H*2412(Rat #0102, Act #0059 of 1983)  General Bill, By J.D. Bradley
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 38-35-455 so as to provide that hospital or medical expense insurance policies
 provide for continuation of coverage for non-handicapped dependent children of
 a policyholder upon attainment of the policy termination age.

   02/03/83  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-632
   02/03/83  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-632
   03/30/83  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
                     Commerce and Industry HJ-1727
   03/31/83  House  Amended HJ-1802
   03/31/83  House  Read second time HJ-1803
   04/05/83  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1859
   04/06/83  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-928
   04/06/83  Senate Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance SJ-92
   04/28/83  Senate Committee report: Favorable Banking and Insurance
                     SJ-1157
   05/03/83  Senate Read second time SJ-1196
   05/05/83  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-1273
   05/10/83         Ratified R 102
   05/12/83         Signed By Governor
   05/12/83         Effective date 05/12/83
   05/12/83         Act No. 59
   05/16/83         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-35-455 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL EXPENSE INSURANCE POLICIES PROVIDE FOR CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE FOR NON-HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF A POLICYHOLDER UPON ATTAINMENT OF THE POLICY TERMINATION AGE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Continuation of coverage for non-handicapped dependent children

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 38-35-455. An individual hospital, medical, or surgical expense incurred insurance policy, or hospital service plan contract, or medical service plan contract, other than a limited classification policy, delivered or issued for delivery in this State more than six months after the effective date of this section which provides that coverage of a non-handicapped dependent child terminates upon attainment of the limiting age for such child as specified in the policy or contract shall also contain a provision to the effect that upon the attainment of the limiting age the child is entitled to have issued to him, without evidence of insurability, upon application made to the company within thirty days following the attainment of the age, and upon payment of the appropriate premium, an individual policy of accident and health insurance. The policy shall provide the coverage then being issued by the insurer which is most nearly to but not greater than the terminated coverage. Any probationary or waiting period set forth in the policy must be considered as met to the extent coverage was in force under the prior policy. For purposes of this section, 'Limited Classification Policy' means an accident only policy, a limited accident policy, a travel accident policy, or a specified disease policy."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.