The bill amends Section 27-50-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-50, known as the "Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act." It specifically revises the definition of "small employer" to mean a business employing less than one hundred (100) eligible employees, an increase from the previous threshold of fifty (50) employees. This change expands the number of businesses that qualify as small employers under the act.

The bill also introduces a new section that includes various definitions relevant to small employer health insurance, such as "actuarial certification," "adjusted community rating," "bona fide association," "carrier," "eligible employee," "preexisting condition," "premium," "producer," "rating period," and "wellness health benefit plan." These definitions aim to provide a clearer framework for understanding health benefit plans and their regulations.

The act is intended to improve the accessibility and availability of health insurance for small employers in the state and is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7268: 27-50-3