Smokers would no longer be subject to a health-insurance surcharge in Virginia, under legislation proposed by a local delegate.
Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) is patroning legislation that would end the ability of insurers to impose a premium surcharge of up to 50 percent on tobacco users. The proposal comes out of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
Currently, in addition to tobacco use, insurers can use age, location and whether the policy is for an individual or family to adjust premiums. If passed, Hope’s measure would remove the tobacco measure.
The State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance has requested that the proposed legislation be amended for an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2023, rather than July 1, 2022, which would otherwise be the case.
The bill is HB 675.