establishing an uncompensated care assessment, fund, and committee within the department of insurance.

SB 136 creates a state fund to cover medically necessary care for uninsured patients by imposing a surcharge on commercial health insurers, reinsurers, and certain self-insured plans (including state/municipal plans). The fund, managed by the Department of Insurance, will support non-profit safety-net health providers who treat uninsured individuals who don’t qualify for government programs. Insurers must pay the assessment directly without passing costs to consumers via higher premiums, and an advisory committee will determine annual assessment levels and fund distribution. The program will begin in January 2026, with assessments collected quarterly starting in 2026.