420-B:8-j Newborn Children. –
I. All individual and group health maintenance organization contracts shall provide that the health insurance benefits applicable for children are payable with respect to a newly born child of the insured or subscriber or a dependent child of the insured or the subscriber from the moment of birth.
II. Coverage for newly born children shall consist of coverage of injury or sickness including the necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities.
III. If payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the contract may require that notification of birth of a newly born child and payment of the required premium or fee must be furnished to the health maintenance organization within 31 days after the date of birth in order to have the coverage continue beyond such 31-day period. Unless the contract specifically provides that grandchildren of the insured or subscriber are eligible for coverage, coverage for newly born children of a dependent child of the insured or subscriber shall not continue beyond the initial 31-day period following birth. Nor shall such newly born children be considered dependents of the insured for any purpose addressed in this title.
IV. This section applies to all health maintenance organization contracts delivered or issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1997.