<nobr>Apr 3, 2009</nobr>

House Approves High-Risk Recreation Disclosure Legislation

The House on March 31 approved legislation that would require group health plans to disclose to participants all health-care coverage limitations and restrictions concerning high-risk recreational activities. The Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009 (H.R. 1253) seeks to bring an awareness to those participants in high-risk activities who may not realize that their activities may not be fully covered by their insurance plan.

The bill would amend ERISA, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to exclude a group health plan from prohibitions against limitations or restrictions on benefits of coverage so long as such limitations and restrictions are explicit and clear, and have been disclosed to the plan sponsor in writing in advance of the point of sale. In addition, the plan sponsor would be required to provide a description of such limitations and restrictions to participants and beneficiaries in a form that is easily understandable before enrollment, and the plan sponsor and the issuer of the coverage provide such description to the participants and beneficiaries upon their enrollment at the earliest opportunity that other materials are provided.

The House passed similar legislation last Congress. H.R. 1253 is now pending before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Questions or comments on this legislation should be addressed to Rohan Beesla (rbeesla@eric.org).

###

Websites:

H.R. 1253

Back to Previous Page