Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1906
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Full Text of SB1906  100th General Assembly

SB1906 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 


 
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1906

 

Introduced 2/10/2017, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein and Michael Connelly

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
215 ILCS 5/356z.25 new
215 ILCS 125/5-3  from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1411.2
215 ILCS 165/10  from Ch. 32, par. 604

    Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage for hearing instruments and related services for all individuals under the age of 18 when a hearing care professional prescribes a hearing instrument. Provides that an insurer shall provide coverage for hearing aids subject to certain restrictions. Provides that an insurer shall not be required to pay a claim if the insured filed such a claim 12 months prior to the date of filing the claim with the insurer and the claim was paid by any insurer. Effective immediately.


LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1906LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1    AN ACT concerning insurance.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by adding
5Section 356z.25 as follows:
 
6    (215 ILCS 5/356z.25 new)
7    Sec. 356z.25. Coverage for hearing aids for individuals
8under the age of 18.
9    (a) As used in this Section:
10    "Hearing care professional" means a person who is a
11licensed audiologist or a licensed physician.
12    "Hearing instrument" or "hearing aid" means any wearable
13non-disposable instrument or device designed to aid or
14compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts,
15attachments, or accessories for the instrument or device,
16including an ear mold but excluding batteries and cords.
17    "Related services" means those services necessary to
18assess, select, and adjust or fit the hearing instrument to
19ensure optimal performance, including, but not limited to:
20audiological exams, replacement ear molds, and repairs to the
21hearing instrument.
22    (b) An individual or group policy of accident and health
23insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered,

 

 

SB1906- 2 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1issued, or renewed after the effective date of this amendatory
2Act of the 100th General Assembly must provide coverage for
3hearing instruments and related services for all individuals
4under the age of 18 when a hearing care professional prescribes
5a hearing instrument to augment communication.
6    (c) An insurer shall provide coverage, subject to all
7applicable co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, and
8out-of-pocket limits, subject to the following restrictions:
9        (1) for all insured individuals, hearing aids may be
10    replaced up to once every 12 months as prescribed and
11    dispensed by a hearing care professional;
12        (2) for all insured individuals, any hearing aid may be
13    replaced at any time regardless of the above restrictions
14    if there is a significant change in the insured
15    individual's hearing status; and
16        (3) for all insured individuals, related services,
17    such as audiological exams, ear molds, and hearing aid
18    repairs, shall be covered at all times when prescribed by a
19    hearing care professional.
20    (d) An insurer shall not be required to pay a claim filed
21by its insured for the payment of the cost of a hearing aid
22covered by this Section if less than 12 months prior to the
23date of the claim its insured filed a claim for payment of the
24cost of the hearing aid and the claim was paid by any insurer.
 
25    Section 10. The Health Maintenance Organization Act is

 

 

SB1906- 3 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1amended by changing Section 5-3 as follows:
 
2    (215 ILCS 125/5-3)  (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1411.2)
3    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 99-761)
4    Sec. 5-3. Insurance Code provisions.
5    (a) Health Maintenance Organizations shall be subject to
6the provisions of Sections 133, 134, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141.1,
7141.2, 141.3, 143, 143c, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154,
8154.5, 154.6, 154.7, 154.8, 155.04, 155.22a, 355.2, 355.3,
9355b, 356g.5-1, 356m, 356v, 356w, 356x, 356y, 356z.2, 356z.4,
10356z.5, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.10, 356z.11, 356z.12,
11356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.17, 356z.18, 356z.19, 356z.21,
12356z.22, 356z.25, 364.01, 367.2, 367.2-5, 367i, 368a, 368b,
13368c, 368d, 368e, 370c, 370c.1, 401, 401.1, 402, 403, 403A,
14408, 408.2, 409, 412, 444, and 444.1, paragraph (c) of
15subsection (2) of Section 367, and Articles IIA, VIII 1/2, XII,
16XII 1/2, XIII, XIII 1/2, XXV, and XXVI of the Illinois
17Insurance Code.
18    (b) For purposes of the Illinois Insurance Code, except for
19Sections 444 and 444.1 and Articles XIII and XIII 1/2, Health
20Maintenance Organizations in the following categories are
21deemed to be "domestic companies":
22        (1) a corporation authorized under the Dental Service
23    Plan Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act;
24        (2) a corporation organized under the laws of this
25    State; or

