Enacts the "unique abilities employment act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Rhoads

Requires insurers to give at least six months' notice before modifying Massachusetts health insurance policies (Chapter 175, Sec. 24B), improving consumer planning.

REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

Purpose

The bill seeks to require insurers to give policyholders advance notice — a minimum of six months — before implementing modifications to health insurance policies covered under Section 24B of Chapter 175 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The stated intent is to provide consumers more time to understand, respond to, or change coverage when their health insurance is altered.

Key provision

Amends Section 24B of Chapter 175 (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition) by inserting the phrase:

", not less than 6 months in advance of such modifications," immediately after the word “modifications” (line 14 of the bill text).

Practically, this creates an explicit statutory requirement that notice of a modification must be provided at least six months prior to the effective date of the modification.

Who is affected

Primary: Insurers and other entities that issue or modify health insurance policies governed by Chapter 175 (Massachusetts-regulated insurers).

Secondary: Current and prospective health insurance policyholders in Massachusetts, who would receive longer advance notice of plan changes.

Regulators: The state insurance regulator (Division of Insurance) would oversee compliance; enforcement mechanisms are not specified in the bill text.

Procedural status and timeline

Filed in the Massachusetts Senate docket on 01/14/2025; bill number Senate No. 713 (presented by Senator Julian Cyr).

Introduced in the Senate and read twice on 02/25/2025; referred to committee (multiple committee referrals are listed in the source materials).

A committee hearing was scheduled for 10/14/2025 (10:30 AM–1:00 PM in A-1).

Current status (as provided): REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS. (See “Notes” below regarding inconsistent metadata.)

Potential impacts and considerations

Consumer protection: Gives enrollees more time to plan for coverage changes, shop for alternate coverage, or appeal/correct enrollment issues.

Administrative impact: Insurers may need to change timing and processes for plan change notices, renewals, and communications with brokers and employers.

Market effects: Longer notice windows could affect plan design cycles, contract renegotiations, or the timing of premium changes.

Enforcement and effective date: The bill text does not specify penalties, enforcement processes, or an effective date; ordinarily, statutes take effect on enactment unless otherwise provided.

Notes on source inconsistencies

The materials supplied contain mixed and conflicting metadata (e.g., Massachusetts bill text presented alongside a list of U.S. Senate sponsors and duplicate / inconsistent referral dates). This summary is based on the Massachusetts bill text (Senate No. 713, filed 01/14/2025, presented by Julian Cyr) which amends Chapter 175, Section 24B to require six months’ advance notice. If you intended a different S.713 from another jurisdiction or a federal measure, please provide the correct text or clarify, and I will prepare an updated summary.

Bill