GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 1033*

Short Title:     Health Benefit Plans/Std. Insurance Card.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Clodfelter;  Dannelly, Goodall, Graham, Pittenger, and Purcell.
Referred to:	Select Committee on Employee Hospital and Medical Benefits.

March 21, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO REQUIRE HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS TO ISSUE INSURANCE IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO POLICYHOLDERS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:

"§ 58‑3‑247. Insurance identification card.

(a) Every insurer offering a health benefit plan as defined under G.S. 58‑3‑167 shall provide the health benefit plan policyholder with an insurance identification card. The card shall contain the following clearly identifiable, legible, preprinted information:

(1) The policyholder's name and

a. The names and identification numbers of all persons covered under the policyholder's health benefit plan, or

b. If an insurance identification card is issued for each person included under the subscriber's coverage, the name of the policyholder and the individual or dependent may be listed in lieu of the information required under sub‑subdivision a. of this subdivision.

(2) The policyholder's identification number and date of birth.

(3) The employer group name and, if applicable, employer group number.

(4) The effective date of health benefit plan coverage.

(5) The name of the policyholder's primary care physician and phone number, if applicable.

(6) The name of the policyholder's insurer, the name and logo of the insurer, or the network accessed in North Carolina; the plan or product type (including HMO, POS, PPO, HRA, or HSA) and product names.

(7) The address where claims are to be filed and the electronic claims filing payor identification number.

(8) The insurer's contact phone numbers including phone numbers for eligibility confirmation and preauthorizations.

(9) The policyholder's obligations with regard to co‑payments, co‑insurance payments, and deductibles including those for primary care physician office visits, specialist office visits, urgent care office visits, and emergency room visits.

(10) The website address or other means of accessing the list of participating providers.

(11) The name, address, and  phone number for special mental health and vision services under the health plan.

(12) The date the identification card was printed.

(b) Insurers shall provide each policyholder with a new insurance identification card whenever any information required to be on the card is changed not later than 30 days prior to the date the change becomes effective. If the insurer issues annual renewal cards, it may issue a temporary sticker containing the new information in lieu of issuing a new card prior to the annual renewal date. The sticker shall be designed such that it can be attached to the existing card. The insurance identification card must be designed such that if the card is photocopied or electronically scanned, the resulting image is clearly legible."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2008.