Health Insurance Bills

Texas Needs a Market that Serves Consumers and a Department of Insurance Empowered to Balance Consumer Protection with a Robust Competitive Market

(Updated 4/23)

• Establish a center within the Department of Insurance to study and propose solutions to the uninsured problem.

• Require the Department of Insurance to improve consumer outreach and education on health insurance options.

• Allow the 1.6 million sole proprietors in Texas to participate in small employer health benefit plans.

• Allow sole proprietors and small groups to participate in health purchasing cooperatives

• Make the High Risk Pool more affordable and shorten the shorten the waiting period for pre-existing conditions.

• Allow the Department of Insurance to make sure the rates being charged to consumers are reasonable.

• Require health insurers to disclose the percentage of premium dollars spent on medical claims

• Limit the extent to which insurers can deny coverage, increase premiums, or prolong access to benefits based on pre-existing conditions

• Establish rules and reporting procedures insurers must follow before cancelling a customers health insurance

• Assit employees, newly unemployed, or eligible survivors to maintain access to health insurance while seeking new employment.

• Create tax incentives for small employers who provide health insurance for their employees.

• Utilize the sunset bill and other omnibus bills as an opportunity to equip TDI with the tools to create a market that serves consumers.

 

The Committies hearing these bills are:

House Insurance ; House Public Health ; House Appropriations ; House Public Education ; House Ways and Means

Senate State Affairs; Senate Business & Commerce ; Senate Government Organization

 

 

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Health Innovations Center

HB 505

McClendon

Relating to the creation of the health benefit plan innovations program in the Texas Department of Insurance.

Bill History:

03-10-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

 

 

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Consumer Outreach & Education

SB 78

Nelson

Relating to promoting awareness and education about the purchase and availability of health coverage.

Bill History:

04-14-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

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SB 1155

Davis, Wendy

Relating to certain content requirements for an insurance consumer information website.

Bill History:

03-13-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

 

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Sole Proprietors

SB 762

Watson

Relating to a study concerning the minimum participation requirement for small employer health benefit plans.

General Remarks:

study bill on small groups

Bill History:

04-16-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

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SB 813

Watson

Relating to the eligibility of certain sole proprietors to participate in small employer health benefit plans.

Bill History:

03-04-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

 

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Small Group Pooling

HB 663

King, Susan

Relating to participation by single-employee businesses in private purchasing cooperatives or health group cooperatives.

Bill History:

03-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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HB 2586

Smithee

Relating to small and large employer health group cooperatives.

Companions:

SB 972 Averitt (Identical) 4-16-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

Bill History:

04-09-09 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Insurance

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SB 77

Nelson

Relating to participation by single-employee businesses in private purchasing cooperatives or health group cooperatives.

Bill History:

02-10-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 972

Averitt

Relating to small and large employer health group cooperatives.

Companions:

HB 2586 Smithee (Identical) 4- 9-09 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Insurance

Bill History:

04-16-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

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Risk Pool Coverage

HB 532

Anchia

Relating to the preexisting condition exclusion period under the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool.

General Remarks:

changes pre-existing exclusion period in High Risk Pool from one year to 3 months

Bill History:

02-18-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

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HB 1066

Naishtat

Relating to eligibility to participate in the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool by individuals whose employers participate in certain regional or local health care programs.

Companions:

SB 781 Watson (Identical) 3-26-09 S Committee action pending Senate State Affairs

General Remarks:

Ask Stacey

Bill History:

02-24-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

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HB 2064

Smithee

Relating to premium discounts for certain participants in the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool and to related tax credits for health benefits plan issuers.

Companions:

SB 879 Averitt (Identical) 4-16-09 S Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for

Bill History:

04-15-09 S Received in the Senate - Referred to Senate State Affairs

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SB 781

Watson

Relating to eligibility to participate in the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool by individuals whose employers participate in certain regional or local health care programs.

Companions:

HB 1066 Naishtat (Identical) 2-24-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

Bill History:

03-26-09 S Committee action pending Senate State Affairs

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SB 879

Averitt

Relating to premium discounts for certain participants in the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool and to related tax credits for health benefit issuers.

Companions:

HB 2064 Smithee (Identical) 4-15-09 S Received in the Senate - Referred to Senate State Affairs

Bill History:

04-16-09 S Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for

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SB 1403

Averitt

Relating to changing the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool to the Texas Health Insurance Pool, and to the operation of that pool.

Bill History:

04-20-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

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Rate Regulation

HB 3120

Alvarado

Relating to the maximum allowable premium rate increase for small employer health benefit plans.

Companions:

SB 2024 Watson (Identical) 3-24-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

Bill History:

04-14-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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SB 80

Nelson

Relating to employer contributions under small employer health benefit plans.

Bill History:

04-06-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Pensions/Investments/Financial Services

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SB 106

Ellis

Relating to insurer rating practices requiring prior approval.

Bill History:

02-10-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Business and Commerce

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SB 901

Deuell

Relating to regulation of health benefit plans.

Bill History:

03-09-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 1158

Davis, Wendy

Relating to regulation of health benefit plan rates.

Bill History:

03-13-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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Medical Loss Ratio

HB 531

Anchia

Relating to medical loss ratios of certain health benefit plan issuers.

