HB 611 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0238
01/10
HOUSE BILL 611
AN ACT relative to portability, availability, and renewability of health coverage.
SPONSORS: Rep. W. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. J. Edwards, Rock. 4; Rep. Fothergill, Coos 1; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 4; Rep. Avellani, Carr. 5; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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This bill clarifies premium rates for individuals and small employers under the law relating to portability, availability and renewability of health care coverage.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0238
01/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT relative to portability, availability, and renewability of health coverage.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Portability, Availability and Renewability of Health Coverage; Premium Rates; Individuals RSA 420-G:4, I(d) is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
(d) In establishing the premium charged, health carriers providing coverage to individuals shall calculate a rate that is derived from the health coverage plan rate through the application of rating factors that the carrier chooses to utilize for age, health status, and tobacco use. Such factors shall be utilized with the following limitations:
(1) The maximum premium differential for age as determined by ratio shall be 4 to 1. The limitation shall not apply for determining rates for an attained age of less than 19.
(2) The maximum differential due to health status shall be 1.5 to 1 and the maximum rate due to tobacco use shall be 1.5 to 1. Rate limitations based on health status shall apply to rate variations based on an insured's status as a tobacco user.
(3) Permissible rating characteristics shall not include changes in health status after issue.
2 New Subparagraph; Portability, Availability and Renewability of Health Coverage; Premium Rates; Small Employers. Amend RSA 420-G:4, I by inserting after subparagraph (d) the following new subparagraph:
(dd) In establishing the premium charged, health carriers offering coverage to small employers shall calculate premium rates that are derived from the health coverage plan rate by making adjustments to reflect one or more case characteristics. Such adjustments from the health coverage plan rate shall be made with the following limitations:
(1) In establishing the premium rates, health carriers offering coverage to small employers shall use only age, group size, and industry classification as case characteristics. No consideration shall be given to health status, claim experience, duration of coverage, geographic location, or any other characteristic of the group.
(2) Carriers making adjustments from the health coverage plan rate for age may do so only by using the following age brackets:
0-18
19-24
25-29
30 - 34
35 - 39
40 - 44
45 - 49
50 - 54
55 - 59
60 - 64
65 +
(3) The maximum premium rate differential after adjusting for all case characteristics as determined by ratio shall be 3.5 to 1. This limitation shall not apply for determining premium rates for covered persons whose attained age is less than 19.
(4) In establishing the premium rates, health carriers offering coverage to small employers may make further adjustments based on family composition.
(5) The small employer health carrier shall set premium rates for small employers after consideration of case characteristics of the small employer group as well as family composition. No small employer health carrier shall inquire regarding health status or claims experience of the small employer or its employees or dependents until after the premium rates have been agreed upon by the carrier and the employer.
(6) Carriers may calculate premium rates using either list billing or composite billing. Carriers shall use the same billing method in all succeeding rating periods unless the small employer agrees to allow the carrier to change the methodology.
3 New Section; Portability; Availability and Renewability of Health Coverage; Contingency Added. Amend RSA 404-G by inserting after section 12 the following new section:
404-G:13 Contingency.
I. Notwithstanding RSA 404-G:11 or any other provision of this chapter, if the commissioner determines that federal or state legislative changes have created a situation in which guaranteed issue coverage is no longer available in the individual market, the commissioner may order the association to file and implement a plan of operation to resume providing coverage under this chapter to all residents of the state who are denied health insurance for medical or health reasons under the high risk pool authorized pursuant to RSA 404-G:5-b.
II. An order issued under paragraph I shall remain in effect until the effective date of an amendment to this chapter further specifying the terms of the renewal of high risk pool coverage.
4 Applicability. Sections 1-3 of this act shall take effect on the date 42 U.S.C. section 300gg is repealed as certified by the commissioner of insurance to the secretary of state and the director of legislative services.
I. Sections 1-3 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 4 of this act.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 1, 2017 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 8, 2017 | House | Exec Session |
| March 8, 2017 | House | Floor Vote |
March 8, 2017: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/08/2017 HJ 9 P. 16
March 8, 2017: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 03/08/2017 (Vote 21-0; CC) HC 14 P. 8
Feb. 8, 2017: Executive Session: 02/08/2017 10:00 AM LOB 302
Feb. 7, 2017: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/07/2017 09:00 AM LOB 302
Feb. 1, 2017: Public Hearing: 02/01/2017 01:30 PM LOB 302
Jan. 5, 2017: Introduced 01/05/2017 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 3 P. 21