Bill Text: NJ A4041 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires institutions of higher education to provide notice and grace period before enrolling student who has not provided proof of coverage in health insurance plan offered by institution.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A4041 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A4041-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Requires institutions of higher education to provide notice and grace period before enrolling student who has not provided proof of coverage in health insurance plan offered by institution.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health insurance coverage at institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. If a student who is required to maintain health insurance coverage under section 77 of P.L.1991, c. 187 (C.18A:62-15) fails to present evidence of the required health insurance coverage to the institution of higher education by the date prescribed by the institution, the institution shall provide the student with written notice and an additional 60 days in which to provide evidence of the required coverage. If the student does not submit evidence of the required health insurance coverage by the expiration of the 60-day period, the institution shall not enroll the student in a health insurance plan offered by the institution unless it first provides a separate written notice to the student informing the student that he will be enrolled in the plan.
b. An institution of higher education shall not charge the cost of a health insurance plan offered by the institution to a student's account to be paid with student loans or other financial aid funds, unless the institution first provides written notice to the student that the charge will be imposed.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Current law, section 77 of P.L.1991, c.187 (C.18A:62-15), requires all students enrolled full-time in a public or private institution of higher education in New Jersey to maintain health insurance coverage that provides basic hospital benefits and to present evidence of the required coverage to the institution of higher education. This bill provides that if a student fails to provide evidence of such coverage to their school by the prescribed deadline, the institution must provide the student with written notice and an additional 60 days in which to provide evidence of the coverage. If the student has not submitted evidence of coverage by the expiration of the 60-day period, the institution of higher education must provide a separate notice to the student before enrolling the student in the health insurance plan offered by the school.
The bill also prohibits an institution of higher education from automatically charging the cost of the school's health insurance plan to a student's account to be paid with student loans or other financial aid funds, unless the institution has first provided written notice to the student that such charge will be imposed.
