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Public Act 100-0687
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HB5251 Enrolled | LRB100 18859 SMS 34101 b |
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AN ACT concerning regulation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by |
changing Sections 531.02, 531.03, 531.05, 531.06, 531.07, |
531.08, 531.09, 531.10, 531.11, 531.12, 531.13, 531.14, and |
531.19 and by adding Section 531.20 as follows:
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(215 ILCS 5/531.02) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-2)
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Sec. 531.02. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to |
protect,
subject to certain limitations, the persons specified |
in paragraph (1) of
Section 531.03 against failure
in the |
performance of contractual obligations, under life , or health
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insurance policies , and annuity policies, plans, or contracts |
and health or medical care service
contracts specified in |
paragraph (2) of Section 531.03, due to the
impairment or |
insolvency of the
member insurer issuing such policies , plans, |
or contracts. To provide this protection,
(1) an association of |
member insurers is created to enable the guaranty of payment
of |
benefits and of continuation of coverages, (2) members of the |
Association
are subject to assessment to provide funds to carry |
out the purpose of this
Article, and (3) the Association is |
authorized to assist the Director, in
the prescribed manner, in |
the detection and prevention of member insurer impairments
or |
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insolvencies.
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(Source: P.A. 86-753.)
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(215 ILCS 5/531.03) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-3)
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Sec. 531.03. Coverage and limitations.
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(1) This Article shall provide
coverage for the policies |
and contracts specified in subsection paragraph (2) of this
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Section:
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(a) to persons who, regardless of where they reside |
(except for
non-resident certificate holders under group |
policies or contracts), are the
beneficiaries, assignees |
or payees , including health care providers rendering |
services covered under a health insurance policy or |
certificate, of the persons covered under paragraph (b) of |
this subsection subparagraph
(1)(b) , and
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(b) to persons who are owners of or certificate holders |
or enrollees under the policies or contracts (other than |
unallocated annuity contracts and structured settlement |
annuities) and in each case who: |
(i) are residents; or |
(ii) are not residents, but only under all of the |
following conditions: |
(A) the member insurer that issued the |
policies or contracts is domiciled in this State; |
(B) the states in which the persons reside have |
associations similar to the Association created by |
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this Article; |
(C) the persons are not eligible for coverage |
by an association in any other state due to the |
fact that the insurer or health maintenance |
organization was not licensed in that state at the |
time specified in that state's guaranty |
association law. |
(c) For unallocated annuity contracts specified in |
subsection (2), paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection |
(1) shall not apply and this Article shall (except as |
provided in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this subsection) |
provide coverage to: |
(i) persons who are the owners of the unallocated |
annuity contracts if the contracts are issued to or in |
connection with a specific benefit plan whose plan |
sponsor has its principal place of business in this |
State; and |
(ii) persons who are owners of unallocated annuity |
contracts issued to or in connection with government |
lotteries if the owners are residents. |
(d) For structured settlement annuities specified in |
subsection (2), paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection |
(1) shall not apply and this Article shall (except as |
provided in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this subsection) |
provide coverage to a person who is a payee under a |
structured settlement annuity (or beneficiary of a payee if |
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the payee is deceased), if the payee: |
(i) is a resident, regardless of where the contract |
owner resides; or |
(ii) is not a resident, but only under both of the |
following conditions: |
(A) with regard to residency: |
(I) the contract owner of the structured |
settlement annuity is a resident; or |
(II) the contract owner of the structured |
settlement annuity is not a resident but the |
insurer that issued the structured settlement |
annuity is domiciled in this State and the |
state in which the contract owner resides has |
an association similar to the Association |
created by this Article; and |
(B) neither the payee or beneficiary nor the |
contract owner is eligible for coverage by the |
association of the state in which the payee or |
contract owner resides. |
(e) This Article shall not provide coverage to: |
(i) a person who is a payee or beneficiary of a |
contract owner resident of this State if the payee or |
beneficiary is afforded any coverage by the |
association of another state; or |
(ii) a person covered under paragraph (c) of this |
subsection (1), if any coverage is provided by the |
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association of another state to that person. |
(f) This Article is intended to provide coverage to a |
person who is a resident of this State and, in special |
circumstances, to a nonresident. In order to avoid |
duplicate coverage, if a person who would otherwise receive |
coverage under this Article is provided coverage under the |
laws of any other state, then the person shall not be |
provided coverage under this Article. In determining the |
application of the provisions of this paragraph in |
situations where a person could be covered by the |
association of more than one state, whether as an owner, |
payee, enrollee, beneficiary, or assignee, this Article |
shall be construed in conjunction with other state laws to |
result in coverage by only one association.
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(2)(a) This Article shall provide coverage to the persons
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specified in subsection paragraph (1) of this Section for |
policies or contracts of direct, (i)
nongroup life insurance , |
health insurance (that, for the purposes of this Article, |
includes health maintenance organization subscriber contracts |
and certificates) , annuities annuity and
supplemental |
policies, or contracts to any of these , (ii) for
certificates |
under direct group policies or contracts, (iii) for unallocated
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annuity contracts and (iv) for contracts to furnish
health care |
services and subscription certificates for medical or health
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care services issued by persons licensed to transact insurance |
business
in this State under this the Illinois Insurance Code.
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Annuity contracts and certificates under group annuity |
contracts include
but are not limited to guaranteed investment |
contracts, deposit
administration contracts, unallocated |
funding agreements, allocated funding
agreements, structured |
settlement agreements, lottery contracts
and any immediate or |
deferred annuity contracts.
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(b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this |
subsection, this This Article shall not provide coverage for:
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(i) that portion of a policy or contract not guaranteed |
by the member insurer, or under which the risk is borne by |
the policy or contract owner;
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(ii) any such policy or contract or part thereof |
assumed by the impaired
or insolvent insurer under a |
contract of reinsurance, other than reinsurance
for which |
assumption certificates have been issued;
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(iii) any portion of a policy or contract to the extent |
that the rate of interest on which it is based or the |
interest rate, crediting rate, or similar factor is |
determined by use of an index or other external reference |
stated in the policy or contract employed in calculating |
returns or changes in value:
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(A) averaged over the period of 4 years prior to |
the date on which the member insurer becomes an |
impaired or insolvent insurer under this Article, |
whichever is earlier, exceeds the rate of interest |
determined by subtracting 2 percentage points from |
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Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average averaged for that |
same 4-year period or for such lesser period if the |
policy or contract was issued less than 4 years before |
the member insurer becomes an impaired or insolvent |
insurer under this Article, whichever is earlier; and
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(B) on and after the date on which the member |
insurer becomes an impaired or insolvent insurer under |
this Article, whichever is earlier, exceeds the rate of |
interest determined by subtracting 3 percentage points |
from Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average as most |
recently available;
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(iv) any unallocated annuity contract issued to or in |
connection with a benefit plan protected under the federal |
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, regardless of |
whether the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
has yet become liable to make any payments with respect to |
the benefit plan;
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(v) any portion of any unallocated annuity contract |
which is not issued
to or in connection with a specific |
employee, union or association of
natural persons benefit |
plan or a government lottery;
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(vi) an obligation that does not arise under the |
express written terms of the policy or contract issued by |
the member insurer to the enrollee, certificate holder, |
contract owner , or policy owner, including without |
limitation: |
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(A) a claim based on marketing materials; |
(B) a claim based on side letters, riders, or other |
documents that were issued by the member insurer |
without meeting applicable policy or contract form |
filing or approval requirements; |
(C) a misrepresentation of or regarding policy or |
contract benefits; |
(D) an extra-contractual claim; or |
(E) a claim for penalties or consequential or |
incidental damages;
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(vii) any stop-loss insurance, as defined in clause (b) |
of Class 1 or
clause (a) of Class 2 of Section 4, and |
further defined in subsection (d) of
Section 352;
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(viii) any policy or contract providing any hospital, |
medical, prescription drug, or other health care benefits |
pursuant to Part C or Part D of Subchapter XVIII, Chapter 7 |
of Title 42 of the United States Code (commonly known as |
Medicare Part C & D) , Subchapter XIX, Chapter 7 of Title 42 |
of the United States Code (commonly known as Medicaid), or |
any regulations issued pursuant thereto; |
(ix) any portion of a policy or contract to the extent |
that the assessments required by Section 531.09 of this |
Code with respect to the policy or contract are preempted |
or otherwise not permitted by federal or State law; |
(x) any portion of a policy or contract issued to a |
plan or program of an employer, association, or other |
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person to provide life, health, or annuity benefits to its |
employees, members, or others to the extent that the plan |
or program is self-funded or uninsured, including, but not |
limited to, benefits payable by an employer, association, |
or other person under: |
(A) a multiple employer welfare arrangement as |
defined in 29 U.S.C. Section 1002 1144 ; |
(B) a minimum premium group insurance plan; |
(C) a stop-loss group insurance plan; or |
(D) an administrative services only contract; |
(xi) any portion of a policy or contract to the extent |
that it provides for: |
(A) dividends or experience rating credits; |
(B) voting rights; or |
(C) payment of any fees or allowances to any |
person, including the policy or contract owner, in |
connection with the service to or administration of the |
policy or contract; |
(xii) any policy or contract issued in this State by a |
member insurer at a time when it was not licensed or did |
not have a certificate of authority to issue the policy or |
contract in this State; |
(xiii) any contractual agreement that establishes the |
member insurer's obligations to provide a book value |
accounting guaranty for defined contribution benefit plan |
participants by reference to a portfolio of assets that is |
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owned by the benefit plan or its trustee, which in each |
case is not an affiliate of the member insurer; |
(xiv) any portion of a policy or contract to the extent |
that it provides for interest or other changes in value to |
be determined by the use of an index or other external |
reference stated in the policy or contract, but which have |
not been credited to the policy or contract, or as to which |
the policy or contract owner's rights are subject to |
forfeiture, as of the date the member insurer becomes an |
impaired or insolvent insurer under this Code, whichever is |
earlier. If a policy's or contract's interest or changes in |
value are credited less frequently than annually, then for |
purposes of determining the values that have been credited |
and are not subject to forfeiture under this Section, the |
interest or change in value determined by using the |
procedures defined in the policy or contract will be |
credited as if the contractual date of crediting interest |
or changing values was the date of impairment or |
insolvency, whichever is earlier, and will not be subject |
to forfeiture; or
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(xv) that portion or part of a variable life insurance |
or
variable
annuity
contract not guaranteed by a member an |
insurer.
