HBA-KMH H.B. 94 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 94
By: Reyna, Arthur
Insurance
12/30/1998
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, some insurance companies place a five-year restriction in their
policies which limit the liability of an insurance company regarding
replacement of a crown on a particular tooth.  If the crown needs
replacement within that five-year period, the insurance company will not
cover the expense.  H.B. 94 prohibits an insurance company from
contractually limiting its liability in such cases. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2, Article 21.53, Insurance Code, by creating
Subsection (a) from existing language and redesignating Subsections (a)-(d)
to Subdivisions (a)(1)-(a)(4), respectively. Adds Subdivision (a)(5),
restricting health insurance policies or employee benefit plans under this
section from limiting benefits for dental care services relating to the
diagnosis, preparation, and fitting of a dental crown on a particular tooth
to one dental crown for that tooth in a specified period. Creates
Subsection (b) from existing language.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective from January 1, 2000.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.