Mississippi § 83-9-33 - Coverage for newly born children.

§ 83-9-33. Coverage for newly born children.

All individual and group health insurance policies providing coverage on an expense incurred basis and individual and group service or indemnity type contracts issued after January 1, 1980, by an insurer or nonprofit corporation which provides coverage for a family member of the insured or subscriber shall, as to such family members’ coverage, also provide that the health insurance benefits applicable for children shall be payable with respect to a newly born child of the insured or subscriber from the moment of birth. The coverage for newly born children shall consist of coverage of injury or sickness including the necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects, prematurities and birth abnormalities, but need not include routine well baby care. For purposes of this section, “necessary care and treatment” shall include transportation of the newborn to and from the nearest appropriately staffed and equipped facility for the treatment of such newborn child, when the attending physician certifies that special transportation is necessary to protect the health and safety of the newborn child. Cost of such transportation shall not exceed usual and customary charges up to Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). If payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the policy or contract may require that notification of birth of a newly born child must be furnished to the insurer or nonprofit service or indemnity corporation within thirty-one (31) days after the date of birth in order to have the coverage continue beyond such thirty-one day period, and may require that payment of the required premium or fee be made within thirty (30) days after the mailing by the insurer or nonprofit corporation of the notice of premium or fee to the insured. The requirements of this section shall apply to all insurance policies and subscriber contracts delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than one hundred twenty (120) days after April 4, 1974.