[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6126140,"mediaKeyId","2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312","parentId",2670904,"title","Committee releases bill raising licensing fees to shore up Department of Insurance funding","audioSeconds",127,"startMs",265000,"endMs",392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312&start=265&end=392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312/thumbnail_265000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126140/Delaware/Committee-releases-bill-raising-licensing-fees-to-shore-up-Department-of-Insurance-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126140-b7e5c66f006a1d69957721447e6957c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051422&Signature=Gde-9lnBsA05nTkfrh5fXqilp7VGejm-toBbAHnZ-JyP8BpKAqsYMxevby~IlZJA7h4Q0f-lx3ooZQC04uFu7C0HR6VCh5g7BRi4c8pv6~cHXQ5zDg-MweXVGsJcew5TRv4c0oSQebcLFkmvyV9Q6lVaS3vHpOSPoTEnGU4U2zsJQTPrVYdkWajJdK-n6ZM712KDVBSKx8O3cdHKRLqIN-1-msNj2BV4KH5~iXzcBEq9p4fmjZNZsELmwXGfmcjKULt8iAw0wI5BduhWPGVSuVWWqdx~yMmPwWIUTUNL5NLlt4XGrO58Y6rsEgycB-skVAjJGLPY8ziXJsNE00pCjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce Committee voted to release House Bill 18, which would raise new and renewal insurance licensing fees by $25 and allow the Delaware Department of Insurance (DOI) to keep 15 percent of the increased revenue for regulatory purposes, while 85 percent would continue to flow to the general fund.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the DOI has faced declining revenue and rising mandated expenses, and that the department — now fully self-funded after general-fund support ended in the early 2000s — projects revenue shortfalls without the change. The proposal also permits the DOI to retain up to $5,000,000 in its regulatory revolving fund at the end of each fiscal year to cover start-up costs tied to the two-year licensing renewal cycle, with any funds above that amount reverting to the general fund.

DOI representative Chris Haas said the department has reviewed the proposal with carriers and stakeholders; an industry representative from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, Pam Price, spoke in support, saying carriers and DOI work closely on rate reviews and consumer protection. Haas earlier summarized DOI’s fiscal projection that, if unaddressed, the department would see negative balances in upcoming fiscal years without new revenue.

Committee members moved and seconded a motion to release the bill. During a roll call the chair recorded affirmative votes by Chair Bush, Vice Chair Carson, Representative Gray, Representative Lambert, Representative Wilson Anton and Representative York; the committee chair stated the motion received the required number of votes and the bill was released from committee.

The bill’s proponents told the committee they expect the fee increase to cover licensing-cycle funding needs and did not present an alternate revenue source. The sponsor said the measure had been reviewed by the Commissioner’s Agent Advisory Board and included stakeholder input.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 18 — motion to release from committee (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll-call yes votes recorded: Chair Bush, Vice Chair Carson, Representative Gray, Representative Lambert, Representative Wilson Anton, Representative York; outcome: released from committee.

The bill now proceeds to be offered for signatures for absent members and, if it receives enough signatures, will be reported to the legislative website and announced on the House floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee Mar 18, 2025Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce Committee voted to release House Bill 18, which would raise new and renewal insurance licensing fees by $25 and allow the Department of Insurance to retain part of the increase to stabilize its budget.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature DE Collection, Legislative, Delaware","taxId",77708,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126135,"Committee releases bill clarifying coverage for medically necessary removal of excess skin",141,545000,686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312&start=545&end=686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312/thumbnail_545000.jpg","/articles/6126135/Delaware/Committee-releases-bill-clarifying-coverage-for-medically-necessary-removal-of-excess-skin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126135-ffde777f7ea32441f69d9024c36783b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051422&Signature=Zr6kyjl9SQlIh2-mgko1X4BGuw4y7ou1XMGp6ick57so11RB4Oclkd~2rzcMi7JkVMhH0JTa-eVi7jClLcY5BS2H--ywK-SVgWfijkEe7G5QR~EdrAcnZhQ9HaZzXf1Js-8yTZ3d7fcO4sKIpTXH8x4POLZ9A7eS8XBig9g1BOW~-kneRPzKbMkybbu6e8ASOCXiRRsq3gviVg4vkfA6ek9Ke6AEMNlqre7A-~3QE-jBC68mZfrM-gO7SPdVkUq2TQcLZo3xuQ6F0xAqIX9iRncpNG3OZFpPSMiO4eX7rfparUHJXWCZ4UHgXVh3xckKp8XwiY41ScEHazL9UnG-Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce Committee released a bill that would require individual health insurance plans to cover medically necessary removal of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue.

The bill’s sponsor described a constituent who, after substantial weight loss, faced medical issues from excess skin that her doctors deemed medically necessary to remove but whose insurer initially declined coverage. The sponsor said the bill would clarify coverage and make explicit to consumers and future insurers that procedures such as panicullectomy — an operation to remove excess skin and subcutaneous tissue — are covered when deemed medically necessary.

The sponsor told the committee that the term \"medically necessary\" is already defined in Delaware law for health insurance plans, state employee plans and Medicaid, and that most carriers in Delaware already cover such procedures. The sponsor said the bill would prevent future confusion for consumers and insurers. The sponsor also stated there is no fiscal note associated with the legislation because the State Employee Health Plan and Medicaid already cover these procedures.

Chris Haas of the Department of Insurance said the department was neutral on the bill and noted that the premium impact, if any, would be “very insignificant, around 10 to 20¢ per member per month.”

Committee members moved and seconded the motion to release the bill; the chair later stated the measure had received the required number of votes and was released from committee. No opposing public comments were recorded in the hearing transcript.

Votes at a glance: Bill on medically necessary removal of excess skin — motion to release from committee (mover: not specified; second: not specified); outcome: released from committee.

The bill will be circulated for signatures of absent members and, if it receives the required number of signatures, will be reported to the legislative website and announced on the House floor.","The House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce Committee released a bill requiring individual health insurance plans to cover medically necessary removal of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126130,"Committee releases bill clarifying privilege not waived when insurers turn over materials during DOI exams",91,800000,891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312&start=800&end=891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670904-3224c48ef8f9b3252adb997ec433b312/thumbnail_800000.jpg","/articles/6126130/Delaware/Committee-releases-bill-clarifying-privilege-not-waived-when-insurers-turn-over-materials-during-DOI-exams","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126130-461827c18b9b5da3721aed67aa34a514/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051422&Signature=QfTB-lAIvXzPYM7CxBYTiTyHVI0YKu5Qb3VDQkgFCh4Jez64wLZtziik4hJa40ZnsggJ-IztHEnABhRR0Qe9AZ51SeDiOsjn3gJkDrXbp0FgmOMyyE~5kQz1LD2IEhgyEad-qYUID7eZGAokzl1UWzvbds63dcv6gFanPS23eIGiMkTBt4rYOw2mgZ51P9KVtHst1eh1oPW8jX6y-eNp2jegWnwXDcO7RMGId67oRV3ffz6sEXrT4jrsxeTZ6gsj5iClQYOy8NKod2rDxdPm1NeoWOnywpqOHFt6x7QxXQgUZSa3dQYQGsgH1851uuJqgO06N7l90qL4vDZnNsPpqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce Committee released House Bill 74, which clarifies that turning over files to the insurance commissioner during a market conduct or regulatory examination does not itself waive attorney–client or other privileges owed to policyholders or claimants.

Rebecca Kidner, representing the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, told the committee the bill would protect companies from exhaustive redaction burdens and reflected model language vetted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Kidner said similar language is already in place in 19 states and the District of Columbia and that the privilege could still be challenged in court if necessary.

Chris Haas of the Department of Insurance said the department reviewed the legislation and did not object, but noted that carriers could continue their existing practice of redacting privileged information and that objections to privilege would remain subject to court review.

The committee moved and seconded the motion to release House Bill 74. In a roll call the chair recorded affirmative votes by Chair Bush, Vice Chair Snyder Hall, Representative Wilson Anton and Representative Buick; the motion met the required number of votes and the bill was released from committee.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 74 — motion to release from committee (mover: not specified; second: not specified); recorded yes votes include Chair Bush, Vice Chair Snyder Hall, Representative Wilson Anton and Representative Buick; outcome: released from committee.

Proponents said the change would streamline examinations by reducing the time carriers spend redacting privileged material while preserving the ability to litigate privilege claims in court.","House Bill 74 would clarify that a policyholder or claimant privilege is not waived solely because an insurer provides information to the insurance commissioner during an examination; industry witnesses and the Department of Insurance expressed support or neutrality and the committee released the bill.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee releases bill raising licensing fees to shore up Department of Insurance funding

Committee releases bill clarifying coverage for medically necessary removal of excess skin

Committee releases bill clarifying privilege not waived when insurers turn over materials during DOI exams