06 LC 28
2830
House
Bill 1311
By:
Representatives Gardner of the
57th,
Wilkinson of the
52nd,
Manning of the
32nd,
Buckner of the
130th,
and Orrock of the
58th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions concerning insurance, so as to provide
that, if coverage is provided for mental health treatment in insurance plans,
policies, or contracts, the out-of-pocket limits shall be the same and common as
that provided for physical illness; to provide that the annual and lifetime
dollar limits for mental health treatment shall be the same and common as that
provided for physical illness in small group plans; to provide that money paid
by the insured from a health savings account for qualified medical expenses, as
recognized in Section 213(d) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, for treatment
of mental disorders shall be applied to the deductible under the high deductible
health plan; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to general provisions concerning insurance, is amended by striking subsection
(e) of Code Section 33-24-28.1, relating to coverage of treatment of mental
disorders, and inserting in lieu thereof new subsections (e) and (f) to read as
follows:
"(e)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the inclusion of
coverage for the treatment of mental disorders that differs from the coverage
provided in the same insurance plan, policy, or contract for physical illnesses
if the policyholder does not purchase the optional coverage made available
pursuant to this Code
section,
except that, if any coverage for the treatment of mental disorders is included,
the out-of-pocket limit shall be the same and common as that provided by the
insurance plan, policy, or contract for physical
illness.
(f)
Money paid by the insured from a health savings account for qualified medical
expenses, as recognized in Section 213(d) of the federal Internal Revenue Code,
for treatment of mental disorders shall be applied to the deductible under the
high deductible health
plan."
SECTION
2.
Said
article is further amended by inserting a new subsection (h) in Code Section
33-24-29, relating to coverage for treatment of mental disorders under accident
and sickness insurance benefit plans providing major medical benefits covering
small groups, to read as follows:
"(h)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the inclusion of
coverage for the treatment of mental disorders that differs from the coverage
provided in the same insurance plan, policy, or contract for physical illness if
the master policyholder does not purchase the optional coverage made available
pursuant to this Code section, except that, if any coverage for the treatment of
mental disorders is included, the out-of-pocket limit and the annual and
lifetime dollar limits shall be the same and common as that provided by the
insurance plan, policy, or contract for physical
illness."
SECTION
3.
Said
article is further amended by inserting a new subsection (g) in Code Section
33-24-29.1, relating to coverage for mental disorders under accident and
sickness insurance benefit plans providing major medical benefits covering all
groups except small groups, to read as follows:
"(g)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the inclusion of
coverage for the treatment of mental disorders that differs from the coverage
provided in the same insurance plan, policy, or contract for physical illness if
the master policyholder does not purchase the optional coverage made available
pursuant to this Code section, except that, if any coverage for the treatment of
mental disorders is included, the out-of-pocket limit shall be the same and
common as that provided by the insurance plan, policy, or contract for physical
illness."
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.