Signed by Governor Kate Brown

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits health benefit plans from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any health benefit plan in the state from discriminating against or denying benefits to any individual because of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability (Sec. 2).

• Requires the addition and incorporation of Section two to the Insurance Code (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits individual health plans that are not grandfathered health plans from establishing a preexisting condition exclusion or individual coverage waiting period (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits grandfathered health plans from establishing a waiting period (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes health plan carriers to issue any individual health benefit plan that is not a grandfathered health plan to any individual who applies if (Sec. 7):

• The individual lives in the same geographic area in which the plan is offered;

• The individual makes the required premium payments; and

• The health benefit plan is not already prohibited by law. 

• Authorizes the Department of Consumer and Business Services to permit carriers to stop enrollment for an individual health benefit plan if the department determines that the carrier will face material adverse effects that will impair the carrier’s financial situation and or ability to fulfill their contractual obligations (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text