Insurance bill passes House

The state House on Monday approved a bill that is designed to help consumers once again buy child-only health insurance policies.

Many large insurers stopped writing the child-only policies after a provision of the national health care law banned insurers from turning down children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

The legislation, House Bill 1166, which will now go to the Senate, sets up a process for enrollment that would protect insurers from families who avoid buying coverage until a child gets sick.