SENATE DOCKET, NO. 338        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 427

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Katherine M. Clark

_________________

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 providing for equitable coverage in disability policies.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Katherine M. Clark

Fifth Middlesex

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 338        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 427

By Ms. Clark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 427) of Katherine M. Clark, Kay Khan, Ruth B. Balser, Denise Provost and other members of the General Court for legislation to prohibit discrimination in the issuance of group or individual disability, accident or sickness insurance policies.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 413 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act providing for equitable coverage in disability policies.

 

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

Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 108J the following section:-

Section 108K. No company, and no officer or agent thereof, shall  make or permit any distinction, classification, discrimination, or otherwise recognize any difference, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, or national origin, in the amount or payment of premiums or rate charges, or in the benefits payable, or in any of the other terms or conditions of any group or individual disability, accident or sickness insurance contract issued or delivered within or without the commonwealth on or after January 1, 2013 which covers one or more residents of the commonwealth. As used in this section, sex includes, but is not limited to, conditions unique to one sex, such as pregnancy. Any violation of this section shall constitute an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of chapter 176D.