NC H1085

Amends the definition of "dependent child" in the state health plan for teachers and state employees to comply with the Affordable Care Act by removing requirements that foster children and court-appointed guardianship children have the employee be legally responsible for their maintenance and support.

Restricts enrollment without a qualifying event to the annual enrollment period; employees and dependents age 19 and older may no longer enroll on the first day of any month but must wait for annual enrollment, though they remain subject to potential 12-month waiting periods for preexisting conditions.

Repeals the optional long-term care benefits program (Part 6 of Article 3B); existing enrollees are entitled to conversion to nongroup long-term care plans, and unencumbered administrative fees are transferred to the Public Employee Health Benefit Fund.

Clarifies language regarding coinsurance by specifying that the Board of Trustees approves both "coinsurance percentages and maximums" rather than just coinsurance generally.

Effective dates: July 1, 2012 for most provisions; January 1, 2013 for the long-term care benefits repeal and related administrative changes.