AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURER LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES AND HARMS CAUSED BY UNDUE DELAY IN AUTHORIZING OR APPROVING CARE.

SB 456 (AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURER LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES AND HARMS CAUSED BY UNDUE DELAY IN AUTHORIZING OR APPROVING CARE) allows patients to sue health insurers directly for damages caused by unreasonable delays in approving necessary medical care, rather than suing healthcare providers. This bill directly affects patients who experience care delays, health insurers who authorize or deny coverage, and licensed healthcare professionals who may have faced lawsuits for outcomes tied to insurer delays. The key provision amends statutes to shift legal liability from healthcare providers to insurers for harms resulting from undue delay in authorizing treatment. It aims to hold insurers accountable for restricting timely care access while protecting medical professionals from legal claims related to those delays.