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Wellness Bill Signed Into Law Effective July 1

Wellness Bill Signed Into Law Effective July 1

The legislature passed HB 445 during the 2011 session creating an exception to unfair insurance trade practices statutes allowing health insurers and HMOs to offer rewards or incentives for wellness or health improvements. The incentives may take the form of merchandise, gift cards, debit cards, premium discounts, contributions to HSAs or similar items.  Governor Rick Scott has now signed this bill into law, and the law has an effective date of July 1, 2011.

The new law clarifies that health insurers and HMOs may advertise these programs without violating state insurance advertising restrictions. Availability of the programs must be disclosed in the applicable policies or certificates. In addition, nonparticipants may be eligible to receive the incentives if they provide verification, such as from their physician, that they have a health condition that makes participation unreasonably difficult.

For more information about this and other bills from the 2011, please see the May 2011 edition of our Florida Insurance Report.