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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain health insurance plans for children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 62, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 62.107 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.107. ALTERNATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS FOR CHILDREN; |
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PREMIUM SUBSIDY PROGRAM. (a) In this section, a "child-only health |
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plan" is a health benefit plan for children as described by Chapter |
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1502, Insurance Code. |
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(b) The commission shall provide information about |
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child-only health plans to families of children determined to be |
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ineligible for the child health plan. The information must include |
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a list of child health plan providers that offer child-only health |
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plans. |
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(c) Subject to available funding, the commission shall |
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implement a premium subsidy program to provide up to six months of |
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premium assistance to children who lose eligibility for the child |
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health plan to assist in the purchase of coverage under a child-only |
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health plan. The commission shall determine the amount of a premium |
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subsidy under this subsection. |
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(d) A health plan provider may offer a child-only health |
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plan to a child who had enrolled in child health plan coverage |
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issued by the health plan provider and who is ineligible for that |
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coverage because the child's family income exceeds the income |
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eligibility level established under this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1502.051, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1502.051. CHILDREN'S HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN. A health |
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benefit plan issuer may offer a children's health benefit plan that |
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provides coverage only to children younger than 18 years of age. |
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Any health benefit plan offered by a health benefit plan issuer that |
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is made available only to children younger than 18 years of age may |
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be considered a children's health benefit plan for purposes of this |
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section [The issuer may offer the plan only if the commissioner
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approves the plan's structure and the benefits offered under the
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plan]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1506.253, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A children's health benefit plan subject to Chapter 1502 |
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is not subject to an assessment under this chapter. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |