(1) All individual and group health insurance policies providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits that include coverage for a family member of the insured shall also provide that the health insurance benefits applicable for children in the family shall be payable with respect to:
(a) A newly born child of the insured from the moment of birth; and
(b) An adopted child effective upon placement for adoption.
(2) The coverage of newly born and adopted children required by subsection (1) of this section shall consist of coverage of injury or sickness, including the necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities.
(3) If payment of a specific premium is required to provide coverage for a child, the policy may require that notification of the birth of the child or of the placement for adoption of the child and payment of the premium be furnished the insurer within 31 days after the date of birth or date of placement in order to have the coverage extended beyond the 31-day period.
(4) The following requirements apply to coverage of an adopted child required by subsection (1)(b) of this section:
(a) In any case in which a policy provides coverage for dependent children of participants or beneficiaries, the policy shall provide benefits to dependent children placed with participants or beneficiaries for adoption under the same terms and conditions as apply to the natural, dependent children of the participants and beneficiaries, regardless of whether the adoption has become final.
(b) A policy may not restrict coverage of any dependent child adopted by a participant or beneficiary, or placed with a participant or beneficiary for adoption, solely on the basis of a preexisting condition of the child at the time that the child would otherwise become eligible for coverage under the plan if the adoption or placement for adoption occurs while the participant or beneficiary is eligible for coverage under the plan.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) “Child” means, in connection with any adoption, or placement for adoption of the child, an individual who has not attained 18 years of age as of the date of the adoption or placement for adoption.
(b) “Placement for adoption” means the assumption and retention by a person of a legal obligation for total or partial support of a child in anticipation of the adoption of the child. The child’s placement with a person terminates upon the termination of such legal obligations.
(6) The provisions of ORS 743A.001 do not apply to this section. [Formerly 743.707]
Section: Previous 743A.064 743A.066 743A.068 743A.070 743A.080 743A.084 743A.088 743A.090 743A.100 743A.104 743A.108 743A.110 743A.120 743A.124 743A.140 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008