Senate Bill 174 aims to establish specific requirements for health insurance coverage in Wisconsin, particularly concerning individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits, in the event that the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) is no longer enforceable. The bill mandates that all individual health benefit plans must accept every individual who applies for coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions, and that group health benefit plans must accept all employers. It also stipulates that health benefit plans can only vary premium rates based on age, tobacco use, area, and whether the plan covers an individual or a family. Additionally, the bill prohibits health plans from imposing preexisting condition exclusions and from setting annual or lifetime limits on benefits.

The bill includes several amendments to existing statutes, specifically inserting the new section 632.728, which outlines the coverage requirements for individuals with preexisting conditions, and section 609.847, which prohibits discrimination based on preexisting conditions and benefit limits. It also amends various sections to include the new provisions, ensuring compliance with the updated regulations. The bill emphasizes that these requirements will only take effect if the ACA's provisions are no longer applicable, thereby allowing state law to govern health insurance coverage in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 40.51(8), 40.51, 40.51(8m), 66.0137(4), 66.0137, 120.13(2)(g), 120.13, 185.983(1)(intro.), 185.983