STAND. COM. REP. NO. 427-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2126

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2126, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that certain benefits under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 are preserved under Hawaii law by prohibiting health insurance entities from:

(1) Imposing a preexisting condition exclusion; and

(2) Using an individual's gender to determine premiums or contributions.

The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Commission on the Status of Women, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, YWCA Oahu, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii Women's Caucus, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawaii Women's Coalition, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Hawaii Section, IMUAlliance, The Queen's Medical Center, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. The American Council on Life Insurers opposed this measure. Save Medicaid Hawaii provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2126, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair