To prohibit discrimination in the provision of life insurance on the basis of a person's previous lawful travel experiences.

July 28, 2005

Mr. EMANUEL (for himself, Mr. WEINER, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, and Mr. BISHOP of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To prohibit discrimination in the provision of life insurance on the basis of a person's previous lawful travel experiences.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Life Insurance Anti-Discrimination in Travel Act'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON PREVIOUS LAWFUL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.

(a) In General- It shall be unlawful to deny any person life insurance coverage, or to make any distinction or otherwise discriminate in the issuance, cancellation, terms (including premium rates), or conditions of life insurance coverage, based upon the past lawful travel experiences of such person.

(b) Definition-

(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this Act, the term `life insurance' means insurance for which the probabilities of the duration of human life or the rate of mortality are an element or condition of insurance.

(2) INCLUDED INSURANCE- Such term includes the granting of--

(A) endowment benefits;

(B) additional benefits in the event of death by accident or accidental means;

(C) disability income benefits;

(D) additional disability benefits that operate to safeguard the contract from lapse or to provide a special surrender value, or special benefit in the event of total and permanent disability;

(E) benefits that provide payment or reimbursement for long-term home health care, or long-term care in a nursing home or other related facility;

(F) burial insurance; and

(G) optional modes of settlement of proceeds of life insurance.

(3) EXCLUSIONS- Such term does not include property and casualty insurance, health insurance (except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2)), or workers compensation insurance.

SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT.

A violation of this section constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)).

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to any policy for life insurance coverage issued, renewed, altered, or modified after the expiration of such period.

END