By: Blanco S.B. No. 896
(In the Senate - Filed January 24, 2025; February 13, 2025,
read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human
Services; March 24, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0;
March 24, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 896 By: Hancock
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain health
benefit plans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 846.258(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a participating employee
under this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the
child's birth unless:
(1) children are eligible for coverage under the
multiple employer welfare arrangement's plan document; and
(2) not later than the 60th [31st] day after the date
of birth, the arrangement receives:
(A) notice of the birth; and
(B) any required additional premium.
SECTION 2. Section 1367.003, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 1367.003. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON COVERAGE FOR NEWBORN
CHILDREN PROHIBITED. A health benefit plan that provides
maternity benefits or accident and health coverage for additional
newborn children may not be issued in this state if the plan
excludes or limits:
(1) initial coverage of a newborn child before the
61st day after the date of the child's birth [for a period of time];
(2) coverage for congenital defects of a newborn
child; or
(3) coverage for administration of the newborn
screening tests required by Section 33.011, Health and Safety Code,
including for the cost of a newborn screening test kit in the amount
provided by the Department of State Health Services on its Internet
website under Section 33.019 of that code on the date the test was
administered.
SECTION 3. Section 1501.157(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under
this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the
child's birth unless, not later than the 60th [31st] day after the
date of birth, the small employer health benefit plan issuer
receives:
(1) notice of the birth; and
(2) any required additional premium.
SECTION 4. Section 1501.607(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under
this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the
child's birth unless:
(1) children are eligible for coverage under the large
employer health benefit plan; and
(2) not later than the 60th [31st] day after the date
of birth, the large employer health benefit plan issuer receives:
(A) notice of the birth; and
(B) any required additional premium.
SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
renewed on or after January 1, 2026. A health benefit plan that is
delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2026,
is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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