093_SB1410

 
                                     LRB093 10981 JLS 11593 b

 1        AN ACT concerning insurance.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Illinois Insurance  Code  is  amended  by
 5    changing Section 356c as follows:

 6        (215 ILCS 5/356c) (from Ch. 73, par. 968c)
 7        Sec. 356c.  Insurability of newborns.
 8        (1)  No policy of accident and health insurance providing
 9    coverage  of hospital expenses or medical expenses or both on
10    an expense incurred basis which in addition to  covering  the
11    insured,  also  covers  members  of  the  insured's immediate
12    family,  shall  contain  any  disclaimer,  waiver  or   other
13    limitation  of  coverage  relative to the hospital or medical
14    coverage or insurability of newborn  infants from  and  after
15    the moment of birth.
16        (2)  Each  such  policy  of accident and health insurance
17    shall contain a  provision  stating  that  the  accident  and
18    health  insurance  benefits  applicable for children shall be
19    granted immediately with respect to a newly born  child  from
20    the  moment  of  birth.  The coverage for newly born children
21    shall  include  coverage  of  illness,   injury,   congenital
22    defects, birth abnormalities and premature birth.
23        (3)  If  payment  of  a  specific  premium is required to
24    provide coverage for a child, the  policy  may  require  that
25    notification of birth of a newly born child must be furnished
26    to  the  insurer  within  31  days after the date of birth in
27    order to have the coverage continue beyond such 31 day period
28    and may require payment of the appropriate premium.
29        (4)  In the event that no other members of the  insured's
30    immediate  family  are  covered,  immediate  coverage for the
31    first newborn infant shall be provided if the insured applies
 
                            -2-      LRB093 10981 JLS 11593 b
 1    for dependent's coverage within  31  days  of  the  newborn's
 2    birth.  Such coverage shall be contingent upon payment of the
 3    additional premium.
 4        (5)  The requirements of this Section shall apply, on  or
 5    after  the  sixtieth day following the effective date of this
 6    Section, (a) to all  such  non-group  policies  delivered  or
 7    issued  for  delivery,  and  (b)  to  all such group policies
 8    delivered, issued for   delivery,  renewed  or  amended.  The
 9    insurers of such non-group policies in effect on the sixtieth
10    day following the effective date of this Section shall extend
11    to  owners  of  said  policies, on or before the first policy
12    anniversary following such date, the opportunity to apply for
13    the addition to their policies of a provision as set forth in
14    paragraph (2) above, with, at  the  option  of  the  insurer,
15    payment of a premium appropriate thereto.
16    (Source: P.A. 85-220.)