SENATE DOCKET, NO. 706        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 500

 

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:

Linda Dorcena Forry

First Suffolk

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

Daniel Cullinane

12th Suffolk

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 706        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 500

By Ms. Forry, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 500) of Linda Dorcena Forry, Ruth B. Balser, Mary S. Keefe, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to include childbirth under insurance policies providing for diability income.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 909 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

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.