§1003.1.  Children; portability; enrollment; exception

A.  In reference to R.S. 22:1003, the following shall apply:

(1)  The health insurance issuer or health maintenance organization shall apply portability rights in reference to preexisting conditions to the newly added child or grandchild as described in R.S. 22:1062(A) and (B).  The preexisting condition waiting period applicable to such child or grandchild shall be applied to the child or grandchild in the same manner as any other dependent.

(2)  The health insurance issuer or health maintenance organization shall offer to all  insureds or enrollees a special enrollment period of not less than thirty days beginning on September 23, 2010, to include a child or grandchild under the age of twenty-six as a new entrant covered under the policy or subscriber agreement.  It is solely the insured's or enrollee's decision whether to add such child or grandchild to the policy or subscriber agreement.

(3)  The health insurance issuer or health maintenance organization shall not limit or otherwise restrict the offer of coverage to a child or grandchild until the age of twenty-six by requiring any of the following:

(a)  That the child or grandchild had to have been previously covered as a dependent.

(b)  That the child or grandchild resides in this state.

(c)  That the child or grandchild demonstrate that he had previous creditable coverage.

(d)  That the enrollee or insured requested coverage for the child or grandchild the first time such child or grandchild was eligible for coverage.

(4)  The health insurance issuer or health maintenance organization may not deny coverage to a child or grandchild under the age of twenty-six when the enrollee or insured requests coverage.

(5)  The health insurance issuer or health maintenance organization shall offer coverage for an enrollee's or insured's children or grandchildren under the age of twenty-six as new entrants through special enrollment and shall annually provide at least a thirty-day enrollment period.  The health insurance issuer or health maintenance organization may request documentation of such child's or grandchild's creditable coverage to determine portability.

B.  For group plans in existence before March 23, 2010, only, the provisions of this Section shall apply only if the child is not eligible to enroll in an eligible employer-sponsored health plan.  The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply for plan years beginning after January 1, 2014.

C.  The provisions of this Section shall apply to all policies or subscriber agreements issued or renewed or issued for delivery in this state after September 23, 2010; except that these provisions, in reference to age requirements, shall not apply to excepted benefits as defined in R.S. 22:1061(3)(b) and (c) and to benefits of short-term, limited duration insurance as defined pursuant to 45 CFR 144.103.

Acts 2010, No. 912, §1; Acts 2011, No. 360, §1, eff. June 29, 2011.