Connecticut General Statutes 38a-510c – Coverage for investigational drug, biological product or device for insureds with terminal illnesses. Liability of health carrier
(a) As used in this section, “health carrier” means an insurance company, health care center, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, fraternal benefit society or other entity that delivers, issues for delivery, renews, amends or continues a health insurance policy providing coverage of the type provided in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11), (12) and (16) of section 38a-469 in this state.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 38a-510c
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Insurance: means any agreement to pay a sum of money, provide services or any other thing of value on the happening of a particular event or contingency or to provide indemnity for loss in respect to a specified subject by specified perils in return for a consideration. See Connecticut General Statutes 38a-1
- insurance company: includes any person or combination of persons doing any kind or form of insurance business other than a fraternal benefit society, and shall include a receiver of any insurer when the context reasonably permits. See Connecticut General Statutes 38a-1
- Insured: means a person to whom or for whose benefit an insurer makes a promise in an insurance policy. See Connecticut General Statutes 38a-1
- Policy: means any document, including attached endorsements and riders, purporting to be an enforceable contract, which memorializes in writing some or all of the terms of an insurance contract. See Connecticut General Statutes 38a-1
- State: means any state, district, or territory of the United States. See Connecticut General Statutes 38a-1
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) A health carrier may provide coverage for an investigational drug, biological product or device, as defined in section 20-14q, that is made available pursuant to section 21a-70g to an insured patient who is eligible under subsection (b) of section 20-14q.
(c) A health carrier may deny coverage to an insured patient from the time such patient begins treatment with the investigational drug, biological product or device for a period not to exceed six months from the date such patient ceases treatment with the investigational drug, biological product or device, except that coverage may not be denied for a preexisting condition or for coverage for benefits that commenced prior to the date such patient begins such treatment.
(d) Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of sections 38a-504a to 38a-504g, inclusive, and 38a-542a to 38a-542g, inclusive, concerning insurance coverage for certain costs associated with clinical trials. Treatment with an investigational drug, biological product or device shall be deemed to constitute the practice of medicine and shall not be considered a clinical trial for the purposes of said sections.
(e) Nothing in this section shall create a cause of action against a health carrier that provides coverage for an investigational drug, biological product or device pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or denies coverage in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, to an insured patient who begins treatment with an investigational drug, biological product or device.