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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the enrollment period for newborns under certain health |
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benefit plans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 846.258(b), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a participating employee |
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under this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the |
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child's birth unless: |
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(1) children are eligible for coverage under the |
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multiple employer welfare arrangement's plan document; and |
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(2) not later than the 60th [31st] day after the date |
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of birth, the arrangement receives: |
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(A) notice of the birth; and |
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(B) any required additional premium. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1367.003, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1367.003. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON COVERAGE FOR NEWBORN |
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CHILDREN PROHIBITED. A health benefit plan that provides maternity |
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benefits or accident and health coverage for additional newborn |
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children may not be issued in this state if the plan excludes or |
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limits: |
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(1) initial coverage of a newborn child before the |
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61st day after the date of the child's birth [for a period of time]; |
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(2) coverage for congenital defects of a newborn |
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child; or |
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(3) coverage for administration of the newborn |
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screening tests required by Section 33.011, Health and Safety Code, |
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including for the cost of a newborn screening test kit in the amount |
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provided by the Department of State Health Services on its Internet |
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website under Section 33.019 of that code on the date the test was |
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administered. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1501.157(b), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under |
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this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the |
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child's birth unless, not later than the 60th [31st] day after the |
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date of birth, the small employer health benefit plan issuer |
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receives: |
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(1) notice of the birth; and |
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(2) any required additional premium. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1501.607(b), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Coverage of a newborn child of a covered employee under |
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this section ends on the 61st [32nd] day after the date of the |
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child's birth unless: |
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(1) children are eligible for coverage under the large |
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employer health benefit plan; and |
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(2) not later than the 60th [31st] day after the date |
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of birth, the large employer health benefit plan issuer receives: |
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(A) notice of the birth; and |
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(B) any required additional premium. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2026. A health benefit plan that is |
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delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2026, |
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is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |