North Carolina HB 1412: Health Insurance for Low-Income Citizens.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2005
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1412

Short Title: Health Insurance for Low-Income Citizens. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Faison, Jones (Primary Sponsors); Coleman, Wainwright,
and Womble.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
April 21, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A TRUST FUND TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE 2
COVERAGE FOR LOW-INCOME NORTH CAROLINIANS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Article 65 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by 5
adding a new section to read: 6
"§ 58-65-134. Trust fund for low-income citizens. 7
(a) There is established in the Office of State Treasurer a trust fund to provide 8
health insurance coverage for low-income citizens of the State who do not qualify for 9
Medicaid and who are not eligible for health care coverage through an employer. The 10
fund shall be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant 11
to rules adopted by the Department. 12
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the funds provided pursuant to 13
this section for health insurance for low-income North Carolinians be used to 14
supplement, not supplant, existing funding of health and wellness programs. The State 15
Treasurer shall hold the trust fund separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and 16
accounts. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund and shall invest its 17
assets in accordance with G.S. 147-69.2 and G.S. 147-69.3. Investment earnings 18
credited to the assets of the fund shall become part of the fund. Any balance remaining 19
in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next 20
succeeding fiscal year. Payments from the fund shall be made on the warrant of the 21
Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to rule. 22
(c) Every corporation established or existing under this Article shall calculate the 23
ratio of its total adjusted capital to its authorized control level risk-based capital, 24
hereinafter the "RBC Ratio", as of December 31. The calculation shall be made as soon 25
as practicable each year but in no event later than March 1 of the next calendar year. If 26
the RBC Ratio is greater than six hundred fifty percent (650%) and equals or exceeds 27
one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), the corporation shall pay to the Office of 28

General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2005
Page 2 House Bill 1412-First Edition
State Treasurer the amount of Total Adjusted Capital greater than the RBC Ratio of six 1
hundred fifty percent (650%) within 10 days of the date the calculation is made. The 2
State Treasurer shall credit the payment to the trust fund established in subsection (a) of 3
this section. 4
(d) As used in this section: 5
(1) "Total adjusted capital" has the same meaning as set forth in 6
G.S. 58-12-2(10) and is referenced as "total capital and surplus" on the 7
National Association of Insurance Commissioners form for reporting 8
liabilities, capital, and surplus that has been adopted by the 9
Department of Insurance. 10
(2) "Authorized control level risk-based capital" has the same meaning as 11
set forth in G.S. 58-12-2(7)c." 12
SECTION 2. The Department of Health and Human Services shall develop 13
a proposal to administer the trust fund established for health insurance coverage for 14
low-income North Carolinians established in this act. The Department shall submit the 15
proposal, including legislative and administrative recommendations, to the 2006 16
Regular Session of the 2005 General Assembly. 17
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law, and the first 18
payment required in Section 1 of this act shall be made for the calendar year ending 19
December 31, 2005, in accordance with G.S. 58-65-134. 20