TITLE: Relating to prohibited actions regarding health benefit plan coverage for enrollees who refuse to have an abortion.

SUMMARY: Relating to prohibited actions regarding health benefit plan coverage for enrollees who refuse to have an abortion.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to prohibited actions regarding health benefit plan coverage for enrollees who refuse to have an abortion. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 1454, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Section 1454.003 to read as follows: Sec. 1454.003. LOSS OF COVERAGE FOR ABORTION REFUSAL PROHIBITED. A health benefit plan issuer may not condition continued health benefit coverage for an enrollee on the enrollee having or require the enrollee to have an abortion regardless of whether a physician or health care practitioner has diagnosed the enrollee's unborn child as unviable or having a fetal abnormality. SECTION 2. The heading to Chapter 1696, Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 1696. COVERAGE FOR AND REQUIREMENT TO HAVE ELECTIVE ABORTION; PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS SECTION 3. The heading to Section 1696.002, Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 1696.002. PROHIBITED COVERAGE AND REQUIREMENTS THROUGH HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE. SECTION 4. Section 1696.002, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) An issuer of a qualified plan offered through a health benefit exchange may not condition continued health benefit coverage for an enrollee on the enrollee having or require the enrollee to have an abortion regardless of whether a physician or health care practitioner has diagnosed the enrollee's unborn child as unviable or having a fetal abnormality. SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a health benefit or qualified plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2020. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.