Bill Text: CT SB00035 | 2016 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Requiring Health Insurance Coverage For The Purchase Of Assistance Dogs.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-11 - Public Hearing 02/18 [SB00035 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2016-SB00035-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 35
February Session, 2016		LCO No. 449
		*00449_______INS*
Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
Introduced by:
(INS)

AN ACT REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE PURCHASE OF ASSISTANCE DOGS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2017) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state, shall provide coverage for the purchase of an assistance dog that is specially trained to assist blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons or persons with a disability that is other than physical, including, but not limited to, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, provided the insured's treating health care provider certifies in writing that such assistance dog is medically necessary. Any such assistance dog shall be purchased from a nonprofit organization that is established for the training of such dogs and is an accredited member of a professional association of guide dog or assistance dog organizations.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2017) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state, shall provide coverage for the purchase of an assistance dog that is specially trained to assist blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons or persons with a disability that is other than physical, including, but not limited to, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, provided the insured's treating health care provider certifies in writing that such assistance dog is medically necessary. Any such assistance dog shall be purchased from a nonprofit organization that is established for the training of such dogs and is an accredited member of a professional association of guide dog or assistance dog organizations.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	January 1, 2017	New section
Sec. 2	January 1, 2017	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To require health insurance coverage for the purchase of assistance dogs.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]