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(c) The exclusion from coverage referenced in subdivision |
(iii) of paragraph (b) of this subsection shall not apply to |
any portion of a policy or contract, including a rider, that |
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provides long-term care or other health insurance benefits. |
(3) The benefits for which the Association may become |
liable shall in
no event exceed the lesser of:
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(a) the contractual obligations for which the member |
insurer is liable or would
have been liable if it were not |
an impaired or insolvent insurer, or
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(b)(i) with respect to any one life, regardless of the |
number of policies
or
contracts:
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(A) $300,000 in life insurance death benefits, but |
not more than
$100,000 in net cash surrender and net |
cash withdrawal values for life
insurance;
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(B) for in health insurance benefits: |
(I) $100,000 for coverages not defined as |
disability income insurance or health benefit |
plans basic hospital, medical, and surgical |
insurance or major medical insurance or long-term |
care insurance, including any net cash surrender |
and net cash withdrawal values; |
(II) $300,000 for disability income insurance |
and $300,000 for long-term care insurance as |
defined in Section 351A-1 of this Code ; and |
(III) $500,000 for health benefit plans basic |
hospital medical and surgical insurance or major |
medical insurance ;
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(C) $250,000 in the present value of annuity |
benefits, including net cash surrender and net cash |
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withdrawal values; |
(ii) with respect to each individual participating in a |
governmental retirement benefit plan established under |
Section Sections 401, 403(b), or 457 of the U.S. Internal |
Revenue Code covered by an unallocated annuity contract or |
the beneficiaries of each such individual if deceased, in |
the aggregate, $250,000 in present value annuity benefits, |
including net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal |
values; |
(iii) with respect to each payee of a structured |
settlement annuity or beneficiary or beneficiaries of the |
payee if deceased, $250,000 in present value annuity |
benefits, in the aggregate, including net cash surrender |
and net cash withdrawal values, if any; or |
(iv) with respect to either (1) one contract owner |
provided coverage under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (c) |
of subsection (1) of this Section or (2) one plan sponsor |
whose plans own directly or in trust one or more |
unallocated annuity contracts not included in subparagraph |
(ii) of paragraph (b) of this subsection, $5,000,000 in |
benefits, irrespective of the number of contracts with |
respect to the contract owner or plan sponsor. However, in |
the case where one or more unallocated annuity contracts |
are covered contracts under this Article and are owned by a |
trust or other entity for the benefit of 2 or more plan |
sponsors, coverage shall be afforded by the Association if |
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the largest interest in the trust or entity owning the |
contract or contracts is held by a plan sponsor whose |
principal place of business is in this State. In no event |
shall the Association be obligated to cover more than |
$5,000,000 in benefits with respect to all these |
unallocated contracts. |
In no event shall the Association be obligated to cover |
more than (1) an aggregate of $300,000 in benefits with respect |
to any one life under subparagraphs (i), (ii), and (iii) of |
this paragraph (b) except with respect to benefits for health |
benefit plans basic hospital, medical, and surgical insurance |
and major medical insurance under item (B) of subparagraph (i) |
of this paragraph (b), in which case the aggregate liability of |
the Association shall not exceed $500,000 with respect to any |
one individual or (2) with respect to one owner of multiple |
nongroup policies of life insurance, whether the policy or |
contract owner is an individual, firm, corporation, or other |
person and whether the persons insured are officers, managers, |
employees, or other persons, $5,000,000 in benefits, |
regardless of the number of policies and contracts held by the |
owner. |
The limitations set forth in this subsection are |
limitations on the benefits for which the Association is |
obligated before taking into account either its subrogation and |
assignment rights or the extent to which those benefits could |
be provided out of the assets of the impaired or insolvent |
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insurer attributable to covered policies. The costs of the |
Association's obligations under this Article may be met by the |
use of assets attributable to covered policies or reimbursed to |
the Association pursuant to its subrogation and assignment |
rights.
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For purposes of this Article, benefits provided by a |
long-term care rider to a life insurance policy or annuity |
contract shall be considered the same type of benefits as the |
base life insurance policy or annuity contract to which it |
relates. |
(4) In performing its obligations to provide coverage under |
Section 531.08 of this Code, the Association shall not be |
required to guarantee, assume, reinsure, reissue, or perform or |
cause to be guaranteed, assumed, reinsured, reissued, or |
performed the contractual obligations of the insolvent or |
impaired insurer under a covered policy or contract that do not |
materially affect the economic values or economic benefits of |
the covered policy or contract. |
(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10; revised 10-5-17.)
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(215 ILCS 5/531.05) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-5)
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Sec. 531.05. Definitions. As used in this Act:
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"Account" means either of the 2 3 accounts created under |
Section
531.06.
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"Association" means the Illinois Life and Health Insurance
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Guaranty Association created under Section 531.06.
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"Authorized assessment" or the term "authorized" when used |
in the context of assessments means a resolution by the Board |
of Directors has been passed whereby an assessment shall be |
called immediately or in the future from member insurers for a |
specified amount. An assessment is authorized when the |
resolution is passed. |
"Benefit plan" means a specific employee, union, or |
association of natural persons benefit plan. |
"Called assessment" or the term "called" when used in the |
context of assessments means that a notice has been issued by |
the Association to member insurers requiring that an authorized |
assessment be paid within the time frame set forth within the |
notice. An authorized assessment becomes a called assessment |
when notice is mailed by the Association to member insurers. |
"Director" means the Director of Insurance of this State.
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"Contractual obligation" means any obligation under a |
policy or
contract or certificate under a group policy or |
contract, or portion
thereof for which coverage is provided |
under Section 531.03.
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"Covered person" means any person who is entitled to the
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protection of the Association as described in Section 531.02.
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"Covered contract" or "covered policy" means any policy or |
contract within the scope
of this Article under Section 531.03.
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"Extra-contractual claims" shall include , but are not |
limited to, claims relating to bad faith in the payment of |
claims, punitive or exemplary damages, or attorneys' fees and |
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costs. |
"Health benefit plan" means any hospital or medical expense |
policy or certificate or
health maintenance organization |
subscriber contract or any other similar health
contract. |
"Health benefit plan" does not include: |
(1) accident only insurance; |
(2) credit insurance; |
(3) dental only insurance; |
(4) vision only insurance; |
(5) Medicare supplement insurance; |
(6) benefits for long-term care, home health care, |
community-based care, or any
combination thereof; |
(7) disability income insurance; |
(8) coverage for on-site medical clinics; or |
(9) specified disease, hospital confinement indemnity, |
or limited benefit health
insurance if the types of |
coverage do not provide coordination of benefits and
are |
provided under separate policies or certificates. |
"Impaired insurer" means (A) a member insurer which, after |
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General |
Assembly, is not an insolvent insurer, and is placed under an |
order of rehabilitation or conservation by a court of competent |
jurisdiction or (B) a member insurer deemed by the Director |
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th |
General Assembly to be potentially unable to fulfill its |
contractual obligations and not an insolvent insurer.
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"Insolvent insurer" means a member insurer that, after the |
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General |
Assembly, is placed under a final order of liquidation by a |
court of competent jurisdiction with a finding of insolvency.
