HB1149: HB1149 Insurance; offer a preenrollment option for anticipated newly born or adopted children; require certain health insurers

Georgia law already requires health insurance policies to cover newly born or adopted children from the moment of birth or placement, and usually requires notice within 31 days to keep that coverage going. This bill rewrites that law (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-22) to add a new preenrollment option. Starting January 1, 2027, health insurers would have to let insureds or subscribers enroll ahead of time for a child they reasonably expect to have or adopt within three months. To use this option, the insured would need to submit proof, such as a doctor's note, an ultrasound result, or a urine test for pregnancy, or adoption paperwork the state insurance commissioner requires for adoptions. Within ten business days of getting that proof, the insurer must tell the insured what will change about their coverage, deductible, or premium once the child arrives, and remind them of the 31 day notice deadline. The preenrollment benefit itself cannot come with extra deductibles or copays beyond what applies to other coverage, and the actual coverage for the child still does not start until birth or adoption.

• Requires all Georgia health insurers to offer an optional preenrollment period for a child an insured expects to have or adopt within three months, starting January 1, 2027.
• Defines an 'anticipated family member' as a child whose birth or adoption is reasonably expected within three months.
• Requires insureds to submit proof, such as a doctor's note, ultrasound, or urine test for pregnancy, or commissioner-specified paperwork for adoption, before preenrolling.
• Requires insurers to notify insureds within ten business days of receiving that proof about coverage, deductible, or premium changes and the 31 day post-birth notice deadline.
• Bars insurers from charging extra deductibles, coinsurance, or copays for the preenrollment benefit beyond what applies to other covered benefits.
• Excludes adult adoptions under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-21 from the preenrollment requirement.

Anyone with an individual or group health insurance policy in Georgia who is expecting to have a baby or adopt a child, and the health insurers, HMOs, and similar entities that sell those policies. It does not apply to self-funded employer health plans governed by federal ERISA law.

Expecting parents could line up insurance details, like changes to premiums or deductibles, before their child arrives instead of scrambling within the current 31 day post-birth window. Insurers would face new administrative steps, including a ten business day notification deadline, but could not charge extra fees just for offering this option.

• Revises O.C.G.A. § 33-24-22 to add definitions for 'anticipated family member,' 'cost-sharing requirement,' 'health benefit policy,' and 'health insurer.'
• Subsection (e) requires health insurers to offer the optional preenrollment period beginning January 1, 2027, with actual coverage starting only at birth or adoption.
• Subsection (f) sets documentation requirements: medical proof of pregnancy or commissioner-defined adoption paperwork.
• Subsection (g) limits submission of that documentation to within three months of the expected birth or adoption.
• Subsection (h) requires insurers to disclose coverage and cost changes and the 31 day notice deadline within ten business days of receiving documentation.
• Subsection (j) bars special cost-sharing rules for the preenrollment benefit beyond those applied to other covered benefits.
• Subsection (m) applies the changes to policies executed, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, with contracts deemed renewed by their first anniversary.

1. 2026-02-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-02House Hopper (House)

• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)Primary sponsor
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Eric Gisler (D, HD-121)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)

• health insurance
• newborn coverage
• adoption
• insurance regulation