Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
03/25/2008 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing - Alcohol Beverage Control Board and Regulatory Commission of Alaska | |
| SB179 | |
| SB77 | |
| SB179 | |
| SJR18 | |
| SB179 | |
| HB289 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 77 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 305 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 289 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 179 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 320 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 179-DEPENDENT HEALTH INSURANCE; AGE LIMIT
1:52:34 PM
CHAIR ELLIS announced SB 179 to be up for consideration.
LINDA HALL, Director, Division of Insurance, Department of
Commerce, Community & Economic Development, suggested the title
of SB 179 actually requires health care coverage for dependent
children less than age 26 and the body of the bill does not
require it - it merely requires that the coverage be offered.
She said the bill language itself would leave the decision
whether to cover dependents under 26 up to the individual or
with the employers, but language goes on to indicate that if the
employer or individual decides to no longer cover dependent
children up to 26, then an insurer would be prohibited from un-
enrolling them. She suggested if that's really not the intent,
they could simply add "at the option of a policy holder".
SENATOR DAVIS said the language in the body of the bill is what
she wants.
CHAIR ELLIS said the title language would be checked out.
1:55:59 PM
SENATOR BUNDE stated that a broad reading of the title would
require parents to cover their dependent children up to age 26.
What if the parent doesn't want to be responsible for the child
any longer? Could he tell the company to disenroll that formerly
dependent child?
MS. HALL replied that the division understands that couldn't
occur under current language.
1:56:52 PM
MEREDITH CAMERON, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) student,
supported SB 179. She said insurance coverage is mandatory for
people who live on campus and if she has to purchase it from the
University, it can cost as much as $945/year and that number is
higher for students at UAA and UAS. The services provided by the
campus health center are extremely limited and there are stories
of long lines and lack of medication. As students, they are
always facing these rising costs of a college education and she
is already struggling to pay her tuition.
SENATOR BUNDE said he understands the bill requires parents to
cover students, but it might cost the parent $600 more. He asked
if that would be less than what the university coverage costs.
MS. CAMERON answered yes.
SENATOR BUNDE asked if she understood that the fewer people who
buy university insurance, probably the higher that premium would
be.
MS. CAMERON replied that was a possibility, but the university
would have to handle it.
SENATOR BUNDE remarked that perhaps they could cut out
basketball.
1:59:29 PM
JAKE HAMBURG, Student Body President, UAF, supported SB 179. He
explained that the university provides coverage for $945 per
year, but that - added to the 56 percent increase in tuition
over the last four years, rising text book costs, fuel prices,
housing, food and more - is a lot to students who are already
struggling to graduate in six years instead of four, largely
because of financial reasons.
He said the student coverage that exists is modest and that for
serious health problems the university suggests you get other,
more expensive, coverage.
SENATOR BUNDE asked Ms. Hall what COBRA coverage for young
people costs.
MS. HALL answered COBRA normally is applied to an employee or an
individual who leaves employment. Employers who have more than
25 or 50 [she didn't know which] employees are required to
provide COBRA to employees who terminate so they can keep that
coverage for 18 months. They continue on the group policy of the
employer at whatever the premium is. If the premium is $700/mo.,
that's what it would continue to be.
CHAIR ELLIS asked the sponsor about the title issue.
2:03:36 PM
TOM OBERMEYER, staff to Senator Davis, sponsor of SB 179,
responded that this is the first time the issue has been brought
up.
CHAIR ELLIS said he would set bill aside so the drafter could be
consulted.
SB 179-DEPENDENT HEALTH INSURANCE; AGE LIMIT
2:27:06 PM
CHAIR ELLIS called the meeting back to order and announced SB
179 to be back before the committee.
MR. OBERMEYER said draft language for the title of SB 179 was
being sent to comport with language in the body of the bill.
CHAIR ELLIS held SB 179.
SB 179-DEPENDENT HEALTH INSURANCE; AGE LIMIT
2:43:17 PM
CHAIR ELLIS announced SB 179 to be back before the committee;
Amendment 1 was up for consideration.
25-LS0936\C.1
Chenoweth
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: SB 179
Page 1, lines 1 - 2:
Delete all material and insert:
""An Act prohibiting a health care insurer who provides health
care insurance coverage of a child through family health care
insurance from denying enrollment and from disenrolling or
eliminating coverage for a dependent child of the insured who is
less than 26 years of age.""
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt Amendment 1. There were no
objections and it was adopted.
2:44:03 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if this will make the insurance available,
but at a cost.
MR. OBERMEYER replied there may be a cost and the average
premium is estimated to rise by 3-5 percent.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if there would any negative impact on
insurance companies.
MR. OBERMEYER replied that insurance companies handle these
issues in different ways; they could have extra riders for
adults up through 30 years, for instance. But he didn't have a
specific answer at this point.
SENATOR BUNDE asked if a parent could choose to insure a
dependent child to age 26, but they would not be required to.
MR. OBERMEYER answered yes; it requires insurers to offer the
coverage through age 26. There could be an additional charge for
the coverage, but that is handled in different ways by different
companies.
SENATOR DAVIS moved to report CSSB 179(L&C) from committee with
individual recommendations and zero fiscal note.
SENATOR BUNDE objected because it says a person who has been
insuring a dependent child cannot stop.
A roll call vote was taken. Senators Davis, Stevens and Ellis
voted yea; Senator Bunde voted nay; so CSSB 179(L&C) was
reported from committee.
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