 

 

SB1906- 4 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1        (3) a corporation organized under the laws of another
2    state, 30% or more of the enrollees of which are residents
3    of this State, except a corporation subject to
4    substantially the same requirements in its state of
5    organization as is a "domestic company" under Article VIII
6    1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
7    (c) In considering the merger, consolidation, or other
8acquisition of control of a Health Maintenance Organization
9pursuant to Article VIII 1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code,
10        (1) the Director shall give primary consideration to
11    the continuation of benefits to enrollees and the financial
12    conditions of the acquired Health Maintenance Organization
13    after the merger, consolidation, or other acquisition of
14    control takes effect;
15        (2)(i) the criteria specified in subsection (1)(b) of
16    Section 131.8 of the Illinois Insurance Code shall not
17    apply and (ii) the Director, in making his determination
18    with respect to the merger, consolidation, or other
19    acquisition of control, need not take into account the
20    effect on competition of the merger, consolidation, or
21    other acquisition of control;
22        (3) the Director shall have the power to require the
23    following information:
24            (A) certification by an independent actuary of the
25        adequacy of the reserves of the Health Maintenance
26        Organization sought to be acquired;

 

 

SB1906- 5 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1            (B) pro forma financial statements reflecting the
2        combined balance sheets of the acquiring company and
3        the Health Maintenance Organization sought to be
4        acquired as of the end of the preceding year and as of
5        a date 90 days prior to the acquisition, as well as pro
6        forma financial statements reflecting projected
7        combined operation for a period of 2 years;
8            (C) a pro forma business plan detailing an
9        acquiring party's plans with respect to the operation
10        of the Health Maintenance Organization sought to be
11        acquired for a period of not less than 3 years; and
12            (D) such other information as the Director shall
13        require.
14    (d) The provisions of Article VIII 1/2 of the Illinois
15Insurance Code and this Section 5-3 shall apply to the sale by
16any health maintenance organization of greater than 10% of its
17enrollee population (including without limitation the health
18maintenance organization's right, title, and interest in and to
19its health care certificates).
20    (e) In considering any management contract or service
21agreement subject to Section 141.1 of the Illinois Insurance
22Code, the Director (i) shall, in addition to the criteria
23specified in Section 141.2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, take
24into account the effect of the management contract or service
25agreement on the continuation of benefits to enrollees and the
26financial condition of the health maintenance organization to

 

 

SB1906- 6 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1be managed or serviced, and (ii) need not take into account the
2effect of the management contract or service agreement on
3competition.
4    (f) Except for small employer groups as defined in the
5Small Employer Rating, Renewability and Portability Health
6Insurance Act and except for medicare supplement policies as
7defined in Section 363 of the Illinois Insurance Code, a Health
8Maintenance Organization may by contract agree with a group or
9other enrollment unit to effect refunds or charge additional
10premiums under the following terms and conditions:
11        (i) the amount of, and other terms and conditions with
12    respect to, the refund or additional premium are set forth
13    in the group or enrollment unit contract agreed in advance
14    of the period for which a refund is to be paid or
15    additional premium is to be charged (which period shall not
16    be less than one year); and
17        (ii) the amount of the refund or additional premium
18    shall not exceed 20% of the Health Maintenance
19    Organization's profitable or unprofitable experience with
20    respect to the group or other enrollment unit for the
21    period (and, for purposes of a refund or additional
22    premium, the profitable or unprofitable experience shall
23    be calculated taking into account a pro rata share of the
24    Health Maintenance Organization's administrative and
25    marketing expenses, but shall not include any refund to be
26    made or additional premium to be paid pursuant to this

 

 

SB1906- 7 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1    subsection (f)). The Health Maintenance Organization and
2    the group or enrollment unit may agree that the profitable
3    or unprofitable experience may be calculated taking into
4    account the refund period and the immediately preceding 2
5    plan years.
6    The Health Maintenance Organization shall include a
7statement in the evidence of coverage issued to each enrollee
8describing the possibility of a refund or additional premium,
9and upon request of any group or enrollment unit, provide to
10the group or enrollment unit a description of the method used
11to calculate (1) the Health Maintenance Organization's
12profitable experience with respect to the group or enrollment
13unit and the resulting refund to the group or enrollment unit
14or (2) the Health Maintenance Organization's unprofitable
15experience with respect to the group or enrollment unit and the
16resulting additional premium to be paid by the group or
17enrollment unit.
18    In no event shall the Illinois Health Maintenance
19Organization Guaranty Association be liable to pay any
20contractual obligation of an insolvent organization to pay any
21refund authorized under this Section.
22    (g) Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045,
23if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance
24with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
25Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
26Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for

 

 

SB1906- 8 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1whatever reason, is unauthorized.
2(Source: P.A. 97-282, eff. 8-9-11; 97-343, eff. 1-1-12; 97-437,
3eff. 8-18-11; 97-486, eff. 1-1-12; 97-592, eff. 1-1-12; 97-805,
4eff. 1-1-13; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 98-189, eff. 1-1-14;
598-1091, eff. 1-1-15.)
 
6    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 99-761)
7    Sec. 5-3. Insurance Code provisions.
8    (a) Health Maintenance Organizations shall be subject to
9the provisions of Sections 133, 134, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141.1,
10141.2, 141.3, 143, 143c, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154,
11154.5, 154.6, 154.7, 154.8, 155.04, 155.22a, 355.2, 355.3,
12355b, 356g.5-1, 356m, 356v, 356w, 356x, 356y, 356z.2, 356z.4,
13356z.5, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.10, 356z.11, 356z.12,
14356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.17, 356z.18, 356z.19, 356z.21,
15356z.22, 356z.25, 364, 364.01, 367.2, 367.2-5, 367i, 368a,
16368b, 368c, 368d, 368e, 370c, 370c.1, 401, 401.1, 402, 403,
17403A, 408, 408.2, 409, 412, 444, and 444.1, paragraph (c) of
18subsection (2) of Section 367, and Articles IIA, VIII 1/2, XII,
19XII 1/2, XIII, XIII 1/2, XXV, and XXVI of the Illinois
20Insurance Code.
21    (b) For purposes of the Illinois Insurance Code, except for
22Sections 444 and 444.1 and Articles XIII and XIII 1/2, Health
23Maintenance Organizations in the following categories are
24deemed to be "domestic companies":
25        (1) a corporation authorized under the Dental Service

 

 

SB1906- 9 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1    Plan Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act;
2        (2) a corporation organized under the laws of this
3    State; or
4        (3) a corporation organized under the laws of another
5    state, 30% or more of the enrollees of which are residents
6    of this State, except a corporation subject to
7    substantially the same requirements in its state of
8    organization as is a "domestic company" under Article VIII
9    1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
10    (c) In considering the merger, consolidation, or other
11acquisition of control of a Health Maintenance Organization
12pursuant to Article VIII 1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code,
13        (1) the Director shall give primary consideration to
14    the continuation of benefits to enrollees and the financial
15    conditions of the acquired Health Maintenance Organization
16    after the merger, consolidation, or other acquisition of
17    control takes effect;
18        (2)(i) the criteria specified in subsection (1)(b) of
19    Section 131.8 of the Illinois Insurance Code shall not
20    apply and (ii) the Director, in making his determination
21    with respect to the merger, consolidation, or other
22    acquisition of control, need not take into account the
23    effect on competition of the merger, consolidation, or
24    other acquisition of control;
25        (3) the Director shall have the power to require the
26    following information:

 

 

SB1906- 10 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1            (A) certification by an independent actuary of the
2        adequacy of the reserves of the Health Maintenance
3        Organization sought to be acquired;
4            (B) pro forma financial statements reflecting the
5        combined balance sheets of the acquiring company and
6        the Health Maintenance Organization sought to be
7        acquired as of the end of the preceding year and as of
8        a date 90 days prior to the acquisition, as well as pro
9        forma financial statements reflecting projected
10        combined operation for a period of 2 years;
11            (C) a pro forma business plan detailing an
12        acquiring party's plans with respect to the operation
13        of the Health Maintenance Organization sought to be
14        acquired for a period of not less than 3 years; and
15            (D) such other information as the Director shall
16        require.
17    (d) The provisions of Article VIII 1/2 of the Illinois
18Insurance Code and this Section 5-3 shall apply to the sale by
19any health maintenance organization of greater than 10% of its
20enrollee population (including without limitation the health
21maintenance organization's right, title, and interest in and to
22its health care certificates).
23    (e) In considering any management contract or service
24agreement subject to Section 141.1 of the Illinois Insurance
25Code, the Director (i) shall, in addition to the criteria
26specified in Section 141.2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, take

