THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2820
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding to article 10A a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§431:10A-    Prohibition on rescissions of coverage.  (a)  Notwithstanding sections 431:10-226.5 and 431:10A-106 to the contrary, a group health plan or health insurance insurer shall not rescind coverage under a health benefit plan with respect to an individual, including a group to which the individual belongs or family coverage in which the individual is included, after the individual is covered under the plan, unless:

     (1)  The individual or a person seeking coverage on behalf of the individual performs an act, practice, or omission that constitutes fraud;

     (2)  The individual makes an intentional misrepresentation of material fact as prohibited by the terms of the plan or coverage; or

     (3)  The individual fails to timely pay required premiums or contributions toward the cost of coverage; provided that if a qualified health plan elects to rescind coverage based on nonpayment of premiums or contributions:

         (A)  The qualified health plan shall establish a standard policy for termination of coverage of enrollees or subscribers due to nonpayment; and

         (B)  The standard policy shall include a grace period for recipients of advance payments of the premium tax credit; provided further that:

              (i)  The grace period shall be applied uniformly to enrollees or subscribers in similar circumstances; and

             (ii)  The advance premium tax credit may involve a three month grace period.

     As used in this subsection, "a person seeking coverage on behalf of the individual" shall not include an insurance producer or employee or authorized representative of the health carrier.

     (b)  A health carrier shall provide at least thirty days advance written notice to each plan enrollee or, for individual health insurance coverage, to each primary subscriber, who would be affected by the proposed rescission of coverage before coverage under the plan may be rescinded in accordance with subsection (a) regardless of, in the case of group health insurance coverage, whether the rescission applies to the entire group or only to an individual within the group.

     (c)  This section applies regardless of any applicable contestability period."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§432-    Prohibition on rescissions of coverage.  (a)  Notwithstanding sections 431:10-226.5 and 431:10A-106 to the contrary, a group health plan or health insurance insurer shall not rescind coverage under a health benefit plan with respect to an individual, including a group to which the individual belongs or family coverage in which the individual is included, after the individual is covered under the plan, unless:

     (1)  The individual or a person seeking coverage on behalf of the individual performs an act, practice, or omission that constitutes fraud;

     (2)  The individual makes an intentional misrepresentation of material fact as prohibited by the terms of the plan or coverage; or

     (3)  The individual fails to timely pay required premiums or contributions toward the cost of coverage; provided that if a qualified health plan elects to rescind coverage based on nonpayment of premiums or contributions:

         (A)  The qualified health plan shall establish a standard policy for termination of coverage of enrollees or subscribers due to nonpayment; and

         (B)  The standard policy shall include a grace period for recipients of advance payments of the premium tax credit; provided further that:

              (i)  The grace period shall be applied uniformly to enrollees or subscribers in similar circumstances; and

             (ii)  The advance premium tax credit may involve a three month grace period.

     As used in this subsection, "a person seeking coverage on behalf of the individual" shall not include an insurance producer or employee or authorized representative of the health carrier.

     (b)  A health carrier shall provide at least thirty days advance written notice to each plan enrollee or, for individual health insurance coverage, to each primary subscriber, who would be affected by the proposed rescission of coverage before coverage under the plan may be rescinded in accordance with subsection (a) regardless of, in the case of group health insurance coverage, whether the rescission applies to the entire group or only to an individual within the group.

