Senate Bill Would Guarantee Health Insurance Coverage For Children With Health Conditions

Senate Bill Would Guarantee Health Insurance Coverage For Children With Health Conditions in Politics and Legislation

Last week, two U.S. Senators introduced a new health insurance bill that will guarantee coverage for any child with a health condition.

The bill, from U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Sherrod Brown, would make a key change in the federal insurance law, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

Currently, HIPAA allows private health insurance companies to deny coverage or require an exclusion/waiting period for children with pre-existing health conditions such as cancer or diabetes.

Under the measure, called the Children’s Health Protection Act of 2008, this HIPAA provision would be removed, wrote a press release on Senator Brown’s website.

Insurance companies and employers providing a family’s health plan would not be allowed to impose any limitations on coverage for children up to the age of 19.

“Children deserve full access to a doctor in their community and the medicine they need to get healthy. Our bill is a critical step in making sure all children get the health care they need,” said Senator Lautenberg.

No word yet on support of the measure, but a “companion” bill is also being proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The Children’s Health Protection Act would prevent insurers from blocking children who need medical care the most,” said Senator Brown.

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