 

 

SB1906- 11 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1into account the effect of the management contract or service
2agreement on the continuation of benefits to enrollees and the
3financial condition of the health maintenance organization to
4be managed or serviced, and (ii) need not take into account the
5effect of the management contract or service agreement on
6competition.
7    (f) Except for small employer groups as defined in the
8Small Employer Rating, Renewability and Portability Health
9Insurance Act and except for medicare supplement policies as
10defined in Section 363 of the Illinois Insurance Code, a Health
11Maintenance Organization may by contract agree with a group or
12other enrollment unit to effect refunds or charge additional
13premiums under the following terms and conditions:
14        (i) the amount of, and other terms and conditions with
15    respect to, the refund or additional premium are set forth
16    in the group or enrollment unit contract agreed in advance
17    of the period for which a refund is to be paid or
18    additional premium is to be charged (which period shall not
19    be less than one year); and
20        (ii) the amount of the refund or additional premium
21    shall not exceed 20% of the Health Maintenance
22    Organization's profitable or unprofitable experience with
23    respect to the group or other enrollment unit for the
24    period (and, for purposes of a refund or additional
25    premium, the profitable or unprofitable experience shall
26    be calculated taking into account a pro rata share of the

 

 

SB1906- 12 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1    Health Maintenance Organization's administrative and
2    marketing expenses, but shall not include any refund to be
3    made or additional premium to be paid pursuant to this
4    subsection (f)). The Health Maintenance Organization and
5    the group or enrollment unit may agree that the profitable
6    or unprofitable experience may be calculated taking into
7    account the refund period and the immediately preceding 2
8    plan years.
9    The Health Maintenance Organization shall include a
10statement in the evidence of coverage issued to each enrollee
11describing the possibility of a refund or additional premium,
12and upon request of any group or enrollment unit, provide to
13the group or enrollment unit a description of the method used
14to calculate (1) the Health Maintenance Organization's
15profitable experience with respect to the group or enrollment
16unit and the resulting refund to the group or enrollment unit
17or (2) the Health Maintenance Organization's unprofitable
18experience with respect to the group or enrollment unit and the
19resulting additional premium to be paid by the group or
20enrollment unit.
21    In no event shall the Illinois Health Maintenance
22Organization Guaranty Association be liable to pay any
23contractual obligation of an insolvent organization to pay any
24refund authorized under this Section.
25    (g) Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045,
26if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance

 

 

SB1906- 13 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
2Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
3Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
4whatever reason, is unauthorized.
5(Source: P.A. 98-189, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1091, eff. 1-1-15;
699-761, eff. 1-1-18.)
 
7    Section 15. The Voluntary Health Services Plans Act is
8amended by changing Section 10 as follows:
 
9    (215 ILCS 165/10)  (from Ch. 32, par. 604)
10    Sec. 10. Application of Insurance Code provisions. Health
11services plan corporations and all persons interested therein
12or dealing therewith shall be subject to the provisions of
13Articles IIA and XII 1/2 and Sections 3.1, 133, 136, 139, 140,
14143, 143c, 149, 155.22a, 155.37, 354, 355.2, 355.3, 355b, 356g,
15356g.5, 356g.5-1, 356r, 356t, 356u, 356v, 356w, 356x, 356y,
16356z.1, 356z.2, 356z.4, 356z.5, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9,
17356z.10, 356z.11, 356z.12, 356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.18,
18356z.19, 356z.21, 356z.22, 356z.25, 364.01, 367.2, 368a, 401,
19401.1, 402, 403, 403A, 408, 408.2, and 412, and paragraphs (7)
20and (15) of Section 367 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
21    Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if
22any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance
23with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
24Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on

 

 

SB1906- 14 -LRB100 06330 SMS 16368 b

1Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
2whatever reason, is unauthorized.
3(Source: P.A. 97-282, eff. 8-9-11; 97-343, eff. 1-1-12; 97-486,
4eff. 1-1-12; 97-592, eff. 1-1-12; 97-805, eff. 1-1-13; 97-813,
5eff. 7-13-12; 98-189, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1091, eff. 1-1-15.)
 
6    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
7changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
8that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
9represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
10not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
11made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
12Public Act.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14becoming law.