HF 2737

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/07/2012 02:19pm

A bill for an act
relating to insurance; requiring health plans to cover contraceptive methods,
sterilization, and related medical services, patient education, and counseling
without enrollee cost-sharing; providing certain exceptions; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62Q.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [62Q.521] COVERAGE OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS AND
COUNSELING.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Citation. new text end

new text begin This section may be cited as the "Contraceptive Equity
Act."
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Scope of coverage requirement. new text end

new text begin This section applies to all health plans,
as defined in section 62Q.01, subdivision 3, that are issued or renewed to a Minnesota
employer to cover employees and their dependents.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Required coverage. new text end

new text begin A health plan described in subdivision 2 that provides
prescription drug coverage must cover all Food and Drug Administration approved
contraceptive methods and sterilization procedures, and related medical services, patient
education, and counseling, and shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements for this
coverage.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Exemption; religious and other employers. new text end

new text begin (a) Health plans sponsored
by religious employers are exempt from the requirements of subdivision 3. For purposes
of this exemption, a "religious employer" is one that:
new text end

new text begin (1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose;
new text end

new text begin (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets;
new text end

new text begin (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and
new text end

new text begin (4) is a nonprofit organization under Internal Revenue Code section 6033(a)(1) and
section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii).
new text end

new text begin (b) Nonprofit employers who, based on their institutional religious beliefs, do not
currently provide the coverage required by subdivision 3 in their health plan, and who are
not exempt under paragraph (a):
new text end

new text begin (1) are not required to provide the coverage required by subdivision 3 or refer their
employees to organizations that provide this coverage; and
new text end

new text begin (2) shall not be required to subsidize the cost of the coverage required by subdivision
3.
new text end

new text begin (c) Health plan companies, as defined in section 62Q.01, subdivision 4, must offer
the coverage required by subdivision 3 to employees of employers described in paragraph
(b) directly, and must provide this coverage to these employees and their dependents
free of charge.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to
coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, or continued as defined in Minnesota Statutes,
section 60A.02, subdivision 2a, on or after that date.
new text end