I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2236 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 4, 2009 Mrs. Halvorson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To prohibit health insurance companies from denying individual health insurance coverage or from discriminating in benefits under such coverage because of the receipt of grief counseling.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Grieving Families Insurance Protection Act of 2009.

2.

Prohibiting denial of health insurance coverage or discrimination in benefits under the coverage because of receipt of grief counseling

(a)

In general

Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 2745 the following new section:

2746.

Prohibition on denial of health insurance coverage and discrimination in benefits because of receipt of grief counseling

A health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market may not— (1)establish or maintain rules for eligibility (including continued eligibility) of any individual to enroll under the terms of the coverage based on any individual’s receipt of grief counseling at any time; or (2)reduce the benefits covered (or offered for coverage) on such basis.

. (b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to health insurance coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, in effect, or operated in the individual health insurance market on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.