Revision: Jan. 15, 2010, midnight
SB 392-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2010 SESSION
01/04
SENATE BILL 392-FN
AN ACT requiring public hearings when insurance companies set base rate increases.
SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Rep. Rosenwald, Hills 22
COMMITTEE: Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection
This bill requires an insurer to petition the insurance commissioner for a public hearing before it sets a base rate increase for health insurance. The commissioner shall hold a public hearing and publish notice of such in a newspaper of general circulation 14 days prior to the hearing and issue a press release to all major newspapers in New Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
10-2776
01/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT requiring public hearings when insurance companies set base rate increases.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Public Hearings Required for Base Rate Increases. Amend RSA 400-A by inserting after section 39-a the following new section:
400-A:39-b Hearings Required for Base Rate Increases. An insurer shall petition the insurance commissioner before the insurer sets its base rate increase for health insurance to request a public hearing on such increase. The commissioner or the commissioner’s authorized representative shall schedule a public hearing in Concord or at a location nearest the health insurer as determined by the commissioner, by fixing its time and place and posting public notice in a newspaper of general circulation at least 14 days prior to the date for which it is scheduled and issue a press release to all major newspapers in New Hampshire. The hearing date shall be set for a time not to exceed 6 weeks from the date the petition was received. At such hearing, it shall be incumbent upon the health insurer to present evidence relative to the reasons for such increase to its base rate.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
10-2776
01/13/10
SB 392-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT requiring public hearings when insurance companies set base rate increases.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Due to time constraints, the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a fiscal note for this bill at this time. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.