NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

 

                                

CHAPTER 599

HOUSE BILL 475

 

 

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN PROVISIONS OF HEALTH INSURANCE TO ANY PERSON POSSESSING THE SICKLE CELL TRAIT.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Article 26 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes of North Carolina is hereby amended by the addition of a new section thereto which shall be designated as G.S. 58-251.6 and which shall read as follows:

"§ 58-251.6.  Policies to be issued to any person possessing the Sickle Cell Trait or Hemoglobin C Trait. — No insurance company licensed in this State pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall refuse to issue or deliver any policy (regardless of whether any of such policies shall be defined as individual, family, group, blanket, franchise, industrial or otherwise) which is currently being issued for delivery in this State, and which affords benefits or coverage for any medical treatment or service authorized or permitted to be furnished by a hospital, clinic, family health plan, neighborhood health plan, health maintenance organization, physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner or any medical service facility or personnel by reason of the fact that the person to be insured possesses Sickle Cell Trait or Hemoglobin C Trait, nor shall any such policy issued and delivered in this State carry a higher premium rate or charge by reason of the fact that the person to be insured possesses said trait."

Sec. 2.  Chapter 57 of the General Statutes of North Carolina is hereby amended by the addition of a new section thereto which shall be designated as G.S. 57-7.1 and which shall read as follows:

"§ 57-7.1.  Contracts to cover any person possessing the Sickle Cell Trait or Hemoglobin C Trait. — No hospital, medical, dental, or any health service governed by this Chapter shall refuse to issue or deliver any individual, or group hospital, dental, medical, or health service contract in this State which it is currently issuing for delivery in this State; and which affords benefits or coverage for any medical treatment or service authorized or permitted to be furnished by a hospital, clinic, family health clinic, neighborhood health clinic, health maintenance organization, physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner or any medical service facility or personnel on account of the fact that the person who is to be insured possesses Sickle Cell Trait or Hemoglobin C Trait; nor shall any such policy issued and delivered in this State carry a higher premium rate or charge on account of the fact that the person who is to be insured possesses Sickle Cell Trait."

Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1975, and shall apply to policies of insurance delivered or issued for delivery in this State on and after July 1, 1975.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 16th day of June, 1975.