Georgians With Preexisting Conditions Protected In New Law

ATLANTA, GA — Gov. Brian Kemp made it illegal for health insurers to completely deny coverage to Georgians with preexisting medical conditions.

Kemp signed House Bill 509 into law Thursday, which requires insurers to provide at least one reasonably-priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy that does not exclude, limit, deny or delay coverage in this specific policy based on one or more preexisting conditions.

The bill also says insurers cannot limit or exclude benefits under such policies before a person's effective date of coverage, or if coverage is denied, before the date of denial.

HB 509 was sponsored by state Rep. Houston Gaines, and co-sponsored by state Reps. Trey Kelley, Sharon Cooper, Marcus Wiedower, Eddie Lumsden and Mark Newton. State Sen. Brian Strickland sponsored the bill in the Georgia Senate.

“Georgians with preexisting medical conditions must have quality health care opportunities without limitation or exclusion,” Attorney General Chris Carr said in a news release. "I’m proud to have worked with Gov. Kemp and co-sponsors of this bill to ensure all Georgians, including those with preexisting conditions, have access to a world-class health care system that they truly deserve.”