GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 159

 
 
Sponsors:	Senators Ballantine;  Berger, Carpenter, Forrester, Foxx, and Moore.	
Referred to:	Rules and Operations of the Senate.	
February 19, 2001

	     
A JOINT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY HIGH-RISK health insurance POOLS.

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study high-risk health insurance pools.  The purpose of the study is to determine the feasibility of establishing high-risk health insurance pools to enable individuals who have been denied coverage due to a high-risk or preexisting health condition to purchase coverage.  In conducting the study, the Commission may consider the following:
(1)	The estimated number of North Carolinians who have been denied health insurance coverage because of a high-risk or preexisting health condition.
(2)	High-risk health insurance pools in effect in other states, including the benefits and drawbacks of these plans.
(3)	Ways and means of providing funding to subsidize high-risk health insurance pools.
(4)	Administrative structures that would be needed to operate the high-risk insurance pool plan.
(5)	Essential components of high-risk health insurance pools, including eligibility, premium caps, enrollment caps, administrative structure and cost, extent of coverage.
(6)	Recent state and federal government and private-sector studies on the cost and effectiveness of high-risk health pools.
(7)	Any other issues pertinent or necessary to support recommendations on the establishment of high-risk health insurance plans in this State.
SECTION 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may make an interim report to the 2001 General Assembly, 2002 Regular Session, and shall make its final report to the 2003 General Assembly.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.