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"Member insurer" means an insurer or health maintenance |
organization licensed or holding a certificate of authority to |
transact in this State any kind of insurance or health |
maintenance organization business for which coverage is |
provided under Section 531.03 of this Code and includes an |
insurer or health maintenance organization whose license or |
certificate of authority in this State may have been suspended, |
revoked, not renewed, or voluntarily withdrawn or whose |
certificate of authority may have been suspended pursuant to |
Section 119 of this Code, but does not include: |
(1) a hospital or medical service organization, |
whether profit or nonprofit; |
(2) (blank); a health maintenance organization; |
(3) any burial society organized under Article XIX of |
this Code, any fraternal benefit society organized under |
Article XVII of this Code, any mutual benefit association |
organized under Article XVIII of this Code, and any foreign |
fraternal benefit society licensed under Article VI of this |
Code or
a fraternal benefit society ; |
(4) a mandatory State pooling plan; |
(5) a mutual assessment company or other person that |
operates on an assessment basis; |
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(6) an insurance exchange; |
(7) an organization that is permitted to issue |
charitable gift annuities pursuant to Section 121-2.10 of |
this Code; |
(8) any health services plan corporation established |
pursuant to the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act; |
(9) any dental service plan corporation established |
pursuant to the Dental Service Plan Act; or |
(10) an entity similar to any of the above.
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"Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average" means the Monthly |
Average
Corporates as published by Moody's Investors Service, |
Inc., or any successor
thereto. |
"Owner" of a policy or contract and "policyholder", "policy |
owner" , and "contract owner" mean the person who is identified |
as the legal owner under the terms of the policy or contract or |
who is otherwise vested with legal title to the policy or |
contract through a valid assignment completed in accordance |
with the terms of the policy or contract and properly recorded |
as the owner on the books of the member insurer. The terms |
owner, contract owner, policyholder, and policy owner do not |
include persons with a mere beneficial interest in a policy or |
contract. |
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited |
liability company, partnership, association, governmental body |
or entity, or voluntary organization. |
"Plan sponsor" means: |
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(1) the employer in the case of a benefit plan |
established or maintained by a single employer; |
(2) the employee organization in the case of a benefit |
plan established or maintained by an employee |
organization; or |
(3) in a case of a benefit plan established or |
maintained by 2 or more employers or jointly by one or more |
employers and one or more employee organizations, the |
association, committee, joint board of trustees, or other |
similar group of representatives of the parties who |
establish or maintain the benefit plan. |
"Premiums" mean amounts or considerations, by whatever |
name called, received on covered policies or contracts less |
returned premiums, considerations, and deposits and less |
dividends and experience credits. |
"Premiums" does not include: |
(A) amounts or considerations received for policies or |
contracts or for the portions of policies or contracts for |
which coverage is not provided under Section 531.03 of this |
Code except that assessable premium shall not be reduced on |
account of the provisions of subparagraph (iii) of |
paragraph (b) of subsection (2) (a) of Section 531.03 of |
this Code relating to interest limitations and the |
provisions of paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of Section |
531.03 relating to limitations with respect to one |
individual, one participant, and one policy owner or |
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contract owner; |
(B) premiums in excess of $5,000,000 on an unallocated |
annuity contract not issued under a governmental |
retirement benefit plan (or its trustee) established under |
Section 401, 403(b) or 457 of the United States Internal |
Revenue Code; or |
(C) with respect to multiple nongroup policies of life |
insurance owned by one owner, whether the policy owner or |
contract owner is an individual, firm, corporation, or |
other person, and whether the persons insured are officers, |
managers, employees, or other persons, premiums in excess |
of $5,000,000 with respect to these policies or contracts, |
regardless of the number of policies or contracts held by |
the owner.
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"Principal place of business" of a plan sponsor or a person |
other than a natural person means the single state in which the |
natural persons who establish policy for the direction, |
control, and coordination of the operations of the entity as a |
whole primarily exercise that function, determined by the |
Association in its reasonable judgment by considering the |
following factors: |
(A) the state in which the primary executive and |
administrative headquarters of the entity is located; |
(B) the state in which the principal office of the |
chief executive officer of the entity is located; |
(C) the state in which the board of directors (or |
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similar governing person or persons) of the entity conducts |
the majority of its meetings; |
(D) the state in which the executive or management |
committee of the board of directors (or similar governing |
person or persons) of the entity conducts the majority of |
its meetings; |
(E) the state from which the management of the overall |
operations of the entity is directed; and |
(F) in the case of a benefit plan sponsored by |
affiliated companies comprising a consolidated |
corporation, the state in which the holding company or |
controlling affiliate has its principal place of business |
as determined using the above factors. However, in the case |
of a plan sponsor, if more than 50% of the participants in |
the benefit plan are employed in a single state, that state |
shall be deemed to be the principal place of business of |
the plan sponsor. |
The principal place of business of a plan sponsor of a |
benefit plan described in paragraph (3) of the definition of |
"plan sponsor" this Section shall be deemed to be the principal |
place of business of the association, committee, joint board of |
trustees, or other similar group of representatives of the |
parties who establish or maintain the benefit plan that, in |
lieu of a specific or clear designation of a principal place of |
business, shall be deemed to be the principal place of business |
of the employer or employee organization that has the largest |
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investment in the benefit plan in question. |
"Receivership court" means the court in the insolvent or |
impaired insurer's state having jurisdiction over the |
conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation of the member |
insurer. |
"Resident" means a person to whom a contractual obligation |
is owed and who resides in this State on the date of entry of a |
court order that determines a member insurer to be an impaired |
insurer or a court order that determines a member insurer to be |
an insolvent insurer. A person may be a resident of only one |
state, which in the case of a person other than a natural |
person shall be its principal place of business. Citizens of |
the United States that are either (i) residents of foreign |
countries or (ii) residents of United States possessions, |
territories, or protectorates that do not have an association |
similar to the Association created by this Article, shall be |
deemed residents of the state of domicile of the member insurer |
that issued the policies or contracts.
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"Structured settlement annuity" means an annuity purchased |
in order to fund periodic payments for a plaintiff or other |
claimant in payment for or with respect to personal injury |
suffered by the plaintiff or other claimant. |
"State" means a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto |
Rico, and a United States possession, territory, or |
protectorate. |
"Supplemental contract" means a written agreement entered |
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into for the distribution of proceeds under a life, health, or |
annuity policy or a life, health, or annuity contract.
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"Unallocated annuity contract" means any annuity contract |
or group
annuity certificate which is not issued to and owned |
by an individual,
except to the extent of any annuity benefits |
guaranteed to an individual by
an insurer under such contract |
or certificate.
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(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
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(215 ILCS 5/531.06) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-6)
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Sec. 531.06. Creation of the Association. There is created |
a
non-profit legal entity to be known as the Illinois Life and |
Health
Insurance Guaranty Association. All member insurers are |
and must remain
members of the Association as a condition of |
their authority to transact
insurance or a health maintenance |
organization business in this State. The Association must |
perform its functions under
the plan of operation established |
and approved under Section 531.10 and must
exercise its powers |
through a board of directors established under
Section 531.07. |
For purposes of administration and assessment, the Association
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must maintain 2 accounts:
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(1) The life insurance and annuity account, which |
includes the following
subaccounts:
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(a) Life Insurance Account;
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(b) Annuity account, which shall include annuity |
contracts owned by a governmental retirement plan (or |
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its trustee) established under Section 401, 403(b), or |
457 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, but |
shall otherwise exclude unallocated annuities; and
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(c) Unallocated annuity account, which shall |
exclude contracts owned by a governmental retirement |
benefit plan (or its trustee) established under |
Section 401, 403(b), or 457 of the United States |
Internal Revenue Code.
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(2) The health insurance account.
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The Association shall be supervised by the Director
and is |
subject to the applicable provisions of the Illinois Insurance
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Code. Meetings or records of the Association may be opened to |
the public upon majority vote of the board of directors of the |
Association.
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(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
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(215 ILCS 5/531.07) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-7)
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Sec. 531.07. Board of Directors.) The board of directors |
of the
Association consists of not less than 7 nor more than 11 |
members serving
terms as established in the plan of operation. |
The insurer members insurers of the board
are to be selected by |
member insurers subject to the approval of the
Director. In |
addition, 2 persons who must be public representatives may be |
appointed by the Director to the board of directors. A public |
representative may not be an officer, director, or employee of |
an insurance company or a health maintenance organization or |
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any person engaged in the business of insurance. Vacancies on |
the board must be filled for the remaining period
of the term |
in the manner described in the plan of operation.
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In approving selections or in appointing members to the |
board, the
Director must consider, whether all member insurers |
are
fairly represented.
