8. Obligation to provide health insurance.
The following section is substituted for section 8 of the Principal Act:
(1) A registered undertaking, other than a restricted membership undertaking, shall not refuse to effect a health insurance contract with or for a person of whatever age or such a person and his or her dependants except in such cases (if any) or in such circumstances (if any) as may be prescribed.
(2) A restricted membership undertaking shall not -
(a) impose as a condition of qualification for membership of the undertaking a requirement as to age,
(b) refuse to admit to membership of the undertaking a person who is qualified for such membership and requests to be so admitted, or
(c) refuse to effect a health insurance contract with or for such a person as aforesaid or with or for such a person and his or her dependants,
except in such cases (if any) or in such circumstances (if any) as may be prescribed.
(3) The Minister may prescribe the maximum waiting periods for eligibility for payment under a health insurance contract which a registered undertaking may impose in respect of the person effecting the contract or his or her dependants and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, in respect of a person who -
(a) is of or under a prescribed age,
(b) is of or over a prescribed age,