§ 23-79-129 - Coverage of newborn infants. - Arkansas Statutes

23-79-129. Coverage of newborn infants.

(a) (1) Every accident and health insurance policy, contract, certificate, or health care plan sold, delivered, issued, or offered for sale, issue, or delivery in this state, other than coverage limited to expenses from accidents or specified diseases, whether an individual or group policy, contract, certificate, or plan that covers the insured and members of the insured's family, shall include coverage for newborn infant children by the insured from the moment of birth.

(2) The coverage of newborn children shall be the same as is provided for other members of the insured's family and shall include:

(A) Coverage for illness, injury, congenital defects, and premature birth;

(B) Coverage for tests for hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, galactosemia, sickle-cell anemia, and all other disorders of metabolism for which screening is performed by or for the State of Arkansas, as well as any testing of newborn infants hereafter mandated by law; and

(C) Subject to minimum benefits required by 23-99-404, coverage to pay for routine nursery care and pediatric charges for a well newborn child for up to five (5) full days in a hospital nursery or until the mother is discharged from the hospital following the birth of the child, whichever is the lesser period of time.

(b) The insurer may require that the insured give notice to his or her insurer of any newborn children within ninety (90) days of the birth or before the next premium due date, whichever is later.

(c) The Insurance Commissioner shall not approve any policy or contract to be sold, issued, or offered for sale in this state unless it shall specifically include the coverage required in this section for newborn infants.