(1) Any group, blanket, or franchise health insurance policy providing coverage on an expense-incurred basis that provides coverage for a family member of the certificateholder or subscriber, or any group, blanket, or franchise health care services plan contract issued by a nonprofit corporation that provides coverage for a family member of the certificateholder or subscriber, must, with respect to the family member’s coverage, also provide that the health insurance benefits applicable for children will be payable with respect to a newborn child of the certificateholder, subscriber, or covered family member from the moment of birth. However, the coverage for a newborn child of a covered family member of the certificateholder or subscriber terminates 18 months after the birth of the newborn child.

(2) The coverage for newborn children required by this section consists of coverage for injury or sickness, including the necessary care or treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects, birth abnormalities, or prematurity, and also includes transportation costs of the newborn to and from the nearest available facility appropriately staffed and equipped to treat the newborn’s condition if the transportation is certified by the attending physician as necessary to protect the health and safety of the newborn child. The coverage of transportation costs may not exceed the usual and customary charges, up to $1,000.

(3) The benefits required by this section also apply to holders of group certificates delivered or issued for delivery to residents of this state under group policies effectuated or delivered outside this state.

(4) A policy or contract may require the insured to notify the insurer of the birth of a child within a time period, as specified in the policy, of not less than 30 days after the birth. If timely notice is given, the insurer may not charge an additional premium for coverage of the newborn child for the duration of the notice period. If timely notice is not given, the insurer may charge an additional premium from the date of birth. If notice is given within 60 days of the birth of the child, the insurer may not deny coverage for a child due to the failure of the insured to timely notify the insurer of the birth of the child.

(5) If the policy or contract does not require the insured to notify the insurer of the birth within a specified time period, the insurer may not deny coverage for such child or retroactively charge the insured an additional premium for the child. However, the insurer may prospectively charge the insured an additional premium for the child if the insurer provides at least 45 days’ notice of the additional premium required.

(6) This section does not apply to disability income or hospital indemnity policies or to normal maternity policy provisions applicable to the mother.

History.—s. 2, ch. 74-8; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-162; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 2, ch. 80-177; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 505, 523, 809(2nd), ch. 82-243; s. 79, ch. 82-386; s. 2, ch. 84-202; ss. 133, 149, ch. 92-33; ss. 65, 114, ch. 92-318; s. 8, ch. 98-159.