Bill would let certain travel and bridal insurance be filed under accident-and-health line; committee hears unanimous House support

House Bill 2,046 would add a second line of insurance under which travel insurance policies can be filed, permitting certain bridal-related travel coverage to be filed under the accident-and-health line when the policy provides coverage for sickness, accident, disability or death during bridal travel.

Supporters told the committee the change would align Kansas statute with an NAIC model and simplify filings for insurers.

"House Bill 2,046 adds a second line of insurance under which travel insurance policies can be filed," the reviser, Eileen, told the committee. Under current law, travel insurance must be filed under an inland-marine line; the bill would allow filing under accident-and-health when the coverage includes sickness, accident, disability or death during bridal travel.

Travis Grauerholtz, testifying on behalf of the American Council of Life Insurers, said the bill aligns Kansas statute with the NAIC Bridal Insurance Model Act. "With the addition of the language, that the reviser said, it will streamline the regulatory process for filing of travel policies that fall outside of that inland marine insurance thus providing more options for consumers and operational clarity for insurers," Grauerholtz said. He noted the model act has been enacted in 36 other states.

Committee members expressed support. Senator Gossage called the change "common sense" and said it reflected the purpose of travel insurance to protect consumers for health reasons while traveling. Senator Dagg and others also expressed agreement.

The reviser said the House Committee on Insurance passed the bill without amendment, and the Committee of the Whole in the House passed it unanimously on Valentine's Day, according to the briefing. No opponent or neutral testimony was filed. The chair closed the hearing on House Bill 2,046 with no vote taken at the hearing.