Honorable John Frullo, Chair, House Committee on Insurance
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2979 by Anderson, Rodney (Relating to health benefit plan coverage of hearing aids for certain individuals.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Insurance Code relating to health benefit plan coverage of hearing aids for certain individuals.
Based on information provided by the Texas Department of Insurance, the University of Texas System Administration, the Teacher Retirement System, the Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, and the Employees Retirement System, it is assumed that all duties and responsibilities necessary to implement the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing staff and resources.
The bill takes effect September 1, 2015 but applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2016.
Local Government Impact
According to the Teacher Retirement System, the provisions of the bill could result in a cost of $1.3 million annually for the TRS-ActiveCare program, a health benefit plan available to employees of public school districts and charter schools. Increased program costs would be passed along through plan design changes or increased premiums paid by school districts or participating employees. The level of increase may vary by the employee's plan choice within TRS-ActiveCare.
Source Agencies:
323 Teacher Retirement System, 327 Employees Retirement System, 454 Department of Insurance, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration