86R5898 MEW-D
By: Price H.B. No. 1291
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibited practices by a life insurance company
relating to an individual's prescription for or obtainment of an
opioid antagonist.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1101, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. PROHIBITED PRACTICES RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION FOR OR
OBTAINMENT OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST
Sec. 1101.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "opioid
antagonist" means any drug that binds to opioid receptors and
blocks or otherwise inhibits the effects of opioids acting on those
receptors.
Sec. 1101.202. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This
subchapter applies to a life insurance policy:
(1) issued or delivered in this state; or
(2) issued by a life insurance company organized in
this state.
Sec. 1101.203. PROHIBITION. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a life insurance company may not, because an
individual has been prescribed or has obtained through a standing
order an opioid antagonist:
(1) deny coverage to the individual;
(2) refuse to renew the individual's coverage;
(3) cancel the individual's coverage;
(4) limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage
available to the individual; or
(5) charge the individual or a group to which the
individual belongs a rate that is different from the rate charged to
other individuals or groups, respectively, for the same coverage.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to an individual who has a
demonstrated history of drug abuse.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.