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Members of the board may be reimbursed from the assets of |
the Association
for expenses incurred by them as members of the |
board of directors but
members of the board may not otherwise |
be compensated by the Association for
their services.
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(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
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(215 ILCS 5/531.08) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-8)
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Sec. 531.08. Powers and duties of the Association. |
(a) In addition to
the powers and duties enumerated in |
other Sections of this Article:
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(1) If a member insurer is an impaired insurer, then |
the Association may, in its discretion and subject to any |
conditions imposed by the Association that do not impair |
the contractual obligations of the impaired insurer and |
that are approved by the Director: |
(A) guarantee, assume, reissue, or reinsure or |
cause to be guaranteed, assumed, reissued, or |
reinsured, any or all of the policies or contracts of |
the impaired insurer; or |
(B) provide such money, pledges, loans, notes, |
|
guarantees, or other means as are proper to effectuate |
paragraph (A) and assure payment of the contractual |
obligations of the impaired insurer pending action |
under paragraph (A). |
(2) If a member insurer is an insolvent insurer, then |
the Association shall, in its discretion, either: |
(A) guaranty, assume, reissue, or reinsure or |
cause to be guaranteed, assumed, reissued, or |
reinsured the policies or contracts of the insolvent |
insurer or assure payment of the contractual |
obligations of the insolvent insurer and provide |
money, pledges, loans, notes, guarantees, or other |
means reasonably necessary to discharge the |
Association's duties; or |
(B) provide benefits and coverages in accordance |
with the following provisions: |
(i) with respect to policies and contracts |
life and health insurance policies and annuities , |
ensure payment of benefits for premiums identical |
to the premiums and benefits (except for terms of |
conversion and renewability) that would have been |
payable under the policies or contracts of the |
insolvent insurer for claims incurred: |
(a) with respect to group policies and |
contracts, not later than the earlier of the |
next renewal date under those policies or |
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contracts or 45 days, but in no event less than |
30 days, after the date on which the |
Association becomes obligated with respect to |
the policies and contracts; |
(b) with respect to nongroup policies, |
contracts, and annuities not later than the |
earlier of the next renewal date (if any) under |
the policies or contracts or one year, but in |
no event less than 30 days, from the date on |
which the Association becomes obligated with |
respect to the policies or contracts; |
(ii) make diligent efforts to provide all |
known insureds , enrollees, or annuitants (for |
nongroup policies and contracts), or group policy |
owners or contract owners with respect to group |
policies and contracts, 30 days notice of the |
termination (pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this |
paragraph (B)) of the benefits provided; |
(iii) with respect to nongroup policies and |
contracts life and health insurance policies and |
annuities covered by the Association, make |
available to each known insured , enrollee, or |
annuitant, or owner if other than the insured , |
enrollee, or annuitant, and with respect to an |
individual formerly an insured , enrollee, or |
formerly an annuitant under a group policy or |
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contract who is not eligible for replacement group |
coverage, make available substitute coverage on an |
individual basis in accordance with the provisions |
of subsection (b) paragraph (3) , if the insureds , |
enrollees, or annuitants had a right under law or |
the terminated policy , contract, or annuity to |
convert coverage to individual coverage or to |
continue an individual policy , contract, or |
annuity in force until a specified age or for a |
specified time, during which the insurer or health |
maintenance organization had no right unilaterally |
to make changes in any provision of the policy , |
contract, or annuity or had a right only to make |
changes in premium by class.
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(b) In providing the substitute coverage required under |
subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (B) of item (2) of subsection |
(a)
of this Section, the Association may offer either to |
reissue the
terminated coverage or to issue an alternative |
policy or contract at actuarially justified rates, subject to |
the prior approval of the Director .
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Alternative or reissued policies or contracts shall be |
offered without requiring
evidence of insurability, and shall |
not provide for any waiting period or
exclusion that would not |
have applied under the terminated policy or contract .
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The Association may reinsure any alternative or reissued |
policy or contract .
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Alternative policies or contracts adopted by the |
Association shall be subject
to the approval of the Director. |
The Association may adopt alternative
policies or contracts of |
various types for future issuance insurance without regard to |
any
particular impairment or insolvency.
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Alternative policies or contracts shall contain at least |
the minimum statutory
provisions required in this State and |
provide benefits that shall not be
unreasonable in relation to |
the premium charged. The
Association shall set the premium in |
accordance with a table of rates which
it shall adopt. The |
premium shall reflect the amount of insurance to be
provided |
and the age and class of risk of each insured, but shall not
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reflect any changes in the health of the insured after the |
original policy or contract
was last underwritten.
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Any alternative policy or contract issued by the |
Association shall provide
coverage of a type similar to that of |
the policy or contract issued by the impaired or
insolvent |
insurer, as determined by the Association.
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(c) If the Association elects to reissue terminated |
coverage at a
premium rate different from that charged under |
the terminated policy or contract , the
premium shall be |
actuarially justified and set by the Association in accordance |
with the amount of
insurance or coverage provided and the age |
and class of risk, subject to approval of
the Director or by a |
court of competent jurisdiction .
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(d) The Association's obligations with respect to coverage |
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under any
policy or contract of the impaired or insolvent |
insurer or under any reissued or
alternative policy or contract |
shall cease on the date such coverage or policy or contract is
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replaced by another similar policy or contract by the |
policyholder, the insured, the enrollee, or the
Association.
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(e) When proceeding under this Section with
respect to any |
policy or contract carrying guaranteed minimum interest
rates, |
the Association shall assure the payment or crediting of a rate |
of
interest consistent with subparagraph (2)(b)(iii)(B) of |
Section 531.03.
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(f) Nonpayment of premiums thirty-one days after the date |
required under
the terms of any guaranteed, assumed, |
alternative or reissued policy or
contract or substitute |
coverage shall terminate the Association's
obligations under |
such policy , contract, or coverage under this Act with respect |
to
such policy , contract, or coverage, except with respect to |
any claims incurred or any
net cash surrender value which may |
be due in accordance with the provisions of
this Act.
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(g) Premiums due for coverage after entry of an order of |
liquidation of
an insolvent insurer shall belong to and be |
payable at the direction of the
Association,
and the |
Association shall be liable for unearned premiums due to policy |
or
contract owners arising after the entry of such order.
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(h) In carrying out its duties under paragraph (2) of |
subsection (a) of this Section, the Association may: |
(1) subject to approval by a court in this State, |
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impose permanent policy or contract liens in connection |
with a guarantee, assumption, or reinsurance agreement if |
the Association finds that the amounts which can be |
assessed under this Article are less than the amounts |
needed to assure full and prompt performance of the |
Association's duties under this Article or that the |
economic or financial conditions as they affect member |
insurers are sufficiently adverse to render the imposition |
of such permanent policy or contract liens to be in the |
public interest; or |
(2) subject to approval by a court in this State, |
impose temporary moratoriums or liens on payments of cash |
values and policy loans or any other right to withdraw |
funds held in conjunction with policies or contracts in |
addition to any contractual provisions for deferral of cash |
or policy loan value. In addition, in the event of a |
temporary moratorium or moratorium charge imposed by the |
receivership court on payment of cash values or policy |
loans or on any other right to withdraw funds held in |
conjunction with policies or contracts, out of the assets |
of the impaired or insolvent insurer, the Association may |
defer the payment of cash values, policy loans, or other |
rights by the Association for the period of the moratorium |
or moratorium charge imposed by the receivership court, |
except for claims covered by the Association to be paid in |
accordance with a hardship procedure established by the |
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liquidator or rehabilitator and approved by the |
receivership court.
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(i) There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause |
of action
shall arise against the Association or against any |
transferee from the
Association in connection with the transfer |
by reinsurance or otherwise of
all or any part of an impaired |
or insolvent insurer's business by reason of
any action taken |
or any failure to take any action by the impaired or
insolvent |
insurer at any time.
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(j) If the Association fails to act within a reasonable |
period of
time as provided in subsection (2) of this Section |
with respect to an
insolvent insurer, the
Director shall have |
the powers and duties of the Association under this
Act with |
regard to such insolvent insurers.
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(k) The Association or its designated representatives
may |
render assistance and advice to the
Director, upon his request, |
concerning rehabilitation, payment of
claims, continuations of |
coverage, or the performance of other
contractual obligations |
of any impaired or insolvent insurer.
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(l) The Association shall have standing to appear or |
intervene before a court or agency in this State with |
jurisdiction over an impaired or insolvent insurer concerning |
which the Association is or may become obligated under this |
Article or with jurisdiction over any person or property |
against which the Association may have rights through |
subrogation or otherwise. Standing shall extend to all matters |
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germane to the powers and duties of the Association, including, |
but not limited to, proposals for reinsuring, reissuing, |
modifying, or guaranteeing the policies or contracts of the |
impaired or insolvent insurer and the determination of the |
policies or contracts and contractual obligations. The |
Association shall also have the right to appear or intervene |
before a court or agency in another state with jurisdiction |
over an impaired or insolvent insurer for which the Association |
is or may become obligated or with jurisdiction over any person |
or property against whom the Association may have rights |
through subrogation or otherwise.
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(m)(1) A person receiving benefits under this Article shall |
be deemed to have assigned the rights under and any causes of |
action against any person for losses arising under, resulting |
from, or otherwise relating to the covered policy or contract |
to the Association to the extent of the benefits received |
because of this Article, whether the benefits are payments of |
or on account of contractual obligations, continuation of |
coverage, or provision of substitute or alternative policies, |
contracts, or coverages. The Association may require an |
assignment to it of such rights and cause of action by any |
enrollee, payee, policy, or contract owner, beneficiary, |
insured, or annuitant as a condition precedent to the receipt |
of any right or benefits conferred by this Article upon the |
person.
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(2) The subrogation rights of the Association under this |
|
subsection
have the same priority against the assets of the |
impaired or insolvent insurer as
that possessed by the person |
entitled to receive benefits under this
Article. |
(3) In addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), the Association |
shall have all common law rights of subrogation and any other |
equitable or legal remedy that would have been available to the |
impaired or insolvent insurer or owner, beneficiary, enrollee, |
or payee of a policy or contract with respect to the policy or |
contracts, including without limitation, in the case of a |
structured settlement annuity, any rights of the owner, |
beneficiary, enrollee, or payee of the annuity to the extent of |
benefits received pursuant to this Article, against a person |
originally or by succession responsible for the losses arising |
from the personal injury relating to the annuity or payment |
therefor, excepting any such person responsible solely by |
reason of serving as an assignee in respect of a qualified |
assignment under Internal Revenue Code Section 130. |
(4) If the preceding provisions of this subsection (m) (l) |
are invalid or ineffective with respect to any person or claim |
for any reason, then the amount payable by the Association with |
respect to the related covered obligations shall be reduced by |
the amount realized by any other person with respect to the |
person or claim that is attributable to the policies or |
contracts , or portion thereof, covered by the Association. |
(5) If the Association has provided benefits with respect |
to a covered obligation and a person recovers amounts as to |
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which the Association has rights as described in the preceding |
paragraphs of this subsection (10), then the person shall pay |
to the Association the portion of the recovery attributable to |
the policies or contracts , or portion thereof, covered by the |
Association.
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(n) The Association may:
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(1) Enter into such contracts as are necessary or |
proper to carry
out the provisions and purposes of this |
Article.
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(2) Sue or be sued, including taking any legal actions |
necessary or
proper for recovery of any unpaid assessments |
under Section 531.09. The
Association shall not be liable |
for punitive or exemplary damages.
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(3) Borrow money to effect the purposes of this |
Article. Any notes
or other evidence of indebtedness of the |
Association not in default are
legal investments for |
domestic member insurers and may be carried as admitted
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assets.
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(4) Employ or retain such persons as are necessary to |
handle the
financial transactions of the Association, and |
to perform such other
functions as become necessary or |
proper under this Article.
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(5) Negotiate and contract with any liquidator, |
rehabilitator,
conservator, or ancillary receiver to carry |
out the powers and duties of
the Association.
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(6) Take such legal action as may be necessary to |
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avoid payment of
improper claims.
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(7) Exercise, for the purposes of this Article and to |
the extent
approved by the Director, the powers of a |
domestic life insurer, or health
insurer , or health |
maintenance organization , but in no case may the |
Association issue insurance policies or
annuity contracts |
other than those issued to perform the contractual
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obligations of the impaired or insolvent insurer.
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(8) Exercise all the rights of the Director under |
Section 193(4) of
this Code with respect to covered |
policies after the association becomes
obligated by |
statute.
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(9) Request information from a person seeking coverage |
from the Association in order to aid the Association in |
determining its obligations under this Article with |
respect to the person, and the person shall promptly comply |
with the request. |
(9.5) Unless prohibited by law, in accordance with the |
terms and conditions of the policy or contract, file for |
actuarially justified rate or premium increases for any |
policy or contract for which it provides coverage under |
this Article. |
(10) Take other necessary or appropriate action to |
discharge its duties and obligations under this Article or |
to exercise its powers under this Article.
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(o) With respect to covered policies for which the |
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Association becomes
obligated after an entry of an order of |
liquidation or rehabilitation,
the Association may
elect to |
succeed to the rights of the insolvent insurer arising after |
the
date of the order of liquidation or rehabilitation under |
any contract
of reinsurance to which
the insolvent insurer was |
a party, to the extent that such contract
provides coverage for |
losses occurring after the date of the order of
liquidation or |
rehabilitation. As a condition to making this election,
the |
Association must pay all unpaid premiums due under the contract |
for
coverage relating to periods before and after the date of |
the order of
liquidation or rehabilitation.
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(p) A deposit in this State, held pursuant to law or |
required by the Director for the benefit of creditors, |
including policy owners or contract owners , not turned over to |
the domiciliary liquidator upon the entry of a final order of |
liquidation or order approving a rehabilitation plan of a |
member an insurer domiciled in this State or in a reciprocal |
state, pursuant to Article XIII 1/2 of this Code, shall be |
promptly paid to the Association. The Association shall be |
entitled to retain a portion of any amount so paid to it equal |
to the percentage determined by dividing the aggregate amount |
of policy owners' or contract owners' claims related to that |
insolvency for which the Association has provided statutory |
benefits by the aggregate amount of all policy owners' or |
contract owners' claims in this State related to that |
insolvency and shall remit to the domiciliary receiver the |
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amount so paid to the Association less the amount retained |
pursuant to this subsection (p) (13) . Any amount so paid to the |
Association and retained by it shall be treated as a |
distribution of estate assets pursuant to applicable State |
receivership law dealing with early access disbursements. |
(q) The Board of Directors of the Association shall have |
discretion and may exercise reasonable business judgment to |
determine the means by which the Association is to provide the |
benefits of this Article in an economical and efficient manner. |
(r) Where the Association has arranged or offered to |
provide the benefits of this Article to a covered person under |
a plan or arrangement that fulfills the Association's |
obligations under this Article, the person shall not be |
entitled to benefits from the Association in addition to or |
other than those provided under the plan or arrangement. |
(s) Venue in a suit against the Association arising under |
the Article shall be in Cook County. The Association shall not |
be required to give any appeal bond in an appeal that relates |
to a cause of action arising under this Article. |
(t) The Association may join an organization of one or more |
other State associations of similar purposes to further the |
purposes and administer the powers and duties of the |
Association. |
(u) In carrying out its duties in connection with |
guaranteeing, assuming, reissuing, or reinsuring policies or |
contracts under subsections (1) or (2), the Association may , |
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subject to approval of the receivership court, issue substitute |
coverage for a policy or contract that provides an interest |
rate, crediting rate, or similar factor determined by use of an |
index or other external reference stated in the policy or |
contract employed in calculating returns or changes in value by |
issuing an alternative policy or contract in accordance with |
the following provisions: |
(1) in lieu of the index or other external reference |
provided for in the original policy or contract, the |
alternative policy or contract provides for (i) a fixed |
interest rate, or (ii) payment of dividends with minimum |
guarantees, or (iii) a different method for calculating |
interest or changes in value; |
(2) there is no requirement for evidence of |
insurability, waiting period, or other exclusion that |
would not have applied under the replaced policy or |
contract; and |
(3) the alternative policy or contract is |
substantially similar to the replaced policy or contract in |
all other material terms. |
(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
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(215 ILCS 5/531.09) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-9)
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Sec. 531.09. Assessments. |
(1) For the purpose of providing the funds
necessary to |
carry out the powers and duties of the Association, the board
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of directors shall assess the member insurers, separately for |
each account, at such
times and for such amounts as the board |
finds necessary. Assessments shall
be due not less than 30 days |
after written notice to the member insurers
and shall accrue |
interest from the due date at such adjusted rate as is
|
established under Section 6621 of Chapter 26 of the United |
States Code and
such interest shall be compounded daily.
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(2) There shall be 2 classes of assessments, as follows:
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(a) Class A assessments shall be made for the purpose |
of meeting administrative
costs and other general expenses |
and examinations conducted under the authority
of the |
Director under subsection (5) of Section 531.12.
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(b) Class B assessments shall be made to the extent |
necessary to carry
out the powers and duties of the |
Association under Section 531.08 with regard
to an impaired |
or insolvent domestic insurer or insolvent foreign or alien |
insurers.
