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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to methods of notice from certain health benefit plan |
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issuers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 843, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 843.212 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 843.212. NOTICE BY E-MAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE. (a) A |
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health maintenance organization shall provide each enrollee the |
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option to receive by e-mail or text message any notice required |
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under this chapter or Chapter 1369 or by rule of the commissioner. |
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(b) A notice sent to an enrollee under this section must |
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include an electronic link to a web page on a website maintained by |
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the health maintenance organization. The web page must include the |
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information required for the notice in the form prescribed by |
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statute or by rule of the commissioner. |
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(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, Chapter |
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1369, or any other law, if an enrollee elects to receive notice by |
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e-mail or text message under this section, the health maintenance |
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organization is not required to mail to the enrollee a notice |
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required by this chapter or Chapter 1369 or by rule of the |
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commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 1301, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1301.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1301.010. NOTICE BY E-MAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE. (a) An |
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insurer shall provide each insured the option to receive by e-mail |
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or text message any notice required under this chapter or Chapter |
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1369 or by rule of the commissioner. |
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(b) A notice sent to an insured under this section must |
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include an electronic link to a web page on a website maintained by |
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the insurer. The web page must include the information required for |
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the notice in the form prescribed by statute or by rule of the |
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commissioner. |
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(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, Chapter |
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1369, or any other law, if an insured elects to receive notice by |
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e-mail or text message under this section, the insurer is not |
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required to mail to the insured a notice required by this chapter or |
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Chapter 1369 or by rule of the commissioner. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or |
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renewed on or after January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |