COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE

Sec. 2103. [42 U.S.C. 1397cc] (a) Required Scope of Health Insurance Coverage.—The child health assistance provided to a targeted low-income child under the plan in the form described in paragraph (1) of section 2101(a) shall consist, consistent with subsection (c)(5), of any of the following:

(1) Benchmark coverage.—Health benefits coverage that is equivalent to the benefits coverage in a benchmark benefit package described in subsection (b).

(2) Benchmark–equivalent coverage.—Health benefits coverage that meets the following requirements:

(A) Inclusion of basic services.—The coverage includes benefits for items and services within each of the categories of basic services described in subsection (c)(1).

(B) Aggregate actuarial value equivalent to benchmark package.—The coverage has an aggregate actuarial value that is at least actuarially equivalent to one of the benchmark benefit packages.

(C) Substantial actuarial value for additional services included in benchmark package.—With respect to each of the categories of additional services described in subsection (c)(2) for which coverage is provided under the benchmark benefit package used under subparagraph (B), the coverage has an actuarial value that is equal to at least 75 percent of the actuarial value of the coverage of that category of services in such package.

(3) Existing comprehensive state-based coverage.—Health benefits coverage under an existing comprehensive State-based program, described in subsection (d)(1).

(4) Secretary-approved coverage.—Any other health benefits coverage that the Secretary determines, upon application by a State, provides appropriate coverage for the population of targeted low-income children proposed to be provided such coverage.

(b) Benchmark Benefit Packages.—The benchmark benefit packages are as follows:

(1) Fehbp-equivalent children's health insurance coverage.—The standard Blue Cross/Blue Shield preferred provider option service benefit plan, described in and offered under section 8903(1) of title 5, United States Code^[4].

(2) State employee coverage.—A health benefits coverage plan that is offered and generally available to State employees in the State involved.

(3) Coverage offered through hmo.—The health insurance coverage plan that—

(A) is offered by a health maintenance organization (as defined in section 2791(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act^[5]), and

(B) has the largest insured commercial, non-medicaid enrollment of covered lives of such coverage plans offered by such a health maintenance organization in the State involved.

(c) Categories of Services; Determination of Actuarial Value of Coverage.—

(1) Categories of basic services.—For purposes of this section, the categories of basic services described in this paragraph are as follows:

(A) Inpatient and outpatient hospital services.

(B) Physicians surgical and medical services.

(C) Laboratory and x-ray services.

(D) Well-baby and well-child care, including age-appropriate immunizations.

(2) Categories of additional services.—For purposes of this section, the categories of additional services described in this paragraph are as follows:

(A) Coverage of prescription drugs.

(B) Mental health services.

(C) Vision services.

(D) Hearing services.

(3) Treatment of other categories.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preventing a State child health plan from providing coverage of benefits that are not within a category of services described in paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) Determination of actuarial value.—The actuarial value of coverage of benchmark benefit packages, coverage offered under the State child health plan, and coverage of any categories of additional services under benchmark benefit packages and under coverage offered by such a plan, shall be set forth in an actuarial opinion in an actuarial report that has been prepared—

(A) by an individual who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries;

(B) using generally accepted actuarial principles and methodologies;

(C) using a standardized set of utilization and price factors;

(D) using a standardized population that is representative of privately insured children of the age of children who are expected to be covered under the State child health plan;

(E) applying the same principles and factors in comparing the value of different coverage (or categories of services);

(F) without taking into account any differences in coverage based on the method of delivery or means of cost control or utilization used; and

(G) taking into account the ability of a State to reduce benefits by taking into account the increase in actuarial value of benefits coverage offered under the State child health plan that results from the limitations on cost sharing under such coverage.

The actuary preparing the opinion shall select and specify in the memorandum the standardized set and population to be used under subparagraphs (C) and (D).

(5) Construction on prohibited coverage.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring any health benefits coverage offered under the plan to provide coverage for items or services for which payment is prohibited under this title, notwithstanding that any benchmark benefit package includes coverage for such an item or service.

(d) Description of Existing Comprehensive State-based Coverage.—

(1) In general.—A program described in this paragraph is a child health coverage program that—

(A) includes coverage of a range of benefits;

(B) is administered or overseen by the State and receives funds from the State;

(C) is offered in New York, Florida, or Pennsylvania; and

(D) was offered as of the date of the enactment of this title.

(2) Modifications.—A State may modify a program described in paragraph (1) from time to time so long as it continues to meet the requirement of subparagraph (A) and does not reduce the actuarial value of the coverage under the program below the lower of—

(A) the actuarial value of the coverage under the program as of the date of the enactment of this title, or

(B) the actuarial value described in subsection (a)(2)(B), evaluated as of the time of the modification.

(e) Cost-sharing.—

(1) Description; general conditions.—

(A) Description.—A State child health plan shall include a description, consistent with this subsection, of the amount (if any) of premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing imposed. Any such charges shall be imposed pursuant to a public schedule.

(B) Protection for lower income children.—The State child health plan may only vary premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing based on the family income of targeted low–income children in a manner that does not favor children from families with higher income over children from families with lower income.

(2) No cost sharing on benefits for preventive services.—The State child health plan may not impose deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost sharing with respect to benefits for services within the category of services described in subsection (c)(1)(D).

(3) Limitations on premiums and cost-sharing.—

(A) Children in families with income below 150 percent of poverty line.—In the case of a targeted low-income child whose family income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line, the State child health plan may not impose—

(i) an enrollment fee, premium, or similar charge that exceeds the maximum monthly charge permitted consistent with standards established to carry out section 1916(b)(1) (with respect to individuals described in such section); and

(ii) a deductible, cost sharing, or similar charge that exceeds an amount that is nominal (as determined consistent with regulations referred to in section 1916(a)(3), with such appropriate adjustment for inflation or other reasons as the Secretary determines to be reasonable).

(B) Other children.—For children not described in subparagraph (A), subject to paragraphs (1)(B) and (2), any premiums, deductibles, cost sharing or similar charges imposed under the State child health plan may be imposed on a sliding scale related to income, except that the total annual aggregate cost-sharing with respect to all targeted low-income children in a family under this title may not exceed 5 percent of such family's income for the year involved.

(4) Relation to medicaid requirements.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as affecting the rules relating to the use of enrollment fees, premiums, deductions, cost sharing, and similar charges in the case of targeted low-income children who are provided child health assistance in the form of coverage under a medicaid program under section 2101(a)(2).

(f) Application of Certain Requirements.—

(1) Restriction on application of preexisting condition exclusions.—

(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the State child health plan shall not permit the imposition of any preexisting condition exclusion for covered benefits under the plan.

(B) Group health plans and group health insurance coverage.—If the State child health plan provides for benefits through payment for, or a contract with, a group health plan or group health insurance coverage, the plan may permit the imposition of a preexisting condition exclusion but only insofar as it is permitted under the applicable provisions of part 7 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974^[6] and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act^[7] .

(2) Compliance with other requirements.—Coverage offered under this section shall comply with the requirements of subpart 2 of part A of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act insofar as such requirements apply with respect to a health insurance issuer that offers group health insurance coverage.

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^[4]  See Vol. II, P.L. 5 U.S.C. 8903(1).

^[5]  See Vol. II, P.L. 78-410, §2791(b)(3).

^[6]  P.L. 93-406.

^[7]  P.L. 78-410.