GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 1719

Short Title:     Health Insurance Pilot/Piedmont Triad.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Hurley; and Dockham.
Referred to:	Insurance, if favorable, Judiciary II.

April 19, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLOW THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN PIEDMONT TRIAD COUNTIES TO PROVide group HEALTH INSURANCE COVERING BUSINESS ENTITIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The purpose of this act is to determine whether allowing trade associations to purchase group health insurance will result in health insurance coverage for small employers at more affordable rates and, at the same time, not have an adverse effect on group rates for small employers that are not part of a trade association.  To this end, each of the chambers of commerce in the 12 Piedmont Triad counties may contract to provide group health insurance coverage to the chamber's membership, and may charge each member a portion of the premium for the coverage.  All insurers licensed in this State to provide group health insurance coverage may bid on a group rate for that chamber's group policy.  Each participating chamber of commerce shall inform its members covered under the group plan provided under this section that coverage authorized under this section at the group rate may no longer be available as of January 1, 2010.  Each participating chamber of commerce and each insurer providing group coverage under this section shall notify the Commissioner of Insurance of group coverage offered or obtained within 30 days of the date the coverage becomes effective.  Each participating chamber of commerce and each insurer providing group coverage under this section shall provide all information subsequently requested by the Commissioner of Insurance in the form, manner, and time required by the Commissioner.

SECTION 1.(b)  The Commissioner of Insurance shall maintain data on group coverage provided under this section and shall report his findings and recommendations on whether this type of group health coverage arrangement should be permitted throughout the State. If the Commissioner recommends continuation of the type of group coverage authorized under this act, the Commissioner shall also recommend any additional statutory authority needed to enable regulation of such coverage to protect all health insurance consumers.   The Commissioner shall submit an interim report to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly upon its convening and a final report to the 2009 General Assembly upon its convening.

SECTION 2.  For the duration of this pilot effort, group health insurance coverage offered and provided under this act is not subject to G.S. 58‑50‑110(1a), 58‑50‑110(1b), and 58‑50‑115.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2008, and expires January 1, 2010.