Bill 2412

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2412
Ratification Number:       102
Act Number                 59
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Medical expense insurance policies for
                           continuation
      of coverage for non-handicapped dependent children of a
policyholder

(A59, R102, H2412)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-35-455 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL EXPENSE INSURANCE POLICIES PROVIDE FOR CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE FOR NON-HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF A POLICYHOLDER UPON ATTAINMENT OF THE POLICY TERMINATION AGE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Continuation of coverage for non-handicapped dependent children

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 38-35-455. An individual hospital, medical, or surgical expense incurred insurance policy, or hospital service plan contract, or medical service plan contract, other than a limited classification policy, delivered or issued for delivery in this State more than six months after the effective date of this section which provides that coverage of a non-handicapped dependent child terminates upon attainment of the limiting age for such child as specified in the policy or contract shall also contain a provision to the effect that upon the attainment of the limiting age the child is entitled to have issued to him, without evidence of insurability, upon application made to the company within thirty days following the attainment of the age, and upon payment of the appropriate premium, an individual policy of accident and health insurance. The policy shall provide the coverage then being issued by the insurer which is most nearly to but not greater than the terminated coverage. Any probationary or waiting period set forth in the policy must be considered as met to the extent coverage was in force under the prior policy. For purposes of this section, 'Limited Classification Policy' means an accident only policy, a limited accident policy, a travel accident policy, or a specified disease policy."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.