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HR 975 103th Congress House Labor and Employment Collective bargaining Collective bargaining agreements Damages Discrimination in insurance Employee health benefits Fraud Government paperwork Health Health insurance Legal fees Negligence Punitive damages Retiree health benefits Self-insurance

Group Health Plan Nondiscrimination Act of 1993

Introduced: February 18, 1993 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 16, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.
Feb 18, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Feb 18, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E375)
Feb 18, 1993
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Group Health Plan Nondiscrimination Act of 1993 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide that certain retroactive cancellations or reductions of benefits under group health plans constitute discrimination which interferes with rights protected under ERISA.

Prohibits any group health plan from discriminating among diseases or medical conditions with respect to levels of lifetime benefit coverage provided to similarly situated participants and beneficiaries under the plan, with specified limitations relating to collective bargaining or special exemption procedures.

Requires group health plans to issue notices of any material change in plan terms to each participant and spouse beneficiary. Prohibits the change from taking effect until 60 days after such issuance. Sets forth special requirements for such notices from self-insured group health plans.

Revises civil enforcement provisions to make any person who violates the prohibition provisions against interference with rights of any participant or beneficiary under a group health plan liable to such participant or beneficiary for actual damages. Precludes punitive damages, except that, where the violation constitutes willful, fraudulent, or malicious conduct, bad faith, or gross negligence, each such person may, in the court's discretion, be liable for limited exemplary damages. Provides for award of attorney's fees and other legal costs to plaintiffs who prevail or substantially prevail.

What's happening now March 16, 1993

Referred to the Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2