HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1343        FILED ON: 1/16/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 909

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Linda Dorcena Forry

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to short-term disability insurance disclosure.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Linda Dorcena Forry

12th Suffolk

1/16/2013

Mayor Thomas M. Menino

1 City Hall Square, Suite 500 Boston, MA 02201-2013

 

Carlo Basile

1st Suffolk

 

Martin J. Walsh

13th Suffolk

1/21/2013

Kathi-Anne Reinstein

16th Suffolk

 

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

 

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

5th Essex

 

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

 

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1343        FILED ON: 1/16/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 909

By Ms. Forry of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 909) of Linda Dorcena Forry and others for legislation to include childbirth under insurance policies providing for disability income.  Financial Services.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act relative to short-term disability insurance disclosure.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 47F of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 10 after "surgical expense insurance," by inserting the following words:- or disability income insurance.

SECTION 2. Section 47F of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is further amended, at the end of the first paragraph, by inserting the following:-

Any policy of accidental or sickness insurance that provides coverage for disability income shall clearly indicate that pregnancy is an eligible disability, and shall clearly state the benefit periods associated with childbirth.  Benefits related to a vaginal or caesarean birth shall begin immediately upon such birth and for vaginal births shall continue for a minimum of six weeks and for caesarean births for a minimum of eight weeks, with no elimination period.  All disclosures of pregnancy-related benefits must be made in compliance with regulations promulgated by the department of public health, including 211 CMR 42.00 et seq.  Said regulations shall include requirements that pregnancy-related eligibility and benefits information be provided in all policies and plans and promotional materials for such policies and plans.