Sec. 1510.004. PROVISION OF GUARANTEED ISSUE HEALTH COVERAGE. (a) Subject to any requirements for obtaining federal funds, the commissioner may increase access to guaranteed issue health coverage by:

(1) establishing a high risk pool to provide alternative individual health insurance coverage to eligible individuals that does not diminish enrollment in traditional commercial health care coverage;

(2) providing funding to individual health benefit plan issuers that cover individuals with certain health or cost characteristics in exchange for lower enrollee premium rates; or

(3) providing a reinsurance program for health benefit plan issuers in the individual market in exchange for lower enrollee premium rates.

(b) If necessary to ensure access to quality individual health insurance coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions, the commissioner may take actions necessary to establish a temporary high risk pool substantially similar to the risk pool authorized by former Chapter 1506, Insurance Code, repealed by Chapter 615 (S.B. 1367), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, including:

(1) appointing a board of directors to govern the temporary high risk pool;

(2) adopting rules or a plan of operation for the temporary high risk pool; and

(3) contracting with a third party.

(c) Any rule or plan of operation adopted under Subsection (b) remains in effect only until 30 days following the end of the next regular session of the legislature unless a law is enacted that authorizes coverage to be issued by the temporary risk pool and provides for funding for coverage under the temporary risk pool.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (S.B. 2087), Sec. 1, eff. June 12, 2017.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 662 (S.B. 1940), Sec. 3, eff. June 10, 2019.