78R6725 DLF-D

By:  Brown of Kaufman                                             H.B. No. 1446



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain children for certain health 
benefit coverage.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 3(a), Article 21.24-2, Insurance Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Each health benefit plan that conditions coverage for a 
child up to 25 years of age on the child's being a full-time student 
at an educational institution shall provide the coverage for an 
entire academic term during which the child begins as a full-time 
student and remains enrolled, regardless of whether the number of 
hours of instruction for which the child is enrolled is reduced to a 
level that changes the child's academic status to less than that of 
a full-time student. Additionally, the health benefit plan shall 
provide the coverage continuously until the 10th day of instruction 
of the subsequent academic term on which date the health benefit 
plan may terminate coverage of the child if the child does not 
return to full-time student status before that date. [A health 
benefit plan may not condition coverage for a child younger than 25 
years of age on the child's being enrolled at an educational 
institution.]
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for 
delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2004.  A plan that is 
delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2004,  
is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the 
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for 
that purpose.