2007 House Bill 5283

Revise BCBS individual health insurance policy regulations

Introduced in the House

Oct. 11, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Edward Gaffney (R-1)

To include in the law authorizing Blue Cross Blue Shield references to the provisions affecting this non-profit insurer contained in House Bill 5282. Specifically, this would establish a Blue Cross Blue Shield guaranteed issue high-risk pool whose maximum premium price would be capped, and a fee would be levied on other insurers to recoup the cost of insuring individuals in the pool.

Referred to the Committee on Insurance

Oct. 17, 2007

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

Oct. 24, 2007

Passed in the House 90 to 16 (details)

To include references in the law granting tax-free status to Blue Cross Blue Shield to the provisions affecting this non-profit insurer contained in House Bill 5282. Specifically, this would establish a Blue Cross Blue Shield guaranteed issue high-risk pool whose maximum premium price would be capped, and a fee would be levied on other insurers to recoup the cost of insuring individuals in the pool.

Received in the Senate

Oct. 25, 2007

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy

May 1, 2008

Motion

To be discharged from further consideration of the bill.

The motion passed 21 to 16 (details)

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that would not create the state “high risk insurance pool” of the House-passed version.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 23 to 13 (details)

To streamline certain regulations on Blue Cross Blue Shield related to the non-profit insurer seeking approval for rate increases, require annual reports from BSBC on projects related to its “social mission,” impose on BCBS the same regulations on health insurance policies for individuals (as opposed to groups or employees) that would apply to for-profit companies under House Bill 5282, allow health insurance discounts for customers who don’t smoke or participate in certain “wellness” programs, and add two new members appointed by the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to the BCBS board. The bill does not contain the state “high risk pool” of the House-passed version of this legislative package.

Received in the House

May 1, 2008

June 27, 2008

Failed in the House 26 to 78 (details)

To concur with a Senate-passed version of the bill. The vote potentially sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences, if possible.