House Bill 283 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Brock ColvinRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Health insurance, safe harbor created

Summary

HB283 creates a Health Savings Account State-Federal Regulatory Coordination Act to shield HSA-qualified high-deductible health plans from certain state mandates and federal copay accumulator rules, and authorizes implementing rules by the Insurance Commissioner (effective June 1, 2026).

What This Bill Does

It establishes a safe harbor to protect HSA-qualified HDHPs from state benefit mandates or federal copay accumulator adjustments related to HDHPs. It defines key terms (enrollee, HSA-qualified plan, HDHP, preventive care, zero cost-sharing) to clarify protections and how cost-sharing should work to keep HSAs eligible. It authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt implementing rules. It also amends existing Alabama law to reference the new article and clarifies applicability to applicable insurers and plans, with a June 1, 2026 effective date.

Who It Affects

• Enrollees in HSA-qualified health plans (and their eligible dependents) whose HDHP status would be protected from certain state mandates and federal copay adjustments, helping preserve their HSA eligibility.
• Insurers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and other health care service corporations regulated by Alabama law that issue or administer HDHPs or self-funded plans, who will implement the act and comply with new rules (with a self-funded plan exception for certain coverage requirements).

Key Provisions

• Creates Article 5, Health Savings Account State-Federal Regulatory Coordination Act, within Chapter 19, Title 27 of the Alabama Code.
• Provides a safe harbor protecting HSA-qualified plans from state benefit mandates or federal copay accumulator rules related to high-deductible health plans.
• Defines terms including enrollee, Health Savings Account Qualified Insurance Plan (HSA), high deductible health plan, preventive care, and zero cost-sharing restrictions.
• Implements a cost-sharing rule that, if applying cost-sharing would cause the plan to lose HDHP status under federal law, the cost-sharing requirement applies only after the minimum deductible under federal law has been met.
• Authorizes the Alabama Commissioner of Insurance to adopt rules necessary to implement the act.
• Amends existing sections (10A-20-6.16 and 27-21A-23) to reference Article 5 and to clarify applicability, including an exception for self-funded plans administered by a corporation that does not insure the plan.
• Effective date: June 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Insurance