§300gg–61. Enforcement

(a) State enforcement

(1) State authority

Subject to section 300gg–62 of this title, each State may require that health insurance issuers that issue, sell, renew, or offer health insurance coverage in the State in the individual market meet the requirements established under this part with respect to such issuers.

(2) Failure to implement requirements

In the case of a State that fails to substantially enforce the requirements set forth in this part with respect to health insurance issuers in the State, the Secretary shall enforce the requirements of this part under subsection (b) of this section insofar as they relate to the issuance, sale, renewal, and offering of health insurance coverage in the individual market in such State.

(b) Secretarial enforcement authority

The Secretary shall have the same authority in relation to enforcement of the provisions of this part with respect to issuers of health insurance coverage in the individual market in a State as the Secretary has under section 300gg–22(b)(2) of this title in relation to the enforcement of the provisions of part A of this subchapter with respect to issuers of health insurance coverage in the small group market in the State.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVII, §2761, formerly §2745, as added Pub. L. 104–191, title I, §111(a), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1986 ; renumbered §2761 and amended Pub. L. 104–204, title VI, §605(a)(2), (b)(2), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2941 , 2942.)

Amendments

1996-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–204 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 300gg–62 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–204 applicable to health insurance coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, in effect, or operated in the individual market on or after Jan. 1, 1998, see section 605(c) of Pub. L. 104–204, set out as a note under section 300gg–44 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to health insurance coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, in effect, or operated in the individual market after June 30, 1997, regardless of when a period of creditable coverage occurs, see section 111(b) of Pub. L. 104–191, set out as a note under section 300gg–41 of this title.