NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 600

HOUSE BILL 476

 

 

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN PROVISIONS OF LIFE INSURANCE TO ANY PERSON POSSESSING THE SICKLE CELL TRAIT.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Article 22 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes of North Carolina is hereby amended by the addition of a new section thereto which shall be designated as G.S. 58‑195.5 and which shall read as follows:

"§ 58-195.5.  Policies to be issued to any person possessing the Sickle Cell Trait or Hemoglobin C Trait. — No insurance company licensed in this State pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 58 shall refuse to issue or deliver any policy of life insurance authorized thereunder solely by reason of the fact that the person to be insured possesses Sickle Cell Trait or Hemoglobin C Trait; nor shall any such policy issued and delivered in this State carry a higher premium rate or charge by reason of the fact that the person to be insured possesses said traits. The term 'sickle cell trait' is defined as the condition wherein the major natural hemoglobin components present in the blood of the individual are hemoglobin A (normal) and hemoglobin S (sickle hemoglobin) as defined by standard chemical and physical analytic techniques, including electrophoresis; and the proportion of hemoglobin A is greater than the proportion of hemoglobin S or one natural parent of the individual is shown to have only normal hemoglobin components (hemoglobin A, hemoglobin A2 , hemoglobin F) in the normal proportions by standard chemical and physical analytic tests. The term 'hemoglobin C trait' is defined as the condition wherein the major natural hemoglobin components present in the blood of the individual are hemoglobin A (normal) and hemoglobin C as defined by standard chemical and physical analytic techniques, including electrophoresis; and the proportion of hemoglobin A is greater than the proportion of hemoglobin C or one natural parent of the individual is shown to have only normal hemoglobin components(hemoglobin A, hemoglobin A2, hemoglobin F) in the normal proportions by standard chemical and physical analytic tests."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1975, and shall apply to policies of insurance delivered or issued for delivery in this State on and after July 1, 1975.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 16th day of June, 1975.