(a) In developing health benefit coverage or health benefit plan options to be offered through a subsidiary of the company, the company shall fully explore all health coverage options that may be offered under this subchapter and place emphasis on:
- (1) increasing competition in the health insurance market;
- (2) utilizing innovations that improve the quality of health care while lowering health care costs;
- (3) ensuring adequacy of benefits and access to care for individuals in this state with preexisting conditions;
- (4) issuing coverage in a manner that does not discriminate against individuals with preexisting conditions;
- (5) leveraging federal tax credits that may be available for private health benefit plans to the greatest extent possible to increase the affordability of health benefit plans;
- (6) ensuring transparency and coherence of costs and coverage to inform individuals shopping for health benefits;
- (7) reducing incidences of medical debt faced by individuals in this state and uncompensated care faced by providers in this state; and
- (8) ensuring equitable costs regardless of gender or prospects of pregnancy or childbirth.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1019 (H.B. 3752), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021.