Bill > S683

This bill requires various types of health insurance plans in Massachusetts, including state employee plans, individual and group accident and sickness insurance, hospital service plans, medical service agreements, and health maintenance contracts, to provide non-discriminatory coverage for medically necessary treatments required by a student's individual education program (IEP), individualized family service plan (IFSP), or the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. When a school district seeks to access these benefits, it must obtain annual written informed consent from the parent or legal guardian, which includes notifying them about potential premium increases, the district's ability to cover certain enrollee health plan costs, and how billing might affect service limits. The bill emphasizes that parents cannot be required to use their private health coverage for these services if it would incur a financial cost, and school districts cannot deny, withhold, or delay services based on a family's refusal to provide billing consent or a health plan's refusal to pay. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any disclosure of a student's educational and medical information to a health plan company must be done with explicit parental consent and only for coverage and payment purposes. These provisions will apply to all relevant health insurance policies delivered, issued, or renewed on or after December 31, 2026.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S683