(215 ILCS 5/356c) (from Ch. 73, par. 968c)
Sec. 356c.
(1) No policy of accident and health insurance providing
coverage of hospital expenses or medical expenses or
both on an expense incurred basis which in addition to covering the
insured, also covers members of the insured's immediate family, shall
contain any disclaimer, waiver or other limitation of coverage relative to
the hospital or medical
coverage or insurability of newborn infants from and after
the moment of birth.
(2) Each such policy of accident and health insurance shall contain
a provision stating that the accident and health insurance benefits
applicable for children shall be granted immediately with respect to a
newly born child from the moment of birth. The coverage for newly born
children shall include coverage of illness, injury, congenital defects (including the treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate),
birth abnormalities and premature birth.
(3) If payment of a specific premium is required to provide coverage
for a child, the policy may require that notification of birth of a
newly born child must be furnished to the insurer within 31 days after
the date of birth in order to have the coverage continue beyond such 31
day period and may require payment of the appropriate premium.
(4) In the event that no other members of the insured's immediate
family are covered, immediate coverage for the first newborn infant shall
be provided if the insured applies for dependent's coverage
within 31 days of the newborn's birth.
Such coverage shall be contingent upon payment of the additional premium.
(5) The requirements of this Section shall apply, on or after the
sixtieth day following the effective date of this Section, (a) to all
such non-group policies delivered or issued for delivery, and (b) to all
such group policies delivered, issued for delivery, renewed or amended.
The insurers of such non-group policies in effect on the sixtieth day
following the effective date of this Section shall extend to owners of
said policies, on or before the first policy anniversary following such
date, the opportunity to apply for the addition to their policies of a
provision as set forth in paragraph (2) above, with, at the option of
the insurer, payment of a premium appropriate thereto.
(Source: P.A. 102-768, eff. 1-1-24.)
|