SB 25-010

Senate Bill 25-010, also known as "Electronic Communications in Health Care," allows health insurance companies to send important documents and notices electronically instead of by mail. This means that if you have a health insurance plan, your insurer can email or provide these documents online, as long as they meet certain requirements set out in the law. However, if you prefer paper copies, you can still request them. The bill also protects insurance companies from liability related to electronic communication issues and sets rules for posting health coverage plans on their websites without personal information. Since it has been signed into law, this change is now official and will affect how health insurance documents are communicated in Colorado.

Official Summary

Subject to specific requirements, the act allows a notice to or from a party or other document required by law in an insurance transaction that is related to a provision of a health insurance contract or that is to serve as evidence of health insurance coverage to be delivered, stored, and presented by electronic means if the electronic means meet the requirements of the "Uniform Electronic Transactions Act". The delivery of a notice or document by electronic means is considered the equivalent to and has the same effect as any other delivery method required by law. The act requires health insurance carriers to deliver paper communications to any individuals that may elect to receive paper communications upon request. An insurance producer is not subject to civil liability for any harm or injury that occurs because of a party's election to receive any notice or document by electronic means or by a carrier's failure to deliver or a party's failure to receive a notice or document by electronic means. A carrier may mail, deliver, or, if the carrier obtains separate, specific consent, post on the carrier's website a health coverage plan and an endorsement that does not contain personal identifying information. If the carrier elects to post a health coverage plan and an endorsement on the carrier's website in lieu of mailing or delivering the health coverage plan and endorsement, the carrier shall comply with certain conditions. The commissioner of insurance may adopt rules to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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