(a) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide coverage for the following benefits and services:
(1) All contraceptive drugs, including, but not limited to, all over-the-counter contraceptive drugs, approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Such policy may require an insured to use, prior to using a contraceptive drug prescribed to the insured, a contraceptive drug that the federal Food and Drug Administration has designated as therapeutically equivalent to the contraceptive drug prescribed to the insured, unless otherwise determined by the insured's prescribing health care provider.
(2) All contraceptive devices and products, excluding all over-the-counter contraceptive devices and products, approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Such policy may require an insured to use, prior to using a contraceptive device or product prescribed to the insured, a contraceptive device or product that the federal Food and Drug Administration has designated as therapeutically equivalent to the contraceptive device or product prescribed to the insured, unless otherwise determined by the insured's prescribing health care provider.
(3) If a contraceptive drug, device or product described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection is prescribed by a licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, a twelve-month supply of such contraceptive drug, device or product dispensed at one time or at multiple times, unless the insured or the insured's prescribing health care provider requests less than a twelve-month supply of such contraceptive drug, device or product. No insured shall be entitled to receive a twelve-month supply of a contraceptive drug, device or product pursuant to this subdivision more than once during any policy year.
(4) All sterilization methods approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for women.
(5) Routine follow-up care concerning contraceptive drugs, devices and products approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
(6) Counseling in (A) contraceptive drugs, devices and products approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and (B) the proper use of contraceptive drugs, devices and products approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
(b) No policy described in subsection (a) of this section shall impose a coinsurance, copayment, deductible or other out-of-pocket expense for the benefits and services required under said subsection (a), except that any such policy that uses a provider network may require cost-sharing when such benefits and services are rendered by an out-of-network provider. The cost-sharing limits imposed under this subsection shall apply to a high deductible health plan, as that term is used in subsection (f) of section 38a-520, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, except if such plan is used to establish a medical savings account or an Archer MSA pursuant to Section 220 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, or a health savings account pursuant to Section 223 of said Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time, the provisions of this subsection shall apply to such plan to the maximum extent that (1) is permitted by federal law, and (2) does not disqualify such account for the deduction allowed under said Section 220 or 223, as applicable.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center may issue to a religious employer a group health insurance policy that excludes coverage for benefits and services required under subsection (a) of this section that are contrary to the religious employer's bona fide religious tenets.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon the written request of an individual who states in writing that benefits and services required under subsection (a) of this section are contrary to such individual's religious or moral beliefs, any insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center may issue to or on behalf of the individual a policy or rider thereto that excludes coverage for benefits and services required under subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Any health insurance policy issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall provide written notice to each insured or prospective insured that benefits and services required under subsection (a) of this section are excluded from coverage pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Such notice shall appear, in not less than ten-point type, in the policy, application and sales brochure for such policy.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a group health insurance policy to exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices and products ordered by a health care provider with prescriptive authority for reasons other than contraceptive purposes.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center that is owned, operated or substantially controlled by a religious organization that has religious or moral tenets that conflict with the requirements of this section may provide for the coverage of benefits and services as required under this section through another such entity offering a limited benefit plan. The cost, terms and availability of such coverage shall not differ from the cost, terms and availability of other coverage offered to the insured.
(g) As used in this section, “religious employer” means an employer that is a “qualified church-controlled organization” as defined in 26 USC 3121 or a church-affiliated organization.
(P.A. 99-79, S. 2; P.A. 11-19, S. 54; P.A. 15-118, S. 16, 17; P.A. 18-10, S. 12; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 34.)
History: P.A. 11-19 inserted “amended” and made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 15-118 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (e); P.A. 18-10 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision prohibiting coverage exclusions with provision re coverage of benefits and services, added new Subsec. (b) re cost-sharing, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (f) as Subsecs. (c) to (g), and made conforming changes, effective January 1, 2019; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (b) by substituting “high deductible health plan” for “high deductible plan” and reference to Sec. 38a-520(f) for reference to Sec. 38a-493(f), adding reference to medical savings account and Archer MSA, and making technical and conforming changes.
See Sec. 38a-503e for similar provisions re individual policies.