2003 Senate Bill 236 ↩

House Roll Call 189: Passed

To allow Blue Cross/Blue Shield to purchase for-profit long-term care insurance companies and operate as a for-profit business in this area of insurance. Unlike its other business activities, revenue from the sale of long term care insurance by the company would not be tax exempt. It would be allowed to use a long-term care insurance application form designed to elicit the complete health history of an applicant, and to charge different rates based on age and sound actuarial principles. The legislation is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 234 to 238 and 460, which impose extensive new government regulations on the small company and small group health care insurance market. The House-passed version of the package generally grants more flexibility to for-profit, non-tax exempt private insurers relative to Blue Cross Blue Shield, which currently dominates the small group health insurance market.