B36531F3474EEB7C872583DF00620950 Hearing Summary

Senators Hisey and Gonzales, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1253.  The bill prohibits state regulated carriers of life insurance, disability income insurance, and long-term care insurance from taking certain actions based on a person's status as a living organ donor.  For these insurance types, an insurance carrier may not:

• decline or limit coverage due to a person's status as a living organ donor;
• consider a person's status as a living organ donor in determining premiums;
• preclude a person from donating all or part of an organ as a condition of receiving a policy; or
• otherwise discriminate against a person in a policy based solely on living organ donor status and without any additional actuarial risks.

The Commissioner of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is authorized by the bill to use their enforcement powers to ensure compliance with these restrictions.  DORA must provide information to the public on access to insurance for living organ donors.  If provided with educational materials related to live organ donation from a recognized live organ donation organization, DORA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) must make the materials available to the public.  Amendments L.002 and L004 were distributed to the committee (Attachments A and B).

John Gutowski, UC Health, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions.