1. Each health carrier or health benefit plan that offers or issues health benefit plans which are delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2014, and that provides coverage for prescription eye drops shall provide coverage for the refilling of an eye drop prescription prior to the last day of the prescribed dosage period without regard to a coverage restriction for early refill of prescription renewals as long as the prescribing health care provider authorizes such early refill, and the health carrier or the health benefit plan is notified.

2. For the purposes of this section, health carrier and health benefit plan shall have the same meaning as defined in section 376.1350.

3. The coverage required by this section shall not be subject to any greater deductible or co-payment than other similar health care services provided by the health benefit plan.

4. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a supplemental insurance policy, including a life care contract, accident-only policy, specified disease policy, hospital policy providing a fixed daily benefit only, Medicare supplement policy, long-term care policy, short-term major medical policies of six months’ or less duration, or any other supplemental policy as determined by the director of the department of commerce and insurance.