Section 21.42.365. Coverage for treatment of alcoholism or drug abuse.

   (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan providing coverage for five or more employees of an employer in the group market shall offer a covered employee or the employee's dependent coverage for the treatment of alcoholism or drug abuse.
   (b) In this section, "alcoholism or drug abuse" means an illness characterized by
        (1) a physiological or psychological dependency, or both, on alcoholic beverages or controlled substances as defined in AS 11.71.900; or
        (2) habitual lack of self-control in using alcoholic beverages or controlled substances to the extent that the person's health is substantially impaired or the person's social or economic function is substantially disrupted.

Authorities

21.36.090

Notes

References

AS 21.36.090 Unfair discrimination.

History

(Sec. 2 ch 150 SLA 1988; am Sec. 47 - 49 ch 56 SLA 1996; am Sec. 49 ch 81 SLA 1997; am Sec. 38 ch 38 SLA 2002; am Sec. 2 ch 55 SLA 2009)