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(3)(a) The amount of any Class A assessment shall be |
determined at the discretion of the board of directors and such |
assessments shall be authorized and called on a non-pro rata |
basis. The amount of any Class B
assessment , except for |
assessments related to long-term care insurance, shall be |
allocated for assessment
purposes among the accounts
and |
subaccounts pursuant to an allocation formula which may be |
based on
the premiums or reserves of the impaired or insolvent |
insurer or any other
standard deemed by the board in its sole |
|
discretion as being fair and
reasonable under the |
circumstances.
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(b) Class B assessments against member insurers for each |
account and
subaccount shall
be in the proportion that the |
premiums received on business in this State
by each assessed |
member insurer on policies or contracts covered by
each account |
or subaccount for the three most recent calendar years
for |
which information is available preceding the year in which the |
member insurer
became impaired or insolvent, as the case may |
be, bears to such premiums
received on business in this State |
for such calendar years by all assessed
member insurers.
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(b-5) The amount of the Class B assessment for long-term |
care insurance written by the impaired or insolvent insurer |
shall be allocated according to a methodology included in the |
plan of operation and approved by the Director. The methodology |
shall provide for 50% of the assessment to be allocated to |
accident and health member insurers and 50% to be allocated to |
life and annuity member insurers. |
(c) Assessments for funds to meet the requirements of the |
Association
with respect to an impaired or insolvent insurer |
shall not be made until
necessary to implement the purposes of |
this Article. Classification
of assessments
under subsection |
(2) and computations of assessments under this subsection
shall |
be made with a reasonable degree of accuracy, recognizing that |
exact
determinations may not always be possible.
|
(4) The Association may abate or defer, in whole or in |
|
part, the assessment of a member insurer if, in the opinion of |
the board, payment of the assessment would endanger the ability |
of the member insurer to fulfill its contractual obligations. |
In the event an assessment against a member insurer is abated |
or deferred in whole or in part the amount by which the |
assessment is abated or deferred may be assessed against the |
other member insurers in a manner consistent with the basis for |
assessments set forth in this Section. Once the conditions that |
caused a deferral have been removed or rectified, the member |
insurer shall pay all assessments that were deferred pursuant |
to a repayment plan approved by the Association. |
(5) (a) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of |
this paragraph, the total of all assessments authorized by the |
Association with respect to a member insurer for each |
subaccount of the life insurance and annuity account and for |
the health account shall not in one calendar year exceed 2% of |
that member insurer's average annual premiums received in this |
State on the policies and contracts covered by the subaccount |
or account during the 3 calendar years preceding the year in |
which the member insurer became an impaired or insolvent |
insurer. |
If 2 or more assessments are authorized in one calendar |
year with respect to member insurers that become impaired or |
insolvent in different calendar years, the average annual |
premiums for purposes of the aggregate assessment percentage |
limitation referenced in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph |
|
shall be equal and limited to the higher of the 3-year average |
annual premiums for the applicable subaccount or account as |
calculated pursuant to this Section. |
If the maximum assessment, together with the other assets |
of the Association in an account, does not provide in one year |
in either account an amount sufficient to carry out the |
responsibilities of the Association, the necessary additional |
funds shall be assessed as soon thereafter as permitted by this |
Article. |
(b) The board may provide in the plan of operation a method |
of allocating funds among claims, whether relating to one or |
more impaired or insolvent insurers, when the maximum |
assessment will be insufficient to cover anticipated claims. |
(c) If the maximum assessment for a subaccount of the life |
insurance and annuity account in one year does not provide an |
amount sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of the |
Association, then pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection (3), |
the board shall assess the other subaccounts of the life |
insurance and annuity account for the necessary additional |
amount, subject to the maximum stated in paragraph (a) of this |
subsection.
|
(6) The board may, by an equitable method as established in |
the
plan of operation, refund to member insurers, in proportion |
to the contribution
of each member insurer to that account, the |
amount by which the assets of the account
exceed the amount the |
board finds is necessary to carry out during the coming
year |
|
the obligations of the Association with regard to that account, |
including
assets accruing from net realized gains and income |
from investments. A
reasonable amount may be retained in any |
account to provide funds for the
continuing expenses of the |
Association and for future losses.
|
(7) An assessment is deemed to occur on the date upon which |
the board
votes such assessment. The board may defer calling |
the payment of the
assessment or may call for payment in one or |
more installments.
|
(8) It is proper for any member insurer, in determining its |
premium
rates and policy owner policyowner dividends as to any |
kind of insurance or health maintenance organization business |
within the scope of
this Article, to consider the amount |
reasonably necessary to meet its assessment
obligations under |
this Article.
|
(9) The Association must issue to each member insurer |
paying a
Class B assessment
under this Article a certificate of |
contribution,
in a form acceptable to the
Director, for the |
amount of the assessment so paid. All outstanding certificates
|
are of equal
dignity and priority without reference to amounts |
or dates of issue. A certificate
of contribution may be shown |
by the member insurer in its financial statement as an asset
in |
such form and for such amount, if any, and period of time as |
the Director
may approve, provided the member insurer shall in |
any event at its option have
the right to show a certificate of |
contribution as an admitted asset at
percentages of the |
|
original face amount for calendar years as follows:
|
100% for the calendar year after the year of issuance;
|
80% for the second calendar year after the year of |
issuance;
|
60% for the third calendar year after the year of issuance;
|
40% for the fourth calendar year after the year of |
issuance;
|
20% for the fifth calendar year after the year of issuance.
|
(10) The Association may request information of member |
insurers in order to aid in the exercise of its power under |
this Section and member insurers shall promptly comply with a |
request. |
(Source: P.A. 95-86, eff. 9-25-07 (changed from 1-1-08 by P.A. |
95-632); 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.10) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-10)
|
Sec. 531.10. Plan of Operation. ) |
(1)(a) The Association must
submit to the Director a plan |
of operation and any amendments thereto necessary
or suitable |
to assure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of |
the
Association. The plan of operation and any amendments |
thereto become effective
upon approval in writing by the |
Director.
|
(b) If the Association fails to submit a suitable plan of |
operation
within 180 days following the effective date of this |
Article or if at any time
thereafter the Association fails to |
|
submit suitable amendments to the plan, the
Director may, after |
notice and hearing, adopt and promulgate such reasonable
rules |
as are necessary or advisable to effectuate the provisions of |
this Article.
Such rules are in force until modified by the |
Director or superseded by a plan
submitted by the Association |
and approved by the Director.
|
(2) All member insurers must comply with the plan of |
operation.
|
(3) The plan of operation must, in addition to requirements |
enumerated
elsewhere in this Article:
|
(a) Establish procedures for handling the assets of the |
Association;
|
(b) Establish the amount and method of reimbursing |
members of the
board of directors under Section 531.07;
|
(c) Establish regular places and times for meetings of |
the board
of directors;
|
(d) Establish procedures for records to be kept of all |
financial
transactions of the Association, its agents, and |
the board of directors;
|
(e) Establish the procedures whereby selections for |
the board
of directors will be made and submitted to the |
Director;
|
(f) Establish any additional procedures for |
assessments under
Section 531.09; and
|
(g) Contain additional provisions necessary or proper |
for the execution
of the powers and duties of the |
|
Association.
|
(4) The plan of operation shall establish a procedure for |
protest by
any member insurer of assessments made by the |
Association pursuant to
Section 531.09. Such procedures shall |
require that:
|
(a) a member insurer that wishes to protest all or part |
of an assessment shall pay when due the full amount of the |
assessment as set forth in the notice provided by the |
Association. The payment shall be available to meet |
Association obligations during the pendency of the protest |
or any subsequent appeal. Payment shall be accompanied by a |
statement in writing that the payment is made under protest |
and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds for the |
protest;
|
(b) within 30 days following the payment of an |
assessment under
protest by any protesting member insurer, |
the Association must notify the
member insurer in writing |
of its determination with respect to the protest
unless the |
Association notifies the member that additional time is |
required
to resolve the issues raised by the protest;
|
(c) in the event the Association determines that the |
protesting member
insurer is entitled to a refund, such |
refund shall be made within 30
days following the date upon |
which the Association makes its determination;
|
(d) the decision of the Association with respect to a |
protest may be
appealed to the Director pursuant to Section |
|
531.11(3);
|
(e) in the alternative to rendering a decision with |
respect to any
protest based on a question regarding the |
assessment base, the Association
may refer such protests to |
the Director for final decision, with or without
a |
recommendation from the Association; and
|
(f) interest on any refund due a protesting member |
insurer shall be paid
at the rate actually earned by the |
Association.
|
(5) The plan of operation may provide that any or all |
powers and duties
of the Association, except those under |
paragraph (3) (c) of subsection (n) (10)
of Section 531.08 and |
Section 531.09 are delegated to a corporation,
association or |
other organization which performs or will perform functions
|
similar to those of this Association, or its equivalent, in 2 |
or more states.
