HB 712

relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain tests to
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 1362.001, Insurance Code, is amended to
Sec. 1362.001.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  (a) This chapter
applies only to a health benefit plan that[:
[(1)]  provides benefits for medical or surgical
expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or
[(A)]  an individual, group, blanket, or
franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital
service contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage
(1) [(i)]  an insurance company;
(2) [(ii)]  a group hospital service corporation
(3) [(iii)]  a fraternal benefit society operating
(4) [(iv)]  a stipulated premium company operating
(5) [(v)]  a health maintenance organization operating
(6)  an approved nonprofit health corporation that
holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844;
(7)  a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
a certificate of authority under Chapter 846;
(8)  a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or
(9)  an exchange operating under Chapter 942.
(b)  Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter applies to
[(B)  to the extent permitted by the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. Section 1001 et
seq.), a health benefit plan that is offered by:
[(i)  a multiple employer welfare
arrangement as defined by Section 3 of that Act; or
[(ii)  another analogous benefit
(1)  a small employer health benefit plan subject to
Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group
cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter;
(2)  a standard health benefit plan issued under
(3)  a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;
(4)  a basic plan under Chapter 1575;
(5)  a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;
(6)  a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter
(7)  group health coverage made available by a school
district in accordance with Section 22.004, Education Code;
(8)  the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid
managed care program operated under Chapter 540, Government Code;
(9)  the child health plan program under Chapter 62,
(10)  a regional or local health care program operated
under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code;
(11)  a self-funded health benefit plan sponsored by a
professional employer organization under Chapter 91, Labor Code;
(12)  a health benefit plan offered by [(A) an approved
nonprofit health corporation that holds a certificate of authority
[(B)]  an entity not authorized under this code or
another insurance law of this state that contracts directly for
health care services on a risk-sharing basis, including a
[(3)  provides health and accident coverage through a
risk pool created under Chapter 172, Local Government Code,
notwithstanding Section 172.014, Local Government Code, or any
SECTION 2.  Section 1362.002, Insurance Code, is amended to
Sec. 1362.002.  EXCEPTION.  This chapter does not apply to:
(1)  a health benefit plan that provides coverage:
(A)  only for a specified disease or for another
(B)  only for accidental death or dismemberment;
(C)  for wages or payments in lieu of wages for a
period during which an employee is absent from work because of
(D)  as a supplement to a liability insurance
(E)  only for indemnity for hospital confinement;
(2)  [a small employer health benefit plan written
[(3)] a Medicare supplemental policy as defined by
Section 1882(g)(1), Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395ss);
(3) [(4)]  a workers' compensation insurance policy;
(4) [(5)]  medical payment insurance coverage provided
under a motor vehicle insurance policy; or
(5) [(6)]  a long-term care insurance policy,
including a nursing home fixed indemnity policy, unless the
commissioner determines that the policy provides benefit coverage
so comprehensive that the policy is a health benefit plan as
SECTION 3.  Section 1362.003, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c)  A health benefit plan that provides coverage under this
section may not charge any premium, copayment, coinsurance,
deductible, or any other form of cost sharing for a covered benefit
SECTION 4.  Section 1575.159, Insurance Code, is repealed.
SECTION 5.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on
or after January 1, 2026.  A health benefit plan delivered, issued
for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2026, is governed by the
law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act,
and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.