General Remarks:

defines medical loss ratios and sets minimums for various classes of plans: 65 percent for individually underwritten, 80 percent for large employer. Requires rebates for ratepayers if plan fails to meet minimum MLR for their class.

Bill History:

03-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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HB 3264

Rose

Relating to notifying certain persons of the medical loss ratios of health benefit plan issuers.

Bill History:

04-21-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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SB 373

Shapleigh

Relating to administrative costs paid by health benefit plan issuers.

Bill History:

02-17-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 485

Deuell

Relating to medical loss ratios of health benefit plan issuers.

Bill History:

04-23-09 S Meeting set for 1:00 p.m. or Adj., Senate C...Senate State Affairs

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SB 1156

Davis, Wendy

Relating to reporting of medical loss ratios by health benefit plan issuers.

Bill History:

03-13-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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Pre-existing Conditions

HB 1364

Eissler

Relating to coverage of preexisting conditions by certain group health benefit coverage programs for active school employees.

Bill History:

04-22-09 H Passed on local calendar (Vote: Y:149/N: 0)

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HB 1748

Smith, Todd

Relating to the cancellation of a health benefit plan on the basis of misrepresentation or a preexisting condition.

Companions:

SB 1611 Davis, Wendy (Identical) 3-17-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

Bill History:

03-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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SB 614

Shapleigh

Relating to preexisting condition provisions in individual accident and health insurance policies.

Bill History:

02-23-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 1611

Davis, Wendy

Relating to the cancellation of a health benefit plan on the basis of misrepresentation or a preexisting condition; providing penalties.

Companions:

HB 1748 Smith, Todd (Identical) 3-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

Bill History:

03-17-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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Cancelation of Coverage

HB 1748

Smith, Todd

Relating to the cancellation of a health benefit plan on the basis of misrepresentation or a preexisting condition.

Companions:

SB 1611 Davis, Wendy (Identical) 3-17-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

Bill History:

03-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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HB 2322

Homer

Relating to notice requirement before cancellation of certain insurance coverage.

Bill History:

03-10-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

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SB 206

Shapleigh

Relating to the reporting of information concerning the cancellation or rescission of health benefit plans.

Bill History:

02-11-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 207

Shapleigh

Relating to prohibition of certain compensation based on rescinding, canceling or limiting coverage under health benefit plans.

Bill History:

02-11-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 303

Shapleigh

Relating to application for and cancellation or rescission of health benefit plan coverage.

Bill History:

02-11-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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SB 350

Shapleigh

Relating to the application for and continuation of certain health benefit plan coverage.

Bill History:

04-24-09 S Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for

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SB 1611

Davis, Wendy

Relating to the cancellation of a health benefit plan on the basis of misrepresentation or a preexisting condition; providing penalties.

Companions:

HB 1748 Smith, Todd (Identical) 3-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

Bill History:

03-17-09 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Affairs

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Cobra Coverage

HB 1303

Menendez

Relating to the purchase of continued health insurance coverage by an eligible survivor of certain public servants killed in the line of duty.

Bill History:

04-24-09 H Set on the House Calendar

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HB 1856

Eiland

Relating to requiring insurers to offer conversion of group policies.

Companions:

HB 2458 Eiland (Identical) 3-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

Bill History:

03-04-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

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HB 2453

Eiland

Relating to helping employees and newly unemployed persons maintain access to employer-sponsored health insurance.

Bill History:

04-14-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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HB 2458

Eiland

Relating to requiring insurers to offer conversion to group policies.

Companions:

HB 1856 Eiland (Identical) 3- 4-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

Bill History:

03-24-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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SB 872

Lucio

Relating to the purchase of continued health insurance coverage by an eligible survivor of certain public servants killed in the line of duty.

Bill History:

04-20-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Appropriations

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SB 1771

Duncan

Relating to the availability and continuation of certain health benefit plan coverage.

Bill History:

04-20-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

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Tax Incentives - Health

HB 1122

Bolton

Relating to the amount of the franchise tax incentive for certain small employers that provide health care benefits to employees.

Bill History:

02-25-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Ways and Means

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Sunset - TDI

HB 2203

Isett

Relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Department of Insurance and the operation of certain insurance programs.

Companions:

SB 1007 Hegar (Identical) 4-22-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

General Remarks:

The Sunset Bill (House Version)

Bill History:

04-14-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

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SB 1007

Hegar

Relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Department of Insurance and the operation of certain insurance programs.

Companions:

HB 2203 Isett (Identical) 4-14-09 H Committee action pending House Insurance

General Remarks:

The Sunset Bill (Senate Version)

Bill History:

04-22-09 H Referred to House Committee on House Insurance

Health Insurance Omnibus

HB 2750

Eiland

Relating to the regulation of certain market conduct activities of certain life, accident, and helath insurers and health benefit plan issuers.

Companions:

SB 1257 Averitt (Identical) 4-16-09 S Committee action pending Senate State Affairs

Bill History:

03-17-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

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SB 1257

Averitt

Relating to the regulation of certain market conduct activities of certain life, accident, and health insurers and health benefit plan issuers.

Companions:

HB 2750 Eiland (Identical) 3-17-09 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

Bill History:

04-16-09 S Committee action pending Senate State Affairs

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