H7858 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.)

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Furtado, McGaw, Donovan, O'Brien, Casey, Solomon, Casimiro, Alzate, Messier, Cruz
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-04-02 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-03-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/02/2026)
2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Corporations

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H7858

2026 -- H 7858
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LC005396
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Introduced By:
Representatives Furtado, McGaw, Donovan, O'Brien, Casey, Solomon,
Casimiro, Alzate, Messier, and Cruz

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance
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Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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27-18-96. Disability income insurance coverage for state employees -- Age
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nondiscrimination.

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(a) Any insurer, health maintenance organization, or other entity authorized to issue
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disability income insurance or short-term disability insurance in this state that submits a bid,
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proposal, or contract to provide short-term disability insurance coverage to employees of the State
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of Rhode Island shall offer such coverage on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to age.
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(b) Coverage offered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be made available to
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all eligible state employees actively employed by the state, regardless of age, including employees
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seventy (70) years of age or older.
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(c) No policy, contract, certificate, rider, or plan document issued pursuant to this section
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shall:
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(1) Exclude an otherwise eligible employee solely on the basis of age;
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(2) Terminate coverage solely due to the attainment of a specified age; or
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(3) Impose different eligibility standards based solely on age.
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(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require coverage for an employee who is
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not otherwise actively employed or eligible under the terms of employment established by the state.
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(e) The provisions of this section shall apply only to disability income or short-term

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disability insurance policies issued or renewed pursuant to a bid, contract, or agreement with the
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State of Rhode Island.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
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This act would require that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that
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bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees would cover all eligible employees,
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regardless of age.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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