HB 1602-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2008 SESSION
01/10
HOUSE BILL 1602-FN
AN ACT relative to dependent health insurance coverage.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hunt, Ches 7; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1
This bill repeals the law relative to insurance coverage for those persons less than 26 years of age and replaces it with insurance coverage for persons less than 18 years of age.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
08-2316
01/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT relative to dependent health insurance coverage.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Insurance; Dependent Coverage. RSA 415:5, I(3) is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
(3) It purports to insure only one person, except that a policy may insure, originally or by subsequent amendment, upon the application of an adult member of a family who shall be deemed the policyholder, any 2 or more eligible members of that family, including husband, wife, dependent children or any children under a specified age which shall not exceed 18 years and any other person dependent upon the policyholder; and
2 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 420-A:10-a, relative to dependent coverage.
II. RSA 420-B:8-aa, relative to dependent coverage.
III. RSA 420-C:4-a, relative to dependent coverage.
IV. RSA 420-F:5-a, relative to dependent coverage.
V. RSA 420-J:8-d, relative to dependent coverage.
VI. 2007, 352:8, relative to a report on dependent coverage.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
08-2316
Revised 01/16/08
HB 1602 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to dependent health insurance coverage.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Insurance Department states this bill will have an indeterminable fiscal impact on state general fund revenue in FY 2008 and each year thereafter. The New Hampshire Association of Counties states this bill may decrease county expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2008 and each year thereafter. The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill may decrease local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2008 and each year thereafter. There is no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or state expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Insurance Department states this bill repeals the age for dependent health insurance coverage for persons less than 26 years old and reinstates the age for dependent health insurance coverage to not exceed 18 years old. The Department states a premium tax is collected on health insurance premiums and any changes to health insurance premiums will have an impact on revenues. The Department states it is unable to determine the fiscal impact on state revenue. There will be no impact on state expenditures because the state self-funds employee health benefits.
The New Hampshire Association of Counties states to the extent coverage is currently being provided to age 26, the change to age 18 may reduce health insurance premiums resulting in a decrease in county expenditures by indeterminable amount.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill does not apply to pooled risk organizations thus would not have a fiscal impact for municipalities that participate in a pooled risk organization. Municipalities not participating in a pooled risk organization may have a decrease in expenditures depending upon union contracts and plan policies.
The Department of Administrative Services states this bill will not have a fiscal impact on state expenditures because the state self-funds its health benefits. The Department states it utilizes an age of 18 for purposes of dependent coverage eligibility unless the dependent is a full-time college student or is otherwise eligible due to a disability or other reason.