This bill establishes an Uncompensated Health Care Fund, to be administered by the New Hampshire Department of Insurance, aimed at supporting non-profit safety net health care providers that deliver medically necessary care to uninsured individuals and those on Medicaid. The fund will be financed through a surcharge on commercial insurers, reinsurers, and trusts managing self-insured plans. Key legal changes include the insertion of a new section, RSA 400-A:39-c, which details the fund's creation and administration, and amendments to RSA 404-G that define the fund and establish the assessment mechanism. Notably, the bill prohibits passing the costs of these assessments onto consumers through increased premiums or claims costs.

The bill also introduces provisions for annual assessments related to "uncompensated care," defined as medically necessary care for uninsured individuals who do not qualify for government programs. Concerns have been raised by the Insurance Department regarding the ambiguous definition of "uncompensated care," which could inadvertently discourage insurance coverage and increase financial strain on health insurers. To implement the bill, the Insurance Department anticipates needing to hire at least 12 additional staff members, leading to increased expenditures estimated at approximately $1.31 million in FY 2026, $1.633 million in FY 2027, and $1.70 million by FY 2028. The bill's financial and administrative implications could significantly impact the state's tax base and health insurance market.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 404-G:1, 404-G:2, 6:12