Bill > H839

This bill proposes to amend existing law by directing the Commissioner of the Division of Insurance to annually file with the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a standard tobacco use factor, which is a multiplier used in calculating insurance premiums based on tobacco use. This factor will not exceed a one-to-one ratio, meaning tobacco users will not be charged more than twice the rate of non-tobacco users. The bill also allows insurance carriers to apply a tobacco use rate factor to eligible small groups and individuals, provided they use a commissioner-approved process to certify that individuals and their dependents have not used tobacco products in the past year. This aims to standardize how tobacco use impacts insurance premiums for both small businesses and individuals.