Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-159

Date: 02/18/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-159

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). Th Refer Senate Bill 09-159, as amended, to the Commi	PASS PASS

11:40 AM -- Senate Bill 09-159

Senator Sandoval introduced Senate Bill 09-159. She distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment B). A handout concerning the bill was distributed to the committee (Attachment C). The bill requires all individual and group health insurance policies that offer dependent coverage to offer the coverage for unmarried children under the age of 30. Current law requires that this coverage be offered to unmarried children under the age for 25. Senator Sandoval responded to questions from Senator Schultheis, stating that she is in favor of access to health care coverage throughout a person's life. She responded to additional questions from Senator Newell, stating that the intent of the bill is that the parents would pay for the cost of the coverage. She responded to additional comments from Senator Lundberg regarding the effect of the bill on health insurance premiums.

11:49 AM -- Gary Sulley, representing himself and his family, relayed his family's experiences with his son's health and lack of access to health insurance. He stated that the bill will allow him to provide health care coverage for his son until his son is able to support himself.

11:52 AM -- Dominic Sulley, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gary Sulley responded to questions from Senator Tochtrop regarding whether his son could obtain health insurance if the bill does not pass.

11:56 AM -- Ed Bagwell, Teamsters, testified in support of the bill. He relayed his family's experience seeking access to health insurance for an older child.

11:59 AM -- Mark Randell, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to how the bill will help his son to access health insurance when he is older.

12:01 PM -- Dennis Gallagher, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He stated that there are costs associated with a lack of coverage for young adults.

12:03 PM -- Ben Price, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified regarding the association's concerns with the bill. First, he stated that the bill will create an additional burden on employers to track the dependency status of an employee's family members. He stated the bill could increase the administrative costs of the bill, causing employers to reduce benefits, or eliminate coverage for dependents. He described current state insurance rating provisions for dependents. He stated the bill could drive adverse selection, and that options in the individual market and CoverColorado may help provide access to coverage for adults between the ages of 25 and 30.

12:07 PM -- Jerry McElroy, Kaiser Permanente, testified regarding the effect of House Bill 05-1101 on his organization. House Bill 05-1101 extended coverage to adults under the age of 25. He explained that the bill increased costs for health insurance plans, and gave an incentive for some larger employers to self-fund their plans. He stated that if Senate Bill 09-059 becomes law, he would request that the requirement that parents pay for the policy be removed, and that the bill's effective date be made a date certain. He discussed the effect of health insurance mandates on the cost of health insurance.

12:11 PM -- Travis Berry, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill. He stated support for the concept of the bill, but noted that employers are not required by any law to offer health insurance to their employees or their dependents. He stated his concern that the bill will prompt employers to drop coverage for dependents. He stated that there are other options for individuals to access health insurance, including CoverColorado. He responded to questions from Senator Newell regarding options for individuals with high health needs, noting that CoverColorado is an option for such individuals.

12:18 PM -- Andrea Harkins, Colorado Group Insurance Association, testified regard the bill. She noted that employers who are self-insured do not have to comply with state mandates, and thus are not subject to the provisions of the bill. She explained that the bill will primarily affect smaller employers and may cause them to drop health care coverage altogether. She stated that employers should not be burdened with the cost of coverage of adults over the age of 25. She stated that the bill will not solve the health care crisis and will have a minimal impact on the number of uninsured.

12:23 PM

Senator Sandoval gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. She discussed Michelle's Law, which is a federal law concerning health insurance coverage for adults up to age 25 with medical needs. She stated that amendment L.001 adds language to the bill to comply with Michelle's Law.


BILL:	SB09-159
TIME:	12:25:16 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed on a 5-2 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	Excused
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Not Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	SB09-159
TIME:	12:25:49 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-159, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 5-2 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Mitchell	Excused
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS