An Act To Protect Health Care Consumers from Catastrophic Debt
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1620
Sponsors: BERRY, BARTLETT, BECK, BLODGETT, BOLAND, BRIGGS, BUTTERFIELD, CAIN, CAMPBELL, CASAVANT, CROCKETT, DRISCOLL, EVES, FLEMINGS, GILBERT, GOODE, HINCK, HUNT, LEGG, LOVEJOY, MAZUREK, MILLER, MITCHELL, MORRISON, O'BRIEN, PENDLETON, PEOPLES, PINGREE, RICHARDSON, SMITH, TREAT, WAGNER, WATSON, WELSH, ALFOND, BOWMAN, BRYANT, GOODALL, JACKSON, MfTCHELL, SIMPSON, SULLIVAN

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124thMAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1620, 
H.P.1148 
House of Representatives, December 23, 2009 
An Act To Protect Health Care Consumers from Catastrophic Debt 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 21,2009. Referredto the Committee on 
Insurance and Financial Services pursuant to JointRule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401. ' 
Presented by Representative BERRY of Bowdoinham. 
Cosponsored by Senator BARTLETT of Cumberland and 
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/h.1J?!LC~{, 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BECK of Waterville, BLODGETT of Augusta, BOLAND of Sanford, BRIGGS of 
Mexico, BUTTERFIELD of Bangor, CAIN of Orono, CAMPBELL of Newfield, CASAVANT of 
Biddeford. CLARK of Millinocket, CROCKETT of Augusta, DRISCOLL of Westbrook, EVES of 
North Berwick, FLEMINGS of Bar Harbor, GILBERT of Jay, GOODE of Bangor. HASKELL of 
Portland, HINCK of Portland, HUNT of Buxton, LEGG of Kennebunk, LOVEJOY of Portland, 
MacDONALD of Boothbay, MAZUREK of Rockland, McCABE of Skowhegan, MILLER of 
Somerville, MITCHELL of the Penobscot Nation, MORRISON of South Portland, O'BRIEN of 
Lincolnville, PENDLETON of Scarborough, PEOPLES of Westbrook, Speaker PINGREE of North 
Haven. PRIEST of Brunswick, RICHARDSON of Warren, SMITH of Monmouth. STRANG 
BURGESS of Cumberland, TREAT of Hallowell, WAGNER of Lewiston, WATSON of Bath, WELSH 
of Rockport, WRfGHT of Berwick, Senators: ALFOND ofCumberlal1d, BOWMAN of York, 
BRYANT of Oxford. GERZOFSKYofCumberland, GOODALL of Sag ada hoc, JACKSON of 
Aroostook, President MfTCHELL of Kennebec, SIMPSON of Androscoggin, SULLIVAN of York. 
Printed nn j'ccyded p;1pcr 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA c. 27-Ai~ .enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 27-A 
PROTECTION OF IlEALTHINSUREDSFROM CATASTROPIDC RISK ACT 
§2461. Short title 
This chapter may be known and cited as "the Protection of Health Insureds from 
Catastrophic Risk Act." 
§2462. Scope 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter applies to all individual and 
group health plans covering residents ofthis State. 
§2463. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Carrier.· "Carrier" has the same meaning as in section 4301:'A, subsection 3. 
2. 
Health plan. 
"Health plan" has the same meaning as in section 4301-A, 
subsection 7. 
§2464. Prohibition against maximum aggregate benefit provisions 
1. Prohibition. A health plan issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this 
chapter may not include a provision in a policy, contract, certificate or agreement that 
purports to terminate payment of any additional claims for coverage of health care 
services after a defined maximilm aggregate amount of claims for coverage of health care 
services on an annual, lifetime or other basis has already been paid under the health plan 
for coverage of an insured individual, family or group. 
2. Specific benefits. This chapter may not be construed to limit the ability of a 
carrier to offer a health plan that limits benefits under the health plan for specified health 
care services on an annual basis. 
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Sec. 2. Rulemaking. Tbe Superintendent of Insurance shall undertake rulemaking 
in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375 to amend any Bureau 
ofInsurance rule that conflicts with this Act. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are 
routine technical rules.as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill prohibits health plans covering Maine residents from including provisions 
that terminate payment of further claims after a defined maximum specified aggregate 
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. amount of health care claims has been paid .on an annual, lifetime or other basis on behalf 
of an individual; family or group.