CHAPTER 1504. MEDICAL CHILD SUPPORT

INSURANCE CODE

TITLE 8. HEALTH INSURANCE AND OTHER HEALTH COVERAGES

SUBTITLE G. HEALTH COVERAGE AVAILABILITY

CHAPTER 1504. MEDICAL CHILD SUPPORT

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 1504.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Child" has the meaning assigned by Section 101.003, Family

Code.

(2) "Child support agency" has the meaning assigned by Section

101.004, Family Code.

(3) "Custodial parent" means an individual who:

(A) is a managing conservator of a child or a possessory

conservator of a child who is a parent of the child; or

(B) is a guardian of the person or other custodian of a child

and is designated as guardian or custodian by a court or

administrative agency of this or another state.

(4) "Health benefit plan issuer" means:

(A) an insurance company, group hospital service corporation, or

health maintenance organization that delivers or issues for

delivery an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance

policy or agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an

evidence of coverage that provides benefits for medical or

surgical expenses incurred as a result of an accident or

sickness;

(B) a governmental entity subject to Subchapter D, Chapter 1355,

Subchapter C, Chapter 1364, Chapter 1578, Article 3.51-1, 3.51-4,

or 3.51-5, or Chapter 177, Local Government Code;

(C) the issuer of a multiple employer welfare arrangement as

defined by Section 846.001; or

(D) the issuer of a group health plan as defined by Section 607,

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.

Section 1167).

(5) "Medical assistance" means medical assistance under the

state Medicaid program.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

730, Sec. 2G.016, eff. April 1, 2009.

Sec. 1504.002. RULES. (a) The commissioner shall adopt

reasonable rules as necessary to implement this chapter and 42

U.S.C. Section 1396a(a)(60), including rules that define acts

that constitute unfair or deceptive practices under Subchapter I,

Chapter 541.

(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules that define "comparable

health coverage" in a manner that:

(1) is consistent with federal law; and

(2) complies with the requirements necessary to maintain federal

Medicaid funding.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Sec. 1504.003. VIOLATION OF CHAPTER: RELIEF AVAILABLE TO INJURED

PERSON. A health benefit plan issuer that violates this chapter

is subject to the same penalties, and an injured person has the

same rights and remedies, as those provided by Subchapter D,

Chapter 541.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

SUBCHAPTER B. DUTIES OF HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN ISSUER

Sec. 1504.051. ENROLLMENT OF CERTAIN CHILDREN REQUIRED. (a) A

health benefit plan issuer shall permit a parent to enroll a

child in dependent health coverage offered through the issuer

regardless of any enrollment period restriction if the parent is:

(1) eligible for dependent health coverage; and

(2) required by a court order or administrative order to provide

health insurance coverage for the child.

(b) A health benefit plan issuer shall enroll a child of a

parent described by Subsection (a) in dependent health coverage

offered through the issuer if:

(1) the parent does not apply to obtain health coverage for the

child through the issuer; and

(2) the child, a custodial parent of the child, or a child

support agency having a duty to collect or enforce support for

the child applies for the coverage.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Sec. 1504.052. CHILD RESIDING OUTSIDE SERVICE AREA; COMPARABLE

HEALTH COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A health benefit plan issuer may

not deny enrollment of a child under the health coverage of the

child's parent on the ground that the child does not reside in

the issuer's service area.

(b) A health benefit plan issuer may not enforce an otherwise

applicable provision of the health coverage that would deny,

limit, or reduce payment of a claim for a covered child who

resides outside the issuer's service area but inside the United

States.

(c) For a covered child who resides outside the health benefit

plan issuer's service area and whose coverage under a policy or

plan is required by a medical support order, the issuer shall

provide coverage that is comparable health coverage to that

provided to other dependents under the policy or plan.

(d) Comparable health coverage may include coverage in which a

health benefit plan issuer uses different procedures for service

delivery and health care provider reimbursement. Comparable

health coverage may not include coverage:

(1) that is limited to emergency services only; or

(2) for which the issuer charges a higher premium.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Sec. 1504.053. CANCELLATION OR NONRENEWAL OF COVERAGE FOR

CERTAIN CHILDREN. (a) A health benefit plan issuer may not

cancel or refuse to renew health coverage provided to a child who

is enrolled or entitled to enrollment under this chapter unless

satisfactory written evidence is filed with the issuer showing

that:

(1) the court or administrative order that required the coverage

is not in effect; or

(2) the child:

(A) is enrolled in comparable health coverage; or

(B) will be enrolled in comparable health coverage that takes

effect not later than the effective date of the cancellation or

nonrenewal.

(b) For purposes of this section, a child is not enrolled or

entitled to enrollment under this chapter if the child's

eligibility for health coverage ends because the parent ceases to

be eligible for dependent health coverage.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Sec. 1504.054. CONTINUATION OR CONVERSION OF COVERAGE. (a) If

a child's eligibility for dependent health coverage ends because

the parent ceases to be eligible for the coverage and the

coverage provides for the continuation or conversion of the

coverage for the child, the health benefit plan issuer shall

notify the custodial parent and the child support agency of the

costs and other requirements for continuing or converting the

coverage.

(b) The health benefit plan issuer shall, on application of a

parent of the child, a child support agency, or the child, enroll

or continue enrollment of a child whose eligibility for coverage

ended under Subsection (a).

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Sec. 1504.055. PROCEDURE FOR CLAIMS. (a) A health benefit plan

issuer that provides health coverage to a child through a covered

parent of the child shall:

(1) provide to each custodial parent of the child or to an adult

child documents and other information necessary for the child to

obtain benefits under the coverage, including:

(A) the name of the issuer;

(B) the number of the policy or evidence of coverage;

(C) a copy of the policy or evidence of coverage and schedule of

benefits;

(D) a health coverage membership card;

(E) claim forms; and

(F) any other document or information necessary to submit a

claim in accordance with the issuer's policies and procedures;

(2) permit a custodial parent, health care provider, state

agency that has been assigned medical support rights, or adult

child to submit claims for covered services without the approval

of the covered parent; and

(3) make payments on covered claims submitted in accordance with

this subsection directly to a custodial parent, health care

provider, adult child, or state agency making a claim.

(b) A health benefit plan issuer shall provide to a state agency

that provides medical assistance to the child or shall provide to

a child support agency that enforces medical support on behalf of

a child the information necessary to obtain reimbursement of

medical services provided to or paid on behalf of the child.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

SUBCHAPTER C. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

Sec. 1504.101. DENIAL OF ENROLLMENT ON CERTAIN GROUNDS

PROHIBITED. A health benefit plan issuer may not deny enrollment

of a child under the health coverage of the child's parent on the

ground that the child:

(1) has a preexisting condition;

(2) was born out of wedlock;

(3) is not claimed as a dependent on the parent's federal income

tax return;

(4) does not reside with the parent; or

(5) receives or has applied for medical assistance.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.

Sec. 1504.102. ASSIGNMENT OF MEDICAL SUPPORT RIGHTS: DIFFERENT

REQUIREMENTS PROHIBITED. A health benefit plan issuer may not

require a state agency that has been assigned the rights of an

individual who is eligible for medical assistance and is covered

for health benefits from the issuer to comply with a requirement

that is different from a requirement imposed on an agent or

assignee of any other covered individual.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1,

2005.