SENATE BILL 274

45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez





FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE



AN ACT

RELATING TO INSURANCE; REQUIRING GROUP HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OF CERTAIN UNMARRIED DEPENDENTS UNTIL THEIR TWENTY-SIXTH BIRTHDAY.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Health Care Purchasing Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] MAXIMUM AGE OF DEPENDENT.--

A. Group health care coverage, including any form of self-insurance, offered, issued or renewed under the Health Care Purchasing Act on or after July 1, 2002 that offers coverage of an insured's dependent shall not terminate coverage of an unmarried dependent who is a full-time student at an accredited educational institution by reason of the dependent's age before the dependent's twenty-sixth birthday.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to eligibility criteria for programs pursuant to Title 19 or 21 of the federal Social Security Act."

Section 2. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 23 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] MAXIMUM AGE OF DEPENDENT.--

A. A blanket or group health policy or certificate of insurance offered, delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2002 that provides coverage for an insured's dependent shall not terminate coverage of an unmarried dependent who is a full-time student at an accredited educational institution by reason of the dependent's age before the dependent's twenty-sixth birthday.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to eligibility criteria for programs pursuant to Title 19 or 21 of the federal Social Security Act."

Section 3. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 46 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] MAXIMUM AGE OF DEPENDENT.--

A. Each group health maintenance organization contract offered, delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2002 that provides coverage for an enrollee's dependent shall not terminate coverage of an unmarried dependent who is a full-time student at an accredited educational institution by reason of the dependent's age before the dependent's twenty-sixth birthday.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to eligibility criteria for programs pursuant to Title 19 or 21 of the federal Social Security Act."

Section 4. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 47 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] MAXIMUM AGE OF DEPENDENT.--

A. Any group subscriber contract offered, issued or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2002 that provides coverage of a subscriber's dependents shall not terminate coverage of an unmarried dependent who is a full-time student at an accredited educational institution by reason of the dependent's age before the dependent's twenty-sixth birthday.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to eligibility criteria for programs pursuant to Title 19 or 21 of the federal Social Security Act."

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