It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 27-18-37. Prohibit policies/plans that utilize pre-existing conditions clauses. -- ADD} {ADD Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual or group hospital or medical service plan contract delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1996, except for supplemental policies which only provide coverage for specified diseases, or other supplemental policies, shall not contain any clause that would limit coverage for any pre-existing condition, nor shall any such pre-existing condition be used as a basis for denying the issuance of a policy for any individual who has been continuously insured or covered for the period of twelve months immediately prior to their date of application for insurance or coverage, which previous insurance or coverage provided for the payment of benefits for the condition which is pre-existing. Individuals seeking insurance or coverage must provide to the accident and sickness policy insurer documentation of such twelve (12) month continuous insurance or coverage. Nothing herein shall be deemed to apply to supplemental policies which only provide coverage for specified diseases or other supplemental policies. ADD}

SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 27-19-33. Prohibit policies/plans that utilize pre-existing conditions clauses. -- ADD} {ADD Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual or group hospital or medical service plan contract delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1996, shall not contain any clause that would limit coverage for any pre-existing condition, nor shall any such pre-existing condition be used as a basis for denying the issuance of a policy for any individual who has been continuously insured or covered for the period of twelve (12) months immediately prior to their date of application for insurance or coverage, which previous insurance or coverage provided for the payment of benefits for the condition which is pre-existing. Individuals seeking insurance or coverage must provide to the accident and sickness policy insurer documentation of such twelve (12) months continuous insurance or coverage. ADD}

SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 27-20-28. Prohibit policies/plans that utilize pre-existing conditions clauses. -- ADD} {ADD Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual or group hospital or medical service plan contract delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1996, shall not contain any clause that would limit coverage for any pre-existing condition, nor shall any such pre-existing condition be used as a basis for denying the issuance of a policy for any individual who has been continuously insured or covered for the period of twelve months immediately prior to their date of application for insurance or coverage, which previous insurance or coverage provided for the payment of benefits for the condition which is pre-existing. Individuals seeking insurance or coverage must provide to the accident and sickness policy insurer documentation of such twelve (12) month continuous insurance or coverage. ADD}

SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled

"Health Maintenance Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 27-41-42. Prohibit policies/plans that utilize pre-existing conditions clauses. -- ADD} {ADD Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or individual or group hospital or medical service plan contract delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1996, shall not contain any clause that would limit coverage for any pre-existing condition, nor shall any such pre-existing condition be used as a basis for denying the issuance of a policy for any individual who has been continuously insured or covered for the period of twelve months immediately prior to their date of application for insurance or coverage, which previous insurance or coverage provided for the payment of benefits for the condition which is pre-existing. Individuals seeking insurance or coverage must provide to the accident and sickness policy insurer documentation of such twelve (12) month continuous insurance or coverge. ADD}

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.