Bill Text: HI HB2524 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To In Vitro Fertilization Insurance Coverage.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-16 - Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) DeCoite, Ing, Nakamura, Onishi, Woodson excused (5). [HB2524 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2524-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2524 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION INSURANCE COVERAGE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, are extremely important to many who desire to have children. The legislature also finds that the State's mandate that insurance plans provide a one-time benefit for costs associated with in vitro fertilization procedures, though admirable, excludes same-sex couples, unmarried women, and male-female couples for whom male infertility is the relevant factor. While some insurers independently offer policies that cover female couples or women without male partners, these policies are not guaranteed by law and not all cover single women. No policies currently cover male couples; policies typically exclude procedures involving donor oocytes and surrogates that male couples require. Finally, male-female couples for whom male infertility is the relevant factor are excluded through the current statutory requirement that the covered treatment involve sperm from the male spouse.
The legislature finds that the current unequal treatment of individuals seeking medical fertility assistance constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and marital status. In vitro fertilization procedures are expensive, costing $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle, which is approximately half of the average annual disposable income in the United States. Same-sex couples, unmarried women, and male-female couples affected by male infertility must unreasonably bear the full cost of the procedures while male-female married couples for whom female infertility is the relevant factor do not bear the same burden.
The purpose of this Act is to create the in vitro fertilization insurance coverage study group to make recommendations for ensuring all state residents' equitable access to insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established as a legislative study group exempt from chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be named the in vitro fertilization insurance coverage study group, which shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.
The members of the house committee on health and human services and the senate committee on commerce, consumer protection, and health shall serve as co-chairs of the study group. Members of the study group, to be jointly appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, shall include:
(1) A representative from the department of the attorney general;
(2) A representative from the department of human services;
(3) A representative of the department of health;
(4) A representative from Kaiser Permanente; and
(5) A representative from Hawaii Medical Service Association.
(b) The study group shall specifically review and analyze health insurance policies available in Hawaii and the current insurance requirements contained in the Hawaii Revised Statutes as well as any other information identified by the study group as relevant to insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization in Hawaii. The study group shall also investigate the discrepancy in access to in vitro fertilization services for individuals and couples based on marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The study group shall make recommendations on strategies to achieve equitable access for all state residents to insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization.
The study group shall submit its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2019.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
In Vitro Fertilization Insurance Coverage Study Group
Description:
Establishes the In Vitro Fertilization Insurance Coverage Study Group to examine health insurance policies and current statutes and to make policy recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2019 legislative session. (HB2524 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
