HB 161 Summary

• Prohibits health insurers, health service corporations, and managed care organizations from denying coverage to children under age 19 due to pre-existing conditions in individual health insurance policies covering hospital or medical expenses.

• Requires policies to be either guaranteed issue without pre-existing condition exclusions, or offered during open enrollment in the first month of every calendar year.

• Applies the same pre-existing condition protections to both Chapter 33 and Chapter 35 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code.

• Provision becomes void if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) are declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.