PART A

Sec. A-1. 24-A MRSA §2808-B, sub-§10 is enacted to read:

10.__Options included in all health coverage plans.__All carriers offering small group health plans in this State shall offer, when offering and when renewing a health plan, alternative coverage under a catastrophic plan defined in rules adopted by the superintendent. The superintendent shall adopt rules to define the catastrophic plan that must be offered pursuant to this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. To the extent allowed by federal and state law, a carrier may offer health savings accounts in conjunction with a catastrophic plan.

Sec. A-2. 24-A MRSA §§2808-C and 2808-D are enacted to read:

§2808-C.__Mandatory options in all group health coverage plans

1.__Mandatory offer.__All carriers offering group health plans in this State shall offer, when offering and when renewing a health plan, alternative coverage under a catastrophic plan defined in rules adopted by the superintendent. The superintendent shall adopt rules to define the catastrophic plan that must be offered pursuant to this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.__To the extent allowed by federal and state law, a carrier may offer health savings accounts in conjunction with a catastrophic plan.

§2808-D.__Employee choice of alternate plans

An employer who offers coverage under a group plan to its employees, including a small group plan as defined in section 2808-B, subsection 1, paragraph G, shall also offer its employees, when offering and when renewing of the health plan, the option of selecting the catastrophic plan or plans offered by a carrier pursuant to section 2808-B, subsection 10 or section 2808-C.

1.__Employer contributions.__An employer that contributes to the premium cost of any health plan for its employees shall contribute the same amount to the premium cost of the catastrophic plan or the total premium cost of the catastrophic plan, whichever is less.__An employer may not be required to pay more for health benefits as a result of the application of this section than would otherwise be paid.