The bill amends Sections 843.209 and 1301.162 of the Insurance Code to establish new requirements for identification cards issued by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs). For HMOs, the identification card must now display the acronym "HMO" in a location of the organization's choice, in addition to indicating that the organization is regulated under the code and providing either the enrollee's first date of enrollment or a toll-free number for verification. The bill also clarifies that having an "HMO" designation does not guarantee access to discounted rates for services provided by non-network physicians or providers.

Similarly, for PPOs, the identification card must display the acronym "PPO" in a location of the insurer's choice, along with the same enrollment date or toll-free number requirement. The bill specifies that the "PPO" designation does not ensure access to discounted rates for services from out-of-network providers. These amendments will apply to identification cards issued on or after January 1, 2026, and the act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Insurance Code 843.209, Insurance Code 1301.162 (Insurance Code 843, Insurance Code 1301)