     (c)  This section applies regardless of any applicable contestability period."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 432D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§432D-    Prohibition on rescissions of coverage.  (a)  Notwithstanding sections 431:10-226.5 and 431:10A-106 to the contrary, a group health plan or health insurance insurer shall not rescind coverage under a health benefit plan with respect to an individual, including a group to which the individual belongs or family coverage in which the individual is included, after the individual is covered under the plan, unless:

     (1)  The individual or a person seeking coverage on behalf of the individual performs an act, practice, or omission that constitutes fraud;

     (2)  The individual makes an intentional misrepresentation of material fact as prohibited by the terms of the plan or coverage; or

     (3)  The individual fails to timely pay required premiums or contributions toward the cost of coverage; provided that if a qualified health plan elects to rescind coverage based on nonpayment of premiums or contributions:

         (A)  The qualified health plan shall establish a standard policy for termination of coverage of enrollees or subscribers due to nonpayment; and

         (B)  The standard policy shall include a grace period for recipients of advance payments of the premium tax credit; provided further that:

              (i)  The grace period shall be applied uniformly to enrollees or subscribers in similar circumstances; and

             (ii)  The advance premium tax credit may involve a three month grace period.

     As used in this subsection, "a person seeking coverage on behalf of the individual" shall not include an insurance producer or employee or authorized representative of the health carrier.

     (b)  A health carrier shall provide at least thirty days advance written notice to each plan enrollee or, for individual health insurance coverage, to each primary subscriber, who would be affected by the proposed rescission of coverage before coverage under the plan may be rescinded in accordance with subsection (a) regardless of, in the case of group health insurance coverage, whether the rescission applies to the entire group or only to an individual within the group.

     (c)  This section applies regardless of any applicable contestability period."

     SECTION 4.  Section 431:1-209, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:1-209  General casualty insurance defined.  General casualty insurance includes vehicle insurance as defined in section 431:1-208, and accident and health or sickness insurance as defined in section 431:1-205, [and in addition is insurance:] when issued as an incidental coverage with or supplemental to liability insurance.  In addition, general casualty insurance is insurance:

     (1)  Against legal liability for the death, injury, or disability of any human being, or from damage to property;

     (2)  Of medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral benefits to persons injured, irrespective of legal liability of the insured, when issued with or supplemental to insurance against legal liability for the death, injury, or disability of human beings;

     (3)  Of the obligation accepted by, imposed upon, or assumed by employers under law for death, disablement, or injury to employees;

     (4)  Against loss or damage by burglary, theft, larceny, robbery, forgery, fraud, vandalism, malicious mischief, confiscation, or wrongful conversion, disposal, or concealment, or from any attempt of any of the foregoing; also insurance against loss or damage to moneys, coins, bullion, securities, notes, drafts, acceptances, or any other valuable papers or documents, resulting from any cause, except while in the mail;

     (5)  Upon personal effects of individuals, by an all-risk type of policy commonly known as the personal property floater;

     (6)  Against loss or damage to glass and its appurtenances resulting from any cause;

     (7)  Against any liability and loss or damage to property resulting from accidents to or explosions of boilers, pipes, pressure containers, machinery, or apparatus;

     (8)  Against loss of or damage to any property of the insured resulting from the ownership, maintenance, or use of elevators, except loss or damage by fire;

     (9)  Against loss or damage to any property caused by the breakage or leakage of sprinklers, water pipes, or containers, or by water entering through leaks or openings in buildings;

    (10)  Against loss or damage resulting from failure of debtors to pay their obligations to the insured (credit insurance);

    (11)  Against loss of or damage to any domesticated or wild animal resulting from any cause (livestock insurance);

    (12)  Against loss of or damage to any property of the insured resulting from collision of any other object with such property, but not including collision to or by vessels, craft, piers, or other instrumentalities of ocean or inland navigation (collision insurance);

    (13)  Against legal liability of the insured, and against loss, damage, or expense incident to a claim of such liability, and including any obligation of the insured to pay medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral benefits to injured persons, irrespective of legal liability of the insured, arising out of the death or injury of any person, or arising out of injury to the economic interest of any person as the result of negligence in rendering expert, fiduciary, or professional service (malpractice insurance);

    (14)  Against any contract of warranty or guaranty which promises service maintenance, parts replacement, repair, money, or any other indemnity in the event of loss of or damage to a motor vehicle or any part thereof from any cause, including loss of or damage to or loss of use of the motor vehicle by reason of depreciation, deterioration, wear and tear, use, obsolescence, or breakage if made by a warrantor or guarantor who or which as such is doing an insurance business; provided that service contracts, as defined and meeting the requirements of chapter 481X, shall not be subject to chapter 431.

