HB48 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Kerry Rich
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Local Government Health Insurance Program, Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound authorized to participate, Sec. 11-91A-2 am'd.
Summary: HB 48 allows the Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound and its local centers to join the Local Government Health Insurance Program, expanding who can participate and how premiums are set.
What This Bill Does
The Local Government Health Insurance Board would oversee the program and funding would come from employer participants, not the state. The bill adds the Care Assurance System and affiliated centers as eligible employer participants if the board accepts them, and it broadens participation to many counties, municipalities, districts, associations, and other organizations. Participating entities can cover their full-time employees, elected officials, retirees, and dependents, with the board allowed to set plan rules and cost-control measures; if an entity withdraws, it must pay outstanding claims and may owe interest, and benefits can be restricted for two years for the withdrawing entity; new entrants after June 1, 2018 would have separate premiums.

Who It Affects
Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound and its affiliated local centers would become eligible to participate and provide health coverage to their staff and retirees.
Other eligible entities (counties, municipalities, fire or water districts, associations, and the various organizations listed) could elect to participate and cover their officials, employees, retirees, and dependents; new entrants after June 1, 2018 would have independently set premiums.

Key Provisions
Authorizes participation of the Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound and its affiliated local centers in the Local Government Health Insurance Program.
Expands the list of eligible employer participants to include numerous entities and organizations, subject to board acceptance.
Funding remains from employer participants; the state does not provide funding for the program.
Allows employer participants to offer coverage to full-time employees, elected officials, retirees, and dependents, with the board setting plan rules and cost containment measures.
Withdrawal rules: an employer can withdraw with six months' prior notice; they must pay unreported claims and may owe interest on overdue amounts after withdrawal; the withdrawing entity cannot receive benefits for two years from the withdrawal date.
New entrants after June 1, 2018 are treated as separate entities with premiums established independently from pre-2018 employer participants.
The board may promulgate rules to administer these provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Health