87R223 JES-F

By: Collier H.B. No. 293

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to health benefit coverage for certain fertility preservation services under certain health benefit plans.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 1366, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C. COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN FERTILITY PRESERVATION SERVICES

Sec. 1366.101. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is issued in this state by:

(1) an insurance company;

(2) a group hospital service corporation operating under Chapter 842;

(3) a health maintenance organization operating under Chapter 843;

(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844;

(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 846;

(6) a stipulated premium company operating under Chapter 884;

(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under Chapter 885;

(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or

(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies to:

(1) a small employer health benefit plan subject to Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter; and

(2) a standard health benefit plan issued under Chapter 1507.

Sec. 1366.102. EXCEPTIONS. This subchapter does not apply to:

(1) a plan that provides coverage:

(A) for wages or payments in lieu of wages for a period during which an employee is absent from work because of sickness or injury;

(B) as a supplement to a liability insurance policy;

(C) for credit insurance;

(D) only for dental or vision care;

(E) only for hospital expenses; or

(F) only for indemnity for hospital confinement;

(2) a Medicare supplemental policy as defined by Section 1882(g)(1), Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395ss(g)(1));

(3) a workers' compensation insurance policy;

(4) medical payment insurance coverage provided under a motor vehicle insurance policy;

(5) a long-term care policy, including a nursing home fixed indemnity policy, unless the commissioner determines that the policy provides benefit coverage so comprehensive that the policy is a health benefit plan as described by Section 1366.101;

(6) Medicaid managed care programs operated under Chapter 533, Government Code;

(7) Medicaid programs operated under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; or

(8) the state child health plan operated under Chapter 62 or 63, Health and Safety Code.

Sec. 1366.103. REQUIRED COVERAGE. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), a health benefit plan must provide coverage for fertility preservation services to a covered person who will receive a medically necessary treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, that the American Society of Clinical Oncology or the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has established may directly or indirectly cause impaired fertility.

(b) The fertility preservation services described by Subsection (a) must be standard procedures to preserve fertility consistent with established medical practices or professional guidelines published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology or the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2022.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.