Amend HB 1951 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to ARTICLE 3 of the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of that ARTICLE accordingly:

SECTION 3.____. Subchapter F, Chapter 843, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Section 843.2071 to read as follows:

Sec. 843.2071. NOTICE OF INCREASE IN CHARGE FOR COVERAGE. (a) Not less than 60 days before the date on which an increase in a charge for coverage under this chapter takes effect, a health maintenance organization shall:

(1) give to each enrollee under an individual evidence of coverage written notice of the effective date of the increase; and

(2) provide the enrollee a table that clearly lists:

(A) the actual dollar amount of the charge for coverage on the date of the notice;

(B) the actual dollar amount of the charge for coverage after the charge increase; and

(C) the percentage change between the amounts described by Paragraphs (A) and (B).

(b) The notice required by this section must be based on coverage in effect on the date of the notice.

(c) This section may not be construed to prevent a health maintenance organization, at the request of an enrollee, from negotiating a change in benefits or rates after delivery of the notice required by this section.

(d) A health maintenance organization may not require an enrollee entitled to notice under this section to respond to the health maintenance organization to renew the coverage or take other action relating to the renewal or extension of the coverage before the 45th day after the date the notice described by Subsection (a) is given.

(e) The notice required by this section must include:

(1) contact information for the department, including information concerning how to file a complaint with the department;

(2) contact information for the Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program, including information concerning how to request from the program consumer protection information or assistance with filing a complaint; and

(3) the addresses of Internet websites that provide consumer information related to rate increase justifications, including the websites of the department and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

SECTION 3.____. Subchapter C, Chapter 1201, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Section 1201.109 to read as follows:

Sec. 1201.109. NOTICE OF RATE INCREASE. (a) Not less than 60 days before the date on which a premium rate increase takes effect on an individual accident and health insurance policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state by an insurer, the insurer shall:

(1) give written notice to the insured of the effective date of the increase; and

(2) provide the insured a table that clearly lists:

(A) the actual dollar amount of the premium on the date of the notice;

(B) the actual dollar amount of the premium after the premium rate increase; and

(C) the percentage change between the amounts described by Paragraphs (A) and (B).

(b) The notice required by this section must be based on coverage in effect on the date of the notice.

(c) This section may not be construed to prevent an insurer, at the request of an insured, from negotiating a change in benefits or rates after delivery of the notice required by this section.

(d) An insurer may not require an insured entitled to notice under this section to respond to the insurer to renew the policy or take other action relating to the renewal or extension of the policy before the 45th day after the date the notice described by Subsection (a) is given.

(e) The notice required by this section must include:

(1) contact information for the department, including information concerning how to file a complaint with the department;

(2) contact information for the Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program, including information concerning how to request from the program consumer protection information or assistance with filing a complaint; and

(3) the addresses of Internet websites that provide consumer information related to rate increase justifications, including the websites of the department and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

SECTION 3.____. Subchapter E, Chapter 1501, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Section 1501.216 to read as follows:

Sec. 1501.216. PREMIUM RATES: NOTICE OF INCREASE. (a) Not less than 60 days before the date on which a premium rate increase takes effect on a small employer health benefit plan delivered or issued for delivery in this state by an insurer, the insurer shall:

(1) give written notice to the small employer of the effective date of the increase; and

(2) provide the small employer a table that clearly lists:

(A) the actual dollar amount of the premium on the date of the notice;

(B) the actual dollar amount of the premium after the premium rate increase; and

(C) the percentage change between the amounts described by Paragraphs (A) and (B).

(b) The notice required by this section must be based on coverage in effect on the date of the notice.

(c) This section may not be construed to prevent an insurer, at the request of a small employer, from negotiating a change in benefits or rates after delivery of the notice required by this section.

(d) An insurer may not require a small employer entitled to notice under this section to respond to the insurer to renew the policy or take other action relating to the renewal or extension of the policy before the 45th day after the date the notice described by Subsection (a) is given.

(e) The notice required by this section must include:

(1) contact information for the department, including information concerning how to file a complaint with the department;

(2) contact information for the Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program, including information concerning how to request from the program consumer protection information or assistance with filing a complaint; and

(3) the addresses of Internet websites that provide consumer information related to rate increase justifications, including the websites of the department and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

SECTION 3.____. Sections 843.2071, 1201.109, and 1501.216, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a health maintenance organization individual evidence of coverage, an individual accident and health insurance policy, or a small employer health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. An evidence of coverage, policy, or plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before the effective date of this Act 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.

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