| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to prohibited actions regarding health benefit plan |
|
|
coverage for enrollees who refuse to have an abortion. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 1454, Insurance Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 1454.003 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1454.003. LOSS OF COVERAGE FOR ABORTION REFUSAL |
|
|
PROHIBITED. A health benefit plan issuer may not condition |
|
|
continued health benefit coverage for an enrollee on the enrollee |
|
|
having or require the enrollee to have an abortion regardless of |
|
|
whether a physician or health care practitioner has diagnosed the |
|
|
enrollee's unborn child as unviable or having a fetal abnormality. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The heading to Chapter 1696, Insurance Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 1696. COVERAGE FOR AND REQUIREMENT TO HAVE ELECTIVE |
|
|
ABORTION; PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS |
|
|
SECTION 3. The heading to Section 1696.002, Insurance Code, |
|
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1696.002. PROHIBITED COVERAGE AND REQUIREMENTS |
|
|
THROUGH HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Section 1696.002, Insurance Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) An issuer of a qualified plan offered through a health |
|
|
benefit exchange may not condition continued health benefit |
|
|
coverage for an enrollee on the enrollee having or require the |
|
|
enrollee to have an abortion regardless of whether a physician or |
|
|
health care practitioner has diagnosed the enrollee's unborn child |
|
|
as unviable or having a fetal abnormality. |
|
|
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
|
a health benefit or qualified plan delivered, issued for delivery, |
|
|
or renewed on or after January 1, 2020. |
|
|
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |