SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1964        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 530

 

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


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1964        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 530

By Ms. Forry, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 530) of Linda Dorcena Forry for legislation to include childbirth under insurance policies providing for disability income.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 500 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

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.