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:
SECTION 1. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 108M the following section:-
Section 108N. An insurer or producer authorized to issue policies against disability from injury or disease in the commonwealth shall not make a distinction or otherwise discriminate between persons, reject an applicant, cancel a policy or demand or require a higher rate of premium for a group or individual disability contract issued or delivered in the commonwealth to 1 or more residents of the commonwealth for reasons based solely upon an applicant's or insured's race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation or marital status.
A violation of this section shall constitute an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of chapter 176D.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.
Approved, January 10, 2019.