Source: http://www.tdi.texas.gov/rules/2002/supplement2.html
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SUBCHAPTER T. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT POLICIES
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28 TAC §§3.3306, 3.3308, 3.3312
The Commissioner of Insurance adopts amendments to §§3.3306, 3.3308 and 3.3312 concerning minimum benefit standards for issuers of Medicare supplement policies and guaranteed issuance of Medicare supplement policies to eligible beneficiaries. The amended sections are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 25, 2002 issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 562) and will not be republished.
The amendments to §§3.3306, 3.3308, 3.3312 are necessary to implement changes made to the Social Security Act (Act) by Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children´s Health Insurance Program Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) and subsequent changes made to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Model Regulation to implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act. The Model Regulation was accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), as it is the agency that administers Medicare.
The amendment to §3.3306(1)(G)(ii) requires Medicare supplement policies and certificates to include provisions that allow benefits and premiums to be suspended for any period that may be provided by federal regulations. The amendments to §§3.3306(2)(E) and 3.3308 clarify that the copayment amount for hospital outpatient services paid under the prospective payment system is a basic core benefit. The amendment to §3.3306(3)(I)(ii)(II) corrects a misspelling. As the federal government has changed the name of the agency that governs Medicare supplement policies from Health Care Financing Administration to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this name change is reflected in the amendment to §3.3308(a)(6).
The amendments to §3.3312 include changing the language of subsection (a)(1) to use the wording of the Act "seek to enroll"; however, the change does not affect the meaning of that paragraph. The amendments to subsection (b)(2)(A) and (B) delete language that is no longer applicable due to BIPA changes. The amendments to subsection (b)(3) and (5) clarify that the subparagraphs refer to the Act and to reflect a change in the language used by the Act relating to Medicare cost versus risk. The amendments to subsection (b)(5) and (6) change the wording from "PACE program" to "PACE provider" to distinguish that the enrollee enrolls with an entity that provides services rather than the program that oversees the entity that provides the services. Paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) through (5) of subsection (d) explain guaranteed issue periods for individuals under certain scenarios in compliance with changes in federal law (BIPA). As allowed by federal law and as suggested by the NAIC and supported by CMS paragraph (1)(A) provides greater protection by delaying the guaranteed issue time period to the later of the date of termination of coverage or notice of termination (or denial of a claim because of such termination. Corresponding changes are adopted to paragraph (1)(B) inasmuch as existing §3.3312(b)(1) previously extended protections for guaranteed issuance beyond those required by federal law.Subsection (e) complies with federal law and explains interrupted trial periods to an enrollee during these periods.
No comments were received regarding adoption of these amendments.
The amendments are adopted under the Insurance Code Article 3.74, and §36.001. Article 3.74 provides that the Texas Department of Insurance shall adopt rules in accordance with federal law applicable to the regulation of Medicare supplement insurance coverage that are necessary for the state to obtain or retain certification as a state with approved regulatory program under 42 U.S.C. 1395ss. Section 36.001 provides that the Commissioner of Insurance may adopt rules to execute the duties and functions of the Texas Department of Insurance as authorized by statute.
§3.3306. Minimum Benefit Standards. No insurance policy, subscriber contract, certificate, or evidence of coverage may be advertised, solicited, or issued for delivery in this state as a Medicare supplement policy unless the policy, contract, certificate, or evidence of coverage meets the applicable standards in paragraphs (1) - (3) of this section. These are minimum standards and do not preclude the inclusion of other provisions or benefits which are not inconsistent with these standards.
(1) General standards. The following standards apply to Medicare supplement policies and are in addition to all other requirements of this subchapter, the Insurance Code, Article 3.74, and any other applicable law.
(A) A Medicare supplement policy shall not exclude or limit benefits for losses incurred more than six months from the effective date of coverage because they involved a preexisting condition. The policy or certificate may not define a preexisting condition more restrictively than a condition for which medical advice was given or treatment was recommended by or received from a physician within six months before the effective date of coverage.
(i) If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate replaces another Medicare supplement policy or certificate, the replacing issuer shall waive any time periods applicable to preexisting condition waiting periods, elimination periods, and probationary periods in the new Medicare supplement policy or certificate to the extent such time was spent under the original policy.
(ii) If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate replaces another Medicare supplement policy or certificate which has been in effect for at least six months, the replacing policy or certificate shall not provide any time period applicable to preexisting conditions, waiting periods, elimination periods and probationary periods for benefits.
