CS/CS/CS/HB 997 - Health Plans Summary

• Revises eligibility requirements for multiple-employer welfare arrangements to clarify restrictions on combining member employers from different trades, industries, or professions.

• Creates new section 627.443 allowing health insurers and health maintenance organizations to offer flexible essential health benefits plans that comply with federal PPACA requirements by selecting from any combination of state benchmark plans.

• Requires insurers to offer at least one comprehensive major medical health insurance policy without preexisting condition exclusions within 30 days of either a federal law repealing PPACA or Supreme Court invalidation of PPACA, with the policy being one previously actively marketed in Florida.

• Defines "short-term health insurance" as coverage with an expiration date less than 12 months and total duration not exceeding 36 months, and requires mandatory consumer disclosures about limitations and exclusions for such policies.

• Directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to conduct a study by October 30, 2019 evaluating Florida's current essential health benefits benchmark plan and recommend changes to provide comprehensive care at lower cost.