coverage required under this section: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) may not be less favorable than coverage for |
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| 18 | 18 | | physical illness generally under the plan; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | (2) must be subject to the same durational limits, |
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| 20 | 20 | | dollar limits, deductibles, and coinsurance factors as coverage for |
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| 21 | 21 | | physical illness generally under the plan. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Section 1365.004, Insurance Code, is repealed. |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 3. This Act applies only to an insurance policy or |
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| 24 | 24 | | contract or evidence of coverage that is delivered, issued for |
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| 25 | 25 | | delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2010. An insurance |
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| 26 | 26 | | policy or contract or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for |
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| 27 | 27 | | delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2010, is governed by the law |
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| 28 | 28 | | as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
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| 29 | 29 | | that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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