Such a corporation, association or organization |
shall be reimbursed for any
payments made on behalf of the |
Association and shall be paid for its
performance of any |
function of the Association. A delegation under this
subsection |
shall take effect only with the approval of both the Board of
|
Directors and the Director, and may be made only to a |
corporation, association
or organization which extends |
protection not substantially less favorable and
effective than |
that provided by this Act.
|
(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
|
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.11) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-11)
|
Sec. 531.11. Duties and powers of the Director. In addition |
to
the duties and powers enumerated elsewhere in this Article:
|
(1) The Director must do all of the following:
|
(a) Upon request of the board of directors, provide the |
Association with
a statement of the premiums in the |
appropriate accounts for each
member insurer.
|
(b) Notify the board of directors of the existence of |
an impaired or
insolvent
insurer not later than 3 days |
after a determination of impairment or insolvency
is made |
or when the Director receives notice of impairment or |
insolvency.
|
(c) Give notice to an impaired insurer as required by |
Sections
34 or 60. Notice to the impaired insurer shall |
constitute
notice to its shareholders, if any.
|
(d) In any liquidation or rehabilitation proceeding |
involving
a domestic member insurer, be appointed as the |
liquidator or rehabilitator. If
a foreign or alien member |
insurer is subject to a liquidation proceeding
in its |
domiciliary
jurisdiction or state of entry, the Director |
shall be appointed conservator.
|
(2) The Director may suspend or revoke, after notice and |
hearing,
the certificate of authority to transact business |
insurance in this State of any member
insurer which fails to |
pay an assessment when due or fails to comply with the
plan
of |
operation. As an alternative the Director may levy a forfeiture |
|
on any
member
insurer which fails to pay an assessment when |
due. Such forfeiture may not
exceed
5% of the unpaid assessment |
per month, but no forfeiture may be less than
$100 per month.
|
(3) Any action of the board of directors or the Association |
may be
appealed to the Director by any member insurer or any |
other person
adversely affected by such action if such appeal |
is taken within 30
days of the action being appealed. Any final |
action or order of the Director
is subject to judicial review |
in a court of competent jurisdiction.
|
(4) The liquidator, rehabilitator, or conservator of any |
impaired insurer
may notify all interested persons of the |
effect of this Article.
|
(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.12) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-12)
|
Sec. 531.12. Prevention of Insolvencies. To aid in the |
detection and
prevention of member insurer insolvencies or |
impairments:
|
(1) It shall be the duty of the Director:
|
(a) To notify the Commissioners of all other states, |
territories of the
United States, and the District of |
Columbia when he takes any of the following
actions against |
a member insurer:
|
(i) revocation of license;
|
(ii) suspension of license;
|
(iii) makes any formal order except for an order |
|
issued pursuant to
Article XII 1/2 of this Code that |
such member insurer company restrict its premium |
writing,
obtain additional contributions to surplus, |
withdraw from the State,
reinsure all or any part of |
its business, or increase capital, surplus or
any other |
account for the security of policy owners, contract |
owners, certificate holders, policyholders or |
creditors.
|
Such notice shall be transmitted to all commissioners
|
within 30 days following
the action taken or the date on |
which the action occurs.
|
(b) To report to the board of directors when he has |
taken any of the actions
set forth in subparagraph (a) of |
this paragraph or has received a report
from any other |
commissioner indicating that any such action has been taken
|
in another state. Such report to the board of directors |
shall contain all
significant details of the action taken |
or the report received from another
commissioner.
|
(c) To report to the board of directors when the |
Director has reasonable cause to believe from an |
examination, whether completed or in process, of any member |
insurer that the member insurer may be an impaired or |
insolvent insurer. |
(d) To furnish to the board of directors the National |
Association of Insurance Commissioners Insurance |
Regulatory Information System ratios and listings of |
|
companies not included in the ratios developed by the |
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The board |
may use the information contained therein in carrying out |
its duties and responsibilities under this Section. The |
report and the information contained therein shall be kept |
confidential by the board of directors until such time as |
made public by the Director or other lawful authority. |
(2) The Director may seek the advice and recommendations of |
the board
of directors concerning any matter affecting his or |
her duties and responsibilities
regarding the financial |
condition of member insurers companies and insurers or health |
maintenance organizations companies seeking admission
to |
transact insurance business in this State.
|
(3) The board of directors may, upon majority vote, make |
reports and recommendations
to the Director upon any matter |
germane to the liquidation, rehabilitation
or conservation of |
any member insurer and insurers or health maintenance |
organizations seeking admission to transact business in this |
State . Such reports
and recommendations shall not be considered |
public documents.
|
(4) The board of directors may, upon majority vote, make |
recommendations
to the Director for the detection and |
prevention of member insurer insolvencies.
|
(5) The board of directors shall, at the conclusion of any
|
member insurer insolvency
in which the Association was |
obligated to pay covered claims prepare a report
to the |
|
Director containing such information as it may have in its |
possession
bearing on the history and causes of such |
insolvency. The board shall cooperate
with the boards of |
directors of guaranty associations in other states in
preparing |
a report on the history and causes for insolvency of a |
particular member
insurer, and may adopt by reference any |
report prepared by such other
associations.
|
(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.13) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-13)
|
Sec. 531.13. Tax offset. In the event the aggregate Class |
A, B and C
assessments for all member insurers do not exceed |
$3,000,000 in any one
calendar year, no member insurer shall |
receive a tax offset. However, for
any one calendar year before |
1998 in which the
total of such assessments exceeds $3,000,000,
|
the amount in excess of $3,000,000 shall be subject to a tax |
offset to the
extent of 20% of the amount of such assessment |
for each of the 5
calendar
years following the year in which |
such assessment was paid, and ending prior
to January 1, 2003, |
and each member
insurer may offset the proportionate amount of |
such excess paid by the member insurer
against its liabilities |
for the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b)
of Section 201 |
of the Illinois
Income Tax Act. The provisions of this Section |
shall expire and be given no
effect for any tax period |
commencing on and after January 1, 2003.
|
(Source: P.A. 93-29, eff. 6-20-03.)
|
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.14) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-14)
|
Sec. 531.14. Miscellaneous Provisions. |
(1) Nothing in this
Article may be construed to reduce the |
liability for unpaid assessments of the insured
of an impaired |
or insolvent insurer operating under a plan with assessment |
liability.
|
(2) Records must be kept of all negotiations and meetings |
in which
the Association or its representatives are involved to |
discuss the activities of the
Association in carrying out its |
powers and duties under Section 531.08. Records of such
|
negotiations or meetings may be made public only upon the |
termination of a
liquidation, rehabilitation, or conservation |
proceeding involving the impaired
or insolvent insurer, upon |
the termination of the impairment or insolvency
of the insurer, |
or upon the order
of a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing |
in this paragraph (2) limits the
duty of the Association to |
render a report of its activities under Section
531.15.
|
(3) For the purpose of carrying out its obligations under |
this Article,
the Association is deemed to be a creditor of the |
impaired or insolvent
insurer to the extent of assets |
attributable to covered policies or contracts reduced by any
|
amounts to which the Association is entitled as subrogee (under |
subsection (m) paragraph (8)
of Section 531.08). All assets of |
the impaired or insolvent insurer
attributable to covered |
policies or contracts must be used to continue all covered |
|
policies
and pay all contractual obligations of the impaired |
insurer as required by this
Article. "Assets attributable to |
covered policies or contracts ", as used in this paragraph
(3), |
is that proportion of the
assets which the reserves that should |
have been established
for such policies or contracts bear to |
the reserve that should have been
established for all policies |
of
insurance or health benefit plans written by the impaired or |
insolvent insurer.
|
(4) (a) Prior to the termination of any liquidation, |
rehabilitation,
or conservation proceeding, the court may take |
into consideration the contributions
of the respective |
parties, including the Association, the shareholders , contract |
owners, certificate holders, enrollees, and policy owners
|
policyowners of the impaired or insolvent insurer, and any |
other party with
a bona fide interest,
in making an equitable |
distribution of the ownership rights of such impaired
or |
insolvent
insurer. In such a determination, consideration must |
be given to the welfare of the
policy owners, contract owners, |
certificate holders, and enrollees policyholders of the |
continuing or successor insurer.
|
(b) No distribution to stockholders, if any, of an impaired |
or insolvent insurer
may be made until and unless the total
|
amount of valid claims of the Association for funds expended |
with interest in carrying
out its powers and duties under |
Section 531.08, with respect to such member insurer
have been |
fully recovered by the Association.
|
|
(5) (a) If an order for liquidation or rehabilitation of
a |
member an insurer
domiciled in this State has been entered, the |
receiver appointed under such
order has a right to recover on |
behalf of the member insurer, from any affiliate that
|
controlled it, the amount of distributions, other than stock |
dividends paid by
the member insurer on its capital stock, made |
at any time during the 5 years preceding
the petition for |
liquidation or rehabilitation subject to the limitations of
|
paragraphs (b) to (d).
