An Act Requiring Health Insurers to Cover Prescription Birth Control
Public Act No. 99-79An Act Requiring Health Insurers to Cover Prescription Birth Control.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (NEW) (a) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed or continued in this state on or after October 1, 1999, that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration shall not exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. (b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center may issue to a religious employer an individual health insurance policy that excludes coverage for prescription contraceptive methods which are contrary to the religious employer's bona fide religious tenets. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon the written request of an individual who states in writing that prescription contraceptive methods are contrary to such individual's religious or moral beliefs, any insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center may issue to the individual an individual health insurance policy that excludes coverage for prescription contraceptive methods. (c) Any health insurance policy issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall provide written notice to each insured or prospective insured that prescription contraceptive methods are excluded from coverage pursuant to said subsection. Such notice shall appear, in not less than ten point type, in the policy, application and sales brochure for such policy. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing an individual health insurance policy to exclude coverage for prescription drugs ordered by a health care provider with prescriptive authority for reasons other than contraceptive purposes. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center which is owned, operated or substantially controlled by a religious organization which has religious or moral tenets which conflict with the requirements of this section may provide for the coverage of prescription contraceptive methods as required under this section through another such entity offering a limited benefit plan. The cost, terms and availability of such coverage shall not differ from the cost, terms and availability of other prescription coverage offered to the insured. (f) As used in this section, "religious employer" means an employer that is a "qualified church-controlled organization" as defined in 26 USC 3121 or a church-affiliated organization. Sec. 2. (NEW) (a) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed or continued in this state on or after October 1, 1999, that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration shall not exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. (b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center may issue to a religious employer a group health insurance policy that excludes coverage for prescription contraceptive methods which are contrary to the religious employer's bona fide religious tenets. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon the written request of an individual who states in writing that prescription contraceptive methods are contrary to such individual's religious or moral beliefs, any insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center may issue to or on behalf of the individual a policy or rider thereto that excludes coverage for prescription contraceptive methods. (c) Any health insurance policy issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall provide written notice to each insured or prospective insured that prescription contraceptive methods are excluded from coverage pursuant to said subsection. Such notice shall appear, in not less than ten point type, in the policy, application and sales brochure for such policy. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a group health insurance policy to exclude coverage for prescription drugs ordered by a health care provider with prescriptive authority for reasons other than contraceptive purposes. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center which is owned, operated or substantially controlled by a religious organization which has religious or moral tenets which conflict with the requirements of this section may provide for the coverage of prescription contraceptive methods as required under this section through another such entity offering a limited benefit plan. The cost, terms and availability of such coverage shall not differ from the cost, terms and availability of other prescription coverage offered to the insured. (f) As used in this section, "religious employer" means an employer that is a "qualified church-controlled organization" as defined in 26 USC 3121 or a church-affiliated organization. Approved June 3, 1999
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