Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                            S.293
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                                       S.293
 Introduced by Senator Brock
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: Health; health insurance; catastrophic health plans
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
 Agency of Human Services to seek a waiver to expand access to catastrophic
 health plans to Vermonters up to 40 years of age.
    An act relating to expanding access to catastrophic health plans
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. FINDINGS
    The General Assembly finds that:
         (1) According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, from 2014 to 2024, the
 average benchmark premium for the second-lowest-cost silver-level plan in
 Vermont increased by 130 percent, which represents one of the largest
 premium increases in the nation over that time period.
         (2) According to the 2021 Vermont Household Health Insurance Survey
 conducted by the Vermont Department of Health pursuant to 18 V.S.A.
 § 9410(i), Vermonters 25 to 34 years of age had an uninsured rate of eight
 percent, which is significantly higher than the statewide average.
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                          S.293
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          (3) Catastrophic health plans are low-premium, high-deductible plans
 created pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No.
 111-148, that are typically available only to individuals under 30 years of age.
          (4) Expanding eligibility for catastrophic plans to include Vermonters
 up to 40 years of age would help expand access to health insurance and reduce
 costs.
 Sec. 2. EXPANDED ACCESS TO CATASTROPHIC PLANS; WAIVER
    On or before January 1, 2025, the Secretary of Human Services shall apply
 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a waiver to expand
 eligibility for catastrophic health plans authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 18002(e)
 to individuals who have not attained 40 years of age before the beginning of
 the plan year.
 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
    This act shall take effect on passage.
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