Tennessee House Bill HB0827

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 50; Title 56 and Title 71, relative to insurance coverage of pregnant employees.

Summary

HB0827 requires an employer, beginning July 1, 2025, to continue paying its share of an employer-sponsored health benefit plan for a worker whom the employer knows is pregnant if that worker is terminated and was covered under the plan before termination. The employer may not ask the insurer to end coverage, and the insurer may not terminate coverage at the employer’s request, until the employer receives a signed written statement from the former employee confirming the date the pregnancy ended. The employee must provide that notice within 30 days after the pregnancy ends, whether by childbirth or otherwise, and the notice may be submitted electronically. If the former employee does not provide the required notice, the employer may sue to recover the costs of maintaining the coverage from the date of termination. The bill defines key terms such as employee, employer, health benefit plan, and health insurer, and it amends Tennessee law in Titles 8, 50, 56, and 71 to create this new protection and notice framework for pregnant employees.

Impact

The bill adds a new state-law requirement governing continuation of employer-sponsored health coverage for pregnant employees who are terminated, effectively limiting when an employer and insurer may end coverage after a pregnancy-related termination. It creates a notice obligation for the former employee and a private right of action for employers to recover costs if notice is not provided, while also constraining insurer action based on employer requests. The measure affects employment practices, group health insurance administration, and the handling of post-termination coverage for pregnant workers in Tennessee.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript, vote history, or recorded opposition, so there is no documented debate to gauge overall sentiment. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a protective policy for pregnant employees, with a structured notice and reimbursement mechanism intended to balance employee coverage continuity with employer cost recovery. The absence of recorded votes or discussion prevents a fuller assessment of support or resistance.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the balance between protecting health coverage for pregnant employees after termination and imposing continued premium costs on employers until notice is received. Employers may be concerned about being required to keep paying for coverage without immediate confirmation that the pregnancy has ended, while employees may view the notice requirement as an administrative burden tied to a sensitive medical event. Insurers are also directly affected because they are prohibited from terminating coverage on the employer’s request without the specified proof.