HB1375: Health insurance; tobacco surcharge.

Legislative Summary

Health insurance; tobacco surcharge. Eliminates the authority of a health carrier to vary its premium rates based on tobacco use. Under current law, a health carrier may charge premium rates up to 1.5 times higher for a tobacco user than for a nonuser. The provisions of the bill apply to health benefit plans providing individual or small group health insurance coverage entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to submit an annual report summarizing the reductions in premiums related to the elimination of the tobacco surcharge. The provisions of the bill expire on January 1, 2026.