An Act To Require Health Insurers To Provide Coverage for Nutritional Wellness and Illness Prevention Measures and Products
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1215
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: BOLAND, JACKSON, GUERIN, HARLOW, LONGSTAFF, MALONEY, NEWENDYKE, O'CONNOR
Amends: 24-A MRSA §4319

Legislative Document 
No. 1215 
H.P. 906 
House of Representatives, March 22, 2011 
An Act To Require Health Insurers To Provide Coverage for 
Nutritional Wellness and Illness Prevention Measures and Products 
Reference to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BOLAND of Sanford. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
Representatives: GUERIN of Glenburn, HARLOW of Portland, LONGSTAFF of Waterville, 
MALONEY of Augusta, NEWENDYKE of Litchfield, O'CONNOR of Berwick. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  24-A MRSA §4319 is enacted to read: 
§4319.  Coverage for nutritional wellness and illness prevention 
1.  Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Dietary supplement" has the same meaning as in the federal Dietary Supplement 
Health and Education Act of 1994. 
B.  "Nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures" means nutritional 
measures and products, including dietary supplements, whose primary purposes are 
to enhance health, improve nutritional intake, strengthen the immune system, cleanse 
the body of toxins, address specific health needs and aid in resisting disease. 
2.  Required coverage. A carrier shall provide coverage and reimburse for 
nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures that have been shown to be 
beneficial to an enrollee's health when used as directed by the manufacturer or 
manufacturer's representative and are recommended by the enrollee's physician. 
3.  Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and 
certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. 
For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next 
yearly anniversary of the contract date. 
Sec. 2.  Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts 
and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this 
State on or after January 1, 2012.  For purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed to be 
renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date. 
SUMMARY 
The purpose of this bill is to improve health, reduce health care usage and costs and 
help prevent disease through nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures and 
allow for nonpharmacological health care alternatives for enrollees who choose them.  
The bill requires that health insurance policies provide coverage for nutritional wellness 
and illness prevention measures that are shown to be beneficial to the enrollee and are 
recommended by the enrollee's physician.  The bill applies to all individual and group 
policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2012.