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HR 1253 111th Congress House

Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009

Official title: To require that limitations and restrictions on coverage under group health plans be timely disclosed to group health plan sponsors and timely communicated to … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To require that limitations and restrictions on coverage under group health plans be timely disclosed to group health plan sponsors and timely communicated to participants and beneficiaries under such plans in a form that is easily understandable.

Introduced: March 3, 2009 See on congress.gov
Health Consumer affairsEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and access
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 22 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 29, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Apr 1, 2009
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 31, 2009
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 31, 2009
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4187-4188)
Mar 31, 2009
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 3 (Roll no. 171). (text: CR 3/30/2009 H4087)
Mar 30, 2009
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Mar 30, 2009
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1253.
Mar 30, 2009
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4087-4088)
Mar 30, 2009
Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Mar 30, 2009
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.
Mar 30, 2009
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
Mar 30, 2009
Committee on Education and Labor discharged.
Mar 30, 2009
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 111-62, Part I.
Mar 4, 2009
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Mar 4, 2009
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 4, 2009
Subcommittee on Health Discharged.
Mar 3, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 3, 2009
Referred to House Ways and Means
Mar 3, 2009
Referred to House Education and Labor
Mar 3, 2009
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 3, 2009
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Mar 3, 2009
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 31, 2009 House · vote #171 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 422–3 See who voted →
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 Latest action April 29, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to exclude a group health plan from prohibitions against limitations or restrictions on the amount, level, extent, or nature of the benefits of coverage for similarly situated individuals enrolled in the plan so long as: (1) such limitations and restrictions are explicit and clear; (2) such limitations and restrictions have been disclosed to the plan sponsor in writing in advance of the point of sale; (3) the plan sponsor provides a description of such limitations and restrictions to participants and beneficiaries in a form that is easily understandable before enrollment; and (4) the plan sponsor and the issuer of the coverage provide such description to the participants and beneficiaries upon their enrollment under the plan at the earliest opportunity that other materials are provided.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1253: Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1253/
MLA
"H.R. 1253: Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1253/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1253, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1253/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1253: Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1253/)
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