AN ACT to create access to affordable health insurance by authorizing the commissioner of insurance to establish and operate a UNIVERSAL healthcare benefit plan for residents of this state.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the General Assembly to create a mechanism for the State to provide a universal healthcare benefit plan for the residents of the State. To that end, the Commissioner of Insurance shall develop and make progress toward establishing and implementing a universal healthcare benefit plan whereby residents pay premiums on a sliding scale that aims to ensure affordability of the universal healthcare benefit plan based upon household income level. Coverage will be available to residents with incomes that exceed those that would otherwise qualify them for coverage under the Medicaid program. No later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services detailing the plans for implementation of the coverage required by this act.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 58‑2‑40(2) is recodified as G.S. 58‑2‑40(b).

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 58‑2‑40, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, reads as rewritten:

§ 58‑2‑40.  Powers and duties of Commissioner.

(a)        The Commissioner shall:has the duty to do all of the following:

(1)        See that all laws of this State that the Commissioner is responsible for administering and the provisions of this Chapter are faithfully executed; and to executed. To that end end, the Commissioner is authorized to adopt rules rules, in accordance with Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, in order to enforce, carry out and make effective the provisions of those laws. The Commissioner is also authorized to adopt such further rules not contrary to those laws that will prevent persons subject to the Commissioner's regulatory authority from engaging in practices injurious to the public.

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(b)        Have The Commissioner shall have the power and authority to adopt rules pertaining to and governing the solicitation of proxies, including related financial reporting in connection therewith, reporting requirements, with respect to the capital stock or other equity securities of any domestic stock insurance company.

(c)        The Commissioner shall establish a State‑government run, universal healthcare benefit plan. The Commissioner is authorized to do all of the following:

(1)        Create any advisory board or committee for providing recommendations on the creation, implementation, or operation of the universal healthcare benefit plan.

(2)        Set and collect premiums for the coverage in a manner that seeks to ensure affordability and takes into account the household income level of the covered persons.

(3)        Design the benefit coverage available under the universal healthcare benefit plan. This coverage shall meet or exceed all federal requirements for individual health benefit plans under the Affordable Care Act.

SECTION 3.  Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Insurance the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in recurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to be used to plan for and begin the implementation of the universal healthcare benefit plan required by this act.

SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.