2014 Virginia Code
Title 38.2 - Insurance
§ 38.2-3451. Essential health benefits

A. Notwithstanding any provision of § 38.2-3431 or any other section of this title to the contrary, a health carrier offering a health benefit plan providing individual or small group health insurance coverage shall provide that such coverage includes the essential health benefits as required by § 1302(a) of the PPACA. The essential health benefits package may also include associated cost-sharing requirements or limitations. No qualified health insurance plan that is sold or offered for sale through an exchange established or operating in the Commonwealth shall provide coverage for abortions, regardless of whether such coverage is provided through the plan or is offered as a separate optional rider thereto, provided that such limitation shall not apply to an abortion performed (i) when the life of the mother is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or (ii) when the pregnancy is the result of an alleged act of rape or incest.

B. The provisions of subsection A regarding the inclusion of the PPACA-required minimum essential pediatric oral health benefits shall be deemed to be satisfied for health benefit plans made available in the small group market or individual market in the Commonwealth outside an exchange, as defined in § 38.2-3455, issued for policy or plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, that do not include the PPACA-required minimum essential pediatric oral health benefits if the health carrier has obtained reasonable assurance that such pediatric oral health benefits are provided to the purchaser of the health benefit plan. The health carrier shall be deemed to have obtained reasonable assurance that such pediatric oral health benefits are provided to the purchaser of the health benefit plan if:

1. At least one qualified dental plan, as defined in § 38.2-3455, (i) offers the minimum essential pediatric oral health benefits that are required under the PPACA and (ii) is available for purchase by the small group or individual purchaser; and

2. The health carrier prominently discloses, in a form approved by the Commission, at the time that it offers the health benefit plan that the plan does not provide the PPACA-required minimum essential pediatric oral health benefits.

2013, c. 751; 2014, cc. 307, 369.