              The doing or proposing to do any business in substance equivalent to the business described in this section in a manner designed to evade the provisions of this section is the doing of an insurance business; and

    (15)  Against any other kind of loss, damage, or liability properly the subject of insurance and not within any other class or classes or type of insurance as defined in sections 431:1-204 to 431:1-211, if such insurance is not contrary to law or public policy."

     SECTION 5.  Section 431:2-209, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

     "(d)  Three years after the [year to which they relate,] date filed or within three years of the due date prescribed for the filing of the tax report, whichever is later, the commissioner may destroy [any foreign or alien insurer's] the tax reports[,] of any foreign or alien insurers, surplus lines brokers, or independently procured insureds, or similar records or reports now or hereafter in the commissioner's possession."

     SECTION 6.  Section 431:2-402, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The branch may review and take appropriate action on complaints [relating to insurance fraud.] of fraud relating to insurance under title 24, including chapters 431, 432, and 432D, but excluding workers' compensation insurance under chapter 386."

     SECTION 7.  Section 431:10A-102.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  When used in sections 431:10A-104, 431:10A-105, 431:10A-106, 431:10A-107, 431:10A-108, 431:10A-109, 431:10A-110, 431:10A-111, 431:10A-112, 431:10A-113, 431:10A-114, 431:10A-117, 431:10A-118, 431:10A-601, 431:10A-602, 431:10A-603, and 431:10A‑604, except as otherwise provided, the terms "accident insurance", "accident and health or sickness insurance", "health insurance", or "sickness insurance" shall include an accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, long-term care, disability, dental, vision, medicare supplement, or other limited benefit health insurance contract regardless of the manner in which benefits are paid."

     SECTION 8.  Section 431:11A-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "licensed insurer" or "insurer" to read as follows:

     ""Licensed insurer" or "insurer" means any person, firm, association, or corporation duly licensed to transact a property or casualty insurance business in this State.  The following are not licensed insurers for the purposes of this article:

    [(1)  All risk retention groups as defined in the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act of 1986, P.L. No. 99-499, 100 Stat. 1613 (1986), and the Risk Retention Act, 15 U.S.C. section 3901 et seq. (1982 and Supp. 1986), and chapter 431K;

     (2)] (1)  All residual market pools and joint underwriting authorities or associations; and

    [(3)] (2)  Captive [insurers] insurance companies as defined in section 431:19-101[.], other than risk retention captive insurance companies."

     SECTION 9.  Section 431:14G-103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§431:14G-103[]]  Making of rates.  (a)  Rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory and shall be reasonable in relation to the costs of the benefits provided.

     (b)  Except to the extent necessary to meet subsection (a), uniformity among managed care plans in any matters within the scope of this section shall be neither required nor prohibited.

     (c)  Eighty per cent of all investment income on the reserves net of investment manager fees shall be applied to the rate determination and filing of the managed care plan.  This requirement may be waived or adjusted by the commissioner if the commissioner determines it would impair the minimum reserve requirements or solvency of the managed care plan."

     SECTION 10.  Section 431:19-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "captive insurance company" to read as follows:

     ""Captive insurance company" or "captive insurer" means a class 1 company, class 2 company, class 3 company, class 4 company, or class 5 company formed or authorized under this article."

     SECTION 11.  Section 431M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431M-2  Policy coverage.  (a)  All individual and group accident and health or sickness insurance policies issued in this State, individual or group hospital or medical service plan contracts, and nonprofit mutual benefit society, fraternal benefit society, and health maintenance organization health plan contracts shall include within their hospital and medical coverage the benefits of alcohol dependence, drug dependence, and mental [illness] health treatment services [provided in section 431M-4], except that this section shall not apply to insurance policies that are issued solely for single diseases, or otherwise limited, specialized coverage.

