§1054.  Requirement for access to coverage for individuals diagnosed with a terminal condition

A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary and particularly the provisions of R.S. 22:1047, no health care coverage plan shall deny coverage for medically necessary treatment prescribed by a physician and agreed to by a fully informed insured or, if the insured lacks legal capacity to consent, by a person who has legal authority to consent on the insured's behalf, based solely on an insured's life expectancy or the fact that the insured is diagnosed with a terminal condition.

B.  Refusing coverage for medically necessary treatment to be rendered to an insured based solely on the insured's life expectancy or the fact that the insured is diagnosed with a terminal condition shall be a violation of this Section.

C.(1)  As used in this Section, "terminal condition" means any malignancy or chronic end-stage cardiovascular or cerebral vascular disease that is likely to result in the insured's death.

(2)  As used in this Section, "health coverage plan" means any hospital, health or medical insurance policy, hospital or medical service contract, employee welfare benefit plan, contract or agreement with a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization, health and accident insurance policy, or any other insurance contract of this type, including a group insurance plan and the Office of Group Benefits programs.

Acts 2014, No. 541, §1, eff. June 5, 2014.