|
(b) No such dividend is recoverable if the member insurer |
shows that when
paid the distribution was lawful and |
reasonable, and that the member insurer did not
know and could |
not reasonably have known that the distribution might adversely |
affect
the ability of the member insurer to fulfill its |
contractual obligations.
|
(c) Any person who as an affiliate that controlled the |
member insurer at
the time the distributions were paid is |
liable up to the amount of distributions
he received. Any |
person who was an affiliate that controlled the member insurer |
at the
time the distributions were declared, is liable up to |
the amount of distributions
he would have received if they had |
been paid immediately. If 2 persons are
liable with respect to |
the same distributions, they are jointly and severally liable.
|
(d) The maximum amount recoverable under subsection (5) of |
this Section is
the amount needed in excess of all other |
available assets of the insolvent insurer
to pay the |
|
contractual obligations of the insolvent insurer.
|
(e) If any person liable under paragraph (c) of subsection |
(5) of this
Section is insolvent, all its
affiliates that |
controlled it at the time the dividend was paid are jointly and
|
severally liable for any resulting deficiency in the amount |
recovered from
the insolvent affiliate.
|
(6) As a creditor of the impaired or insolvent insurer as |
established in subsection (3) of this Section and consistent |
with subsection (2) of Section 205 of this Code, the |
Association and other similar associations shall be entitled to |
receive a disbursement of assets out of the marshaled assets, |
from time to time as the assets become available to reimburse |
it, as a credit against contractual obligations under this |
Article. If the liquidator has not, within 120 days after a |
final determination of insolvency of a member an insurer by the |
receivership court, made an application to the court for the |
approval of a proposal to disburse assets out of marshaled |
assets to guaranty associations having obligations because of |
the insolvency, then the Association shall be entitled to make |
application to the receivership court for approval of its own |
proposal to disburse these assets. |
(Source: P.A. 96-1450, eff. 8-20-10.)
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.19) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-19)
|
Sec. 531.19.
Prohibited advertisement of action of the |
Insurance Guaranty
Association in sale of insurance.
|
|
(a) No person, including a member an insurer,
agent
or |
affiliate of a member an insurer shall make, publish, |
disseminate, circulate,
or place before the public, or cause |
directly or indirectly, to be made,
published, disseminated, |
circulated or placed before the public, in any
newspaper, |
magazine or other publication, or in the form of a notice, |
circular,
pamphlet, letter or poster, or over any radio station |
or television station,
or in any other way, any advertisement, |
announcement or statement, written or
oral, which
uses the |
existence of the Insurance Guaranty Association of this State |
for
the purpose of sales, solicitation or inducement to |
purchase any form of
insurance or other coverage covered by |
this Article; provided, however, that this Section
shall not |
apply to the Illinois Life and Health Guaranty Association or
|
any other entity which does not sell or solicit insurance or |
coverage by a health maintenance organization .
|
(b) Within 180 days of August 16,
1993, the Association |
shall prepare a summary document describing the general
|
purposes and current limitations of this Article and complying |
with subsection
(c). This document shall be submitted to the |
Director for approval. Sixty
days after receiving approval, no |
member insurer may deliver a policy or contract
described in |
subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of Section 531.03 and not
|
excluded under subparagraph (b) of that Section to a policy |
owner, or
contract owner, certificate holder , or enrollee |
unless the document is delivered to the policy owner, or |
|
contract owner, certificate
holder , or enrollee prior to or at |
the time of delivery of the policy or contract. The document |
should also be available upon request
by
a policy owner, |
contract owner, certificate holder, or enrollee policyholder . |
The distribution, delivery, or contents or interpretation of
|
this document shall not mean that either the policy or the |
contract or the policy owner, contract owner, certificate
|
holder , or enrollee thereof would be covered in the event of |
the impairment or insolvency of
a member insurer. The |
description document shall be revised by the Association
as |
amendments to this Article may require. Failure to receive this |
document
does not give the policy owner policyholder , contract |
owner holder , certificate holder, enrollee, or insured
any |
greater rights than those stated in this Article.
|
(c) The document prepared under subsection (b) shall |
contain a clear and
conspicuous disclaimer on its face. The |
Director shall promulgate a rule
establishing the form and |
content of the disclaimer. The disclaimer shall:
|
(1) State the name and address of the Life and Health |
Insurance Guaranty
Association and of the Department.
|
(2) Prominently warn the policy owner, or contract |
owner, certificate holder , or enrollee that the Life and
|
Health Insurance Guaranty Association may not cover the |
policy or contract or, if coverage
is available, it will be |
subject to substantial limitations and exclusions and
|
conditioned on continued residence in the State.
|
|
(3) State that the member insurer and its agents are |
prohibited by law from using
the existence of the Life and |
Health Insurance Guaranty Association for the
purpose of |
sales, solicitation, or inducement to purchase any form of
|
insurance or health maintenance organization coverage .
|
(4) Emphasize that the policy owner, or contract owner, |
certificate holder , or enrollee should not rely on
coverage |
under the Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association |
when
selecting an insurer or health maintenance |
organization .
|
(5) Provide other information as directed by the |
Director.
|
(d) (Blank).
|
(Source: P.A. 88-364; 88-627, eff. 9-9-94; 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
|
(215 ILCS 5/531.20 new) |
Sec. 531.20. Merger of Illinois Health Maintenance |
Organization Guaranty Association with and into the Illinois |
Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association. In order to |
provide for the merger of the Illinois Health Maintenance |
Organization Guaranty Association with and into the Illinois |
Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, the following |
shall apply: |
(1) The Illinois Health Maintenance Organization |
Guaranty Association is merged with and into the Illinois |
Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, which |
|
shall then continue to be known as the Illinois Life and |
Health Insurance Guaranty Association. |
(2) All premerger rights, powers, privileges, assets, |
property, duties, debts, obligations, and liabilities of |
each association related to a liquidated member shall |
remain with the members of the respective association prior |
to merger and subject to the laws in effect at the time the |
order of liquidation was entered with respect to the |
liquidated member, but shall be administered by the |
Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association. |
The Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty |
Association shall adopt changes to its plan of operation |
which reasonably accomplish this. |
(3) Subject to paragraph (2), the Illinois Life and |
Health Insurance Guaranty Association shall succeed, |
without other transfer, to all the rights, powers, |
privileges, assets, and property of the Illinois Health |
Maintenance Organization Guaranty Association and shall be |
subject to all duties, debts, obligations, and liabilities |
of the Illinois Health Maintenance Organization that exist |
as of the date of the merger of the Illinois Health |
Maintenance Organization Guaranty Association into the |
Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association. |
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the |
Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association |
shall succeed to (A) all collected, uncollected, or |
|
unbilled assessments of the Illinois Health Maintenance |
Organization Guaranty Association, (B) all cash, bank |
accounts, accrued interest, and tangible property of the |
Illinois Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty |
Association, (C) all rights, powers, privileges, duties, |
and obligations of the Illinois Health Maintenance |
Organization Guaranty Association under any of its |
contracts or commitments, and (D) all subrogations, |
assignments, and creditor rights and interests of the |
Illinois Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty |
Association. |
(4) All rights of creditors and all liens upon the |
property of the Illinois Health Maintenance Organization |
Guaranty Association shall be preserved unimpaired, |
provided that the liens upon property of the Illinois |
Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty Association shall |
be limited to the property affected thereby immediately |
prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the |
100th General Assembly. |
(5) Any action or proceeding pending by or against the |
Illinois Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty |
Association may be prosecuted to judgment. |
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision to the |
contrary in this Article: |
(A) It is the intent of this Section to preserve |
only the rights, powers, privileges, assets, property, |
|
debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Illinois |
Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty Association |
as they existed on the date of its merger into the |
Illinois Life and Health Insurance Guaranty |
Association, and not to provide contract owners, |
certificate holders, enrollees and policy owners, or |
their respective payees, beneficiaries, or assignees, |
with duplicative or new rights, powers, privileges, |
assets, or property. |
(B) Accordingly, no contract owner, certificate |
holder, enrollee and policy owner, and no contract |
owner's, certificate holder's, enrollee's or policy |
owner's payee, beneficiary, or assignee, shall be |
entitled to (i) a recovery from the Illinois Life and |
Health Insurance Guaranty Association that is |
duplicative of a previous recovery from the Illinois |
Health Maintenance Organization Guaranty Association |
or (ii) a recovery from the Illinois Life and Health |
Insurance Guaranty Association on account of a claim |
against the Illinois Health Maintenance Organization |
Guaranty Association where the Illinois Life and |
Health Insurance Guaranty Association is liable with |
respect to a claim under the same policy or contract |
under this Article.
|
(215 ILCS 125/Art. VI rep.) |