     (b)  The policies and contracts set forth in subsection (a) shall not impose any financial requirements or treatment limitations on mental health or substance use disorder benefits that are more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements and treatment limitations, either quantitative or nonquantitative, imposed on medical and surgical benefits in accordance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008."

     SECTION 12.  Section 432:1-406, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "uncovered expenditures" to read as follows:

     ""Uncovered expenditures" means the costs to the mutual benefit society for health care services that are the obligation of the mutual benefit society, for which a member may be liable in the event of the mutual benefit society's insolvency, and for which no alternative arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the commissioner.  Uncovered expenditures include but are not limited to out-of-area services, referral services, and hospital services.  Uncovered expenditures do not include expenditures for services when a provider has agreed not to bill the member even though the provider is not paid by the mutual benefit society, or for services that are guaranteed, insured, or assumed by a person or organization other than a mutual benefit society."

     SECTION 13.  Section 432:2-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Nothing in this article shall exempt fraternal benefit societies from the provisions and requirements of part IV of article 2, part IV of article 3, and article 15 of chapter 431, and [of section 431:2-215.] sections 431:2-215, 431:3-303, 431:3-304, and 431:3-305."

     SECTION 14.  Section 432D-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "uncovered expenditures" to read as follows:

     ""Uncovered expenditures" means the costs to the health maintenance organization for health care services that are the obligation of the health maintenance organization, for which an enrollee may also be liable in the event of the health maintenance organization's insolvency, and for which no alternative arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the commissioner.  Uncovered expenditures include but are not limited to out-of-area services, referral services, and hospital services.  Uncovered expenditures do not include expenditures for services when a provider has agreed not to bill the enrollee even though the provider is not paid by the health maintenance organization, or for services that are guaranteed, insured, or assumed by a person or organization other than the health maintenance organization."

     SECTION 15.  Section 432D-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

     "(d)  Article 2, article 2D, part IV of article 3, article 6, part III of article 7, article 9A, article 13, article 14G, and article 15 of chapter 431, and sections 431:3-301 [and], 431:3-302, 431:3-303, 431:3-304, and 431:3-305, and the powers granted by those provisions to the commissioner shall apply to health maintenance organizations, so long as the application in any particular case is in compliance with and is not preempted by applicable federal statutes and regulations."

     SECTION 16.  Section 432G-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "uncovered expenditures" to read as follows:

     ""Uncovered expenditures" means the costs to the dental insurer for dental care services that are the obligation of the dental insurer, for which an enrollee may also be liable in the event of the dental insurer's insolvency, and for which no alternative arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the commissioner.  Uncovered expenditures include but are not limited to out-of-area services, referral services, and hospital services.  Uncovered expenditures shall not include expenditures for services when a provider has agreed not to bill the enrollee even though the provider is not paid by the dental insurer, or for services that are guaranteed, insured, or assumed by a person or organization other than the dental insurer."

     SECTION 17.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 18.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

 

Report Title:

Insurance; Rescission of Coverage; Health Benefit Plans; General Casualty Insurance; Tax Records; Insurance Fraud Investigations; Long-term Care Insurance; Captive Insurance; Reserves

 

Description:

Prohibits rescission of coverage under health benefit plans in most circumstances; requires written notice prior to rescission.  Clarifies a requirement with regard to companies with general casualty insurance authority.  Clarifies retention requirements for tax records for surplus line brokers and independently procured insureds.  Allows the insurance fraud investigations branch to take appropriate action in certain instances.  Includes long-term care insurance as part of limited benefit health insurance.  Amends definitions relating to captive insurance companies.  Specifies certain rate making requirements for managed care plans.  Makes other amendments to conform to National Association of Insurance Commissioners model laws and the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.