Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 311

FORMERLY

SENATE BILL NO. 87

AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH CARE BENEFITS & EQUITY PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :

Section 1. Amend Chapter 35, Title 18 of the Delaware Code by adding a new Section 3559 to read as follows:

Ҥ3559. Reversible Contraceptives.

(a) All group and blanket health issuance policies which are delivered or issued for delivery in this State by any health insurer, health service corporation, health maintenance organization or any health services and facilities reimbursed programs for the State, which provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs, shall provide coverage, under terms and conditions applicable to other benefits, for prescription contraceptive drugs and devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and for outpatient contraceptive services including consultations, examinations, procedures and medical services related to the use of contraceptive methods to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

(b) All such entities addressed in subsection (a) of this Section shall provide coverage for the insertion and removal and medically necessary examination associated with the use of such FDA approved contraceptive drug or device. Any such policy or contract may not impose a co-payment, co-insurance requirement or deductible for directly accessed gynecological services as required under this section, unless such additional cost sharing is imposed for access to healthcare practitioners for other types of healthcare.

(c) Provisions of this bill shall be applied to the enrollee and all insured parties covered by the health policy.

(d) A religious employer may request, and an entity subject to this section shall grant an exclusion from coverage under the policy, plan or contract for the coverage required under subsection (b) of this section if the required coverage conflicts with the religious organization’s bona fide religious beliefs and practices. A religious employer that obtains an exclusion under this subsection shall provide its employees reasonable and timely notice of the exclusion.”

Approved June 07,2000