By:  Shapleigh                                        S.B. No. 1181
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring health insurers and related entities to
 1-3     disclose certain information.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Article 21.24-3 to read as follows:
 1-7           Art. 21.24-3.  IDENTITY OF EMPLOYEE FOR HEALTH INSURER OR
 1-8     RELATED ENTITY
 1-9           Sec. 1.  DEFINITION.  In this article, "health benefit plan"
1-10     means a plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical
1-11     expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or
1-12     sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise
1-13     insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service
1-14     contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar
1-15     coverage document that is offered by:
1-16                 (1)  an insurance company;
1-17                 (2)  a group hospital service corporation operating
1-18     under Chapter 20 of this code;
1-19                 (3)  a fraternal benefit society operating under
1-20     Chapter 10 of this code;
1-21                 (4)  a stipulated premium insurance company operating
1-22     under Chapter 22 of this code;
1-23                 (5)  a reciprocal exchange operating under Chapter 19
1-24     of this code;
1-25                 (6)  a health maintenance organization operating under
 2-1     the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A,
 2-2     Vernon's Texas Insurance Code);
 2-3                 (7)  a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
 2-4     a certificate of authority under Article 3.95-2 of this code; or
 2-5                 (8)  an approved nonprofit health corporation that
 2-6     holds a certificate of authority under Article 21.52F of this code.
 2-7           Sec. 2.  DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.  After an oral or written
 2-8     request by an insured or enrollee of a health benefit plan for the
 2-9     information, the issuer of the health benefit plan shall provide to
2-10     the insured or enrollee the name, business address, and job title
2-11     of the employee of the issuer of the health benefit plan who shall
2-12     be available to the enrollee or insured to respond to
2-13     communications and questions from the insured or enrollee relating
2-14     to coverages and benefits provided by the health benefit plan to
2-15     the insured or enrollee.
2-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-17     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-18     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-19     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-20     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.