A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-660 SO AS TO REQUIRE ISSUERS OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE IN THIS STATE TO ISSUE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MINOR CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CHILD IS A DEPENDENT OF AN INSURED OF THE ISSUER; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-145, RELATING TO REQUIRED COVERAGE IN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION POLICES, SO AS TO REQUIRE COVERAGE FOR MATERNITY CARE, AND TO DEFINE "MATERNITY CARE."
This bill would amend South Carolina insurance law in two main ways. First, it requires issuers of individual health insurance coverage in the state to offer that coverage to a minor child even if the child is not a dependent of an insured of the issuer. Second, it expands the list of mandated benefits in individual, group, and HMO health insurance policies to expressly include maternity care.
The bill defines maternity care coverage to include prenatal care, childbirth and postdelivery care for a mother and newborn, and postpartum care. It also specifies that prenatal care includes regular visits, childbirth education, and assessment of nutritional and other needs, and it ties the required care to nationally recognized clinical guidelines. The bill retains existing mandated coverage for mammograms, annual pap smears, and prostate cancer screenings, and it limits insurers from imposing special exclusions, reductions, deductibles, or coinsurance on the required benefits unless those limits apply generally to similar benefits. The bill applies to insurers, HMOs, fraternal benefit societies, and similar entities, subject to ERISA exemptions, and would take effect upon gubernatorial approval.
The bill’s impact on state law would be to broaden access to individual health coverage for minors and to make maternity-related services a required benefit in a wider range of health plans. It would likely affect insurers, health maintenance organizations, employers and enrollees in fully insured plans, and families seeking coverage for pregnancy-related care. By codifying maternity care as a mandated benefit, the bill would increase the scope of minimum coverage standards under Title 38 of the South Carolina Code.
Based on the materials provided, there is no recorded committee debate or vote history, so no formal sentiment can be drawn from legislative action. The bill text itself suggests a policy direction favoring expanded access to health coverage and reproductive/obstetric care. Because there are no transcripts or votes, there is no evidence of opposition or support from specific legislators or stakeholders in the record provided.
Potential points of contention would likely center on the cost and mandate implications for insurers and purchasers of coverage, especially the requirement to cover maternity care and the expansion of coverage availability for minor children. Insurers or employer groups might object to added premium costs or reduced plan flexibility, while supporters would likely emphasize access to prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care and broader coverage options for children and families.
The bill amends Title 38 of the South Carolina Code by adding Section 38-71-660 and revising Section 38-71-145. It would require individual health insurers to offer coverage to minor children regardless of dependency status and would add maternity care as a mandated benefit in individual, group, and HMO policies, with defined minimum components and limits on benefit restrictions. It would apply to most issuers of health coverage in the state, except where preempted by ERISA.
No committee transcripts or votes are available, so there is no documented legislative sentiment in the record. The bill’s structure indicates a generally pro-coverage, pro-access policy approach, with an emphasis on maternity and child health benefits. In the absence of recorded debate, the available materials do not show formal support or opposition from specific lawmakers.
The most likely areas of contention are insurance cost, mandate expansion, and administrative impact on carriers. Supporters would likely favor the bill for improving access to maternity care and allowing minors to obtain individual coverage more easily. Opponents could argue that requiring additional benefits and broader eligibility increases premiums or limits plan design flexibility, particularly for insurers and purchasers in the individual and group markets.