HBA-CMT S.B. 770 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 770 By: Harris Insurance 5/8/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In many cases, a person eligible for health insurance coverage as a dependent child of an enrollee loses coverage when the person turns 18; or if the person is a full-time student and financially dependent on the parent, when the person turns 23. Senate Bill 770 extends the coverage eligibility as a dependent of an enrollee to a person who is under 25 years of age, unmarried, and financially dependent on the parent. 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. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 770 amends the Insurance Code to provide that a health benefit plan that offers coverage for dependent children of an enrollee must make dependent coverage available for a child of an enrollee who is under 25 years of age, unmarried, and financially dependent on the parent. The bill sets forth the health benefit plans to which the provisions of the bill do and do not apply. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. The Act applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2002.