I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4018 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 4, 2009 Mr. Deal of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Buyer, Mr. Pitts, and Mr. Blunt) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide additional health insurance options for unemployed individuals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Additional health insurance options for unemployed Americans Act of 2009.

2.

Elimination of certain requirements for guaranteed availability in individual market

(a)

In general

Section 2741 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41(b)) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(1), by striking and section 2744; (2)by repealing subsection (a)(2); (3)in subsection (b)(1)— (A)by striking (1)(A) and inserting (1); and (B)by striking and (B) and all that follows up to the semicolon at the end; (4)in subsection (b)(2), by adding and at the end; (5)in subsection (b)(3)— (A)by striking (1)(A) and inserting (1); and (B)by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and (6)in subsection (b) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5). (b)

Treatment of certain breaks in coverage

Section 2701(c)(2)(A) of such Act is amended by adding at the end the following: For purposes of establishing the 63-day period, any time period between date of application for coverage and date of enrollment in non-group coverage shall not be counted. (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect not later than the date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d)

Clarification

Nothing in this title shall prevent an employee from deciding whether to keep the health insurance coverage or group health plan benefits of the employee offered by the employer of the employee or to transition into the individual market under the protections afforded such employee pursuant to the amendments made by subsection (a).