Illinois Code § 4-8

§ 4-8.

Newborn Infants. (1) No contract or evidence of coverage issued by a Health Maintenance Organization which provides for coverage of dependents of the principal enrollee shall contain any disclaimer, waiver or other limitation relative to the eligibility or coverage of newborn infants of a principal enrollee from and after the moment of birth. (2) Each such contract or evidence of coverage shall contain a provision stating that benefits shall be granted immediately with respect to newborn infants from the moment of birth and that such coverage shall include illness, injury, congenital defects, birth abnormalities and premature birth. (3) If payment of a specific premium is required under the terms of a contract to provide coverage for a child, there may be requirements that notification of birth of a newly born infant be given to the Health Maintenance Organization within the 31 days following the birth in order to have coverage continued beyond such 31 day period and that such specific premium be paid within 30 days following receipt of such notice. (4) In the event that no other members of the enrollee's immediate family are covered, immediate coverage for the first newborn infant shall be provided if the enrollee applies for dependent's coverage within 31 days of the newborn's birth. Such coverage shall be contingent upon payment of the additional premium. (5) The requirements of this Section shall apply, on or after the sixtieth day following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, (a) to all such evidences of coverage delivered or issued for delivery, and (b) to all such group contracts delivered, issued for delivery, renewed or amended. The health maintenance organizations which issue such evidences of coverage that are in effect on the sixtieth day following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989 shall extend to owners of such contracts, on or before the first contract anniversary following such date, the opportunity to apply for the addition to their contracts of a provision as set forth in subsection (2) above, with, at the option of the health maintenance organization, payment of a premium appropriate thereto. (Source: P.A. 86-620.)