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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 7, 2013 10:17 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative W. Curtis Thomas |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Pregnancy as a Pre-existing Condition and Maternity Care Coverage (Formerly HB 1957 of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session) |
| In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would prevent new health insurance policies from imposing a pre-existing condition exclusion for pregnancy. Additionally, insurers would be required to provide coverage of essential maternity care. My bill would remove the possibility of a health insurance provider excluding women from coverage who are or have been pregnant, experienced complications in a pregnancy, or had a caesarian section for a prior pregnancy. Also, it would ensure coverage for the most basic and necessary care for mothers, including standards for prenatal care, childbirth and post-delivery inpatient care. Presently, the Insurance Company Law of 1921 (P.L. 682, No. 284) outlines general responsibilities of a managed health care plan. The statute provides direct access to obstetrical and gynecological care through its participating providers. The law protects women in their second or third trimester from policy termination until after childbirth but does not outline proper pregnancy care standards. This legislation would add two new sections to the act for cover these maternal protections. By ensuring proper care of new and expecting mothers, this legislation would provide choices in health care plans for eligible individuals. Please consider joining me as a co-sponsor. Prior Co-sponsors: THOMAS , MYERS , BRIGGS, HARPER , WAGNER , PAYTON , GEORGE , COHEN , DALEY , CALTAGIRONE , PRESTON , PARKER , M. O'BRIEN , JOSEPHS , YOUNGBLOOD and DAVIS |
Introduced as HB332