§ 15-417. Coverage for part-time students with disabilities.

   (a) Applicability. -- This section applies to:

   (1) insurers and nonprofit health service plans that provide hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups on an expense-incurred basis under health insurance policies or contracts that are issued or delivered in the State; and

   (2) health maintenance organizations that provide hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups under contracts that are issued or delivered in the State.

(b) In general. -- An entity subject to this section that provides health benefits to full-time students over the age of 18 may not exclude health benefits for a student over the age of 18 who:

   (1) is enrolled less than full time as a result of a documented disability that prevents the student from maintaining a full-time course load; and

   (2) is maintaining a course load of at least 7 credit hours per semester.

(c) Verification of disability. -- An entity subject to this section may require the insured, subscriber, or enrollee to provide verification of the disability from a disability services professional employed by the institution of higher education that the student attends or a health care provider with special expertise in and knowledge of the disability.

HISTORY: 2006, ch. 395.