Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions…

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why the sponsor says this is needed

Individuals who are diagnoses with rare diseases, life threatening or life altering diseases, or are deemed medically fragile children are already undergoing enormous amounts of stress without having to consider who they are going to seek medical care from. Their focus should instead be on who is going to provide them with the best chance of survival or success from their diagnosis. This should also be the policy of the State. No one should be told that there is a better, more qualified specialist available at the same cost, but they cannot see them because they are arbitrarily either in or out of network. This legislation is intended to offer individuals confronted with rare or life altering circumstances the ability to choose the best treatment option for them. These changes also take into account mandates on the insurance plans by controlling costs, providing notice, and ensuring the chosen provider is a qualified specialist. Individuals who find them- selves in these daunting circumstances should have the ability to explore options, even if those are out of network in order to provide them with the greatest chance of a positive outcome.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.