A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning insurance.
Summary
HB 1334 requires insurers and health maintenance organizations to provide more complete provider directories to consumers. For health insurance policies, an insurer must provide a directory of in-network providers when a policy is issued and renewed, and must also provide it to a prospective insured upon request. The bill specifies that the directory may be provided electronically or on paper, and that consumers must be told they can request a paper copy.
The bill also tightens the content requirements for those directories. An insurer’s directory must include every provider that has entered into a reimbursement agreement with the insurer, and an HMO’s provider list must include every provider who provides health care services through the organization. The bill is effective July 1, 2026, and amends Indiana insurance statutes governing insurer provider directories and HMO provider lists.
Impact
HB 1334 would amend Indiana Code sections governing insurer provider directories and HMO provider lists by making directory disclosure mandatory rather than permissive for insurers and by requiring comprehensive inclusion of all contracted or participating providers. It would affect insurers, health maintenance organizations, insureds, prospective insureds, subscribers, and potential enrollees by improving access to network information and standardizing notice and paper-copy availability requirements.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the apparent sentiment is neutral to supportive, with the bill framed as a consumer-information measure. The proposal appears aimed at improving transparency and reducing confusion about network participation, and there is no evidence in the provided record of organized opposition or amendment debate.
Contention
The main policy issue is the burden of maintaining an accurate, fully inclusive provider directory versus the consumer benefit of having complete network information. Insurers and HMOs may view the requirement to list every contracted or participating provider as administratively demanding, especially if provider participation changes frequently. On the other hand, consumers and patient advocates would likely support the measure because incomplete directories can lead to unexpected out-of-network costs and difficulty finding in-network care.