Adopted children

Sec. 21. (a) Any individual or group policy or plan of health and accident insurance regulated under this chapter or any health maintenance organization or limited service health maintenance organization regulated under IC 27-13 that provides coverage under a policy issued for delivery in Indiana must cover newly adopted children of the insured or enrollee. The coverage for newly adopted children will be the same as for other dependents. No policy or plan provision concerning preexisting condition limitations, insurability, eligibility, or health underwriting approval may be applied to newly adopted children when they are enrolled in accordance with this section. (b) The coverage required by this section: (1) is effective upon the earlier of: (A) the date of placement for the purpose of adoption; or (B) the date of the entry of an order granting the adoptive parent custody of the child for purposes of adoption; (2) continues unless the placement is disrupted prior to legal adoption and the child is removed from placement; and (3) continues unless required action as described in subsection (c) is not taken. (c) If the payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for an adopted child, the policy or contract may require that notification of the adoption of the child as described in subsection (b) and the payment of the required premium or fees must be furnished to the insurer or nonprofit service or indemnity corporation within thirty-one (31) days after the adoption of the child in order to have the coverage continue beyond the thirty-one (31) day period.