MS HB321

Requires all health insurance policies (individual and group), HMOs, and health service plans regulated by Mississippi to provide covered benefits for pregnancy and pregnancy-related counseling, effective July 1, 2010, with exceptions for limited benefit and disease-specific policies.

Pregnancy benefits are subject to the same annual deductibles and coinsurance as other covered benefits within a policy and must be certified as necessary by a health service provider.

Amends Section 83-9-49 to prohibit pregnancy existing on the effective date of coverage from being considered a preexisting condition for policies issued or delivered in Mississippi on or after July 1, 2010.

All pregnancy treatment and counseling services are subject to professional utilization and peer review procedures.

The Commissioner of Insurance shall enforce these provisions.