(iii) If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate is issued to an applicant who qualifies under §3.3312(b) of this title (relating to Guaranteed Issue for Eligible Persons) or §3.3324(a) of this title (relating to Open Enrollment), the issuer shall reduce the period of any preexisting condition exclusion as required by §3.3312(a)(2) of this title and §3.3324(c) and (d) of this title.
(B) A Medicare supplement policy may not indemnify against losses resulting from sickness on a different basis than losses resulting from accidents.
(C) A Medicare supplement policy shall provide that benefits designed to cover cost sharing amounts under Medicare will be changed automatically to coincide with any changes in the applicable Medicare deductible amount and copayment percentage factors. Premiums may be modified to correspond with such changes.
(D) No Medicare supplement policy shall provide for termination of coverage of a spouse solely because of the occurrence of an event specified for termination of coverage of the insured, other than the nonpayment of premium, or be cancelled or nonrenewed by the insurer solely on the grounds of deterioration of health.
(E) Each Medicare supplement policy shall be guaranteed renewable and shall comply with the provisions of clauses (i) - (iv) of this subparagraph.
(i) The issuer shall not cancel or nonrenew the policy for any reason other than nonpayment of premium or material misrepresentation.
(ii) If the Medicare supplement policy is terminated by the group policyholder and is not replaced as provided in clause (iv) of this subparagraph, the issuer shall offer certificate holders Medicare supplement coverage which provides benefits as set out in subclauses (I) or (II) of this clause, as follow:
(I) an individual Medicare supplement policy which (at the option of the certificate holder):
(-a-) provides for continuation of the benefits contained in the group policy; or
(-b-) provides for benefits that otherwise meet the requirement of this subsection; or
(II) continuation of benefits under the group plan until there are no longer any certificate holders remaining who have opted for continuation of benefits under the group policy terminated by the policyholder.
(iii) If an individual is a certificate holder in a group Medicare supplement policy and the individual terminates membership in the group, the issuer shall:
(I) offer the certificate holder conversion opportunity described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph; or
(II) at the option of the group policyholder, offer the certificate holder continuation of coverage under the group policy.
(iv) If a group Medicare supplement policy is replaced by another group Medicare supplement policy purchased by the same policyholder, the issuer of the replacement policy shall offer coverage to all persons covered under the old group policy on its date of termination. Coverage under the new policy shall not result in any exclusion of preexisting conditions that would have been covered under the group policy being replaced.
(F) Termination of a Medicare supplement policy shall be without prejudice to any continuous loss which commenced while the policy was in force, but the extension of benefits beyond the period during which the policy was in force may be predicated upon the continuous total disability of the insured, limited to the duration of the policy benefit period, if any, or payment of the maximum benefits.
(G) A Medicare supplement policy or certificate shall provide that benefits and premiums under the policy or certificate shall be suspended at the request of the policyholder or certificate holder for the period (not to exceed 24 months) in which the policyholder or certificate holder has applied for and is determined to be entitled to medical assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, but only if the policyholder or certificate holder notifies the issuer of such policy or certificate within 90 days after the date the individual becomes entitled to such assistance.
(i) If suspension occurs and if the policyholder or certificate holder loses entitlement to medical assistance, the policy or certificate shall be automatically reinstituted (effective as of the date of termination of entitlement) as of the termination of entitlement if the policyholder or certificate holder provides notice of loss of entitlement within 90 days after the date of loss and pays the premium attributable to the period, effective as of the date of termination of entitlement.
(ii) Each Medicare supplement policy or certificate shall provide that benefits and premiums under the policy or certificate shall be suspended (for any period that may be provided by federal regulation) at the request of the policyholder or certificate holder if the policyholder or certificate holder is entitled to benefits under section 226(b) of the Social Security Act and is covered under a group health plan (as defined in section 1862(b)(1)(A)(v) of the Social Security Act). If suspension occurs and if the policyholder or certificate holder loses coverage under the group health plan, the policy or certificate shall be automatically reinstated (effective as of the date of loss of coverage) if the policyholder or certificate holder provides notice of loss of coverage within 90 days after the date of such loss and pays the premium attributable to the period, effective as of the date of termination of entitlement.
(iii) Reinstitution of such coverages shall provide for the following:
(I) waiver of any waiting period with respect to treatment of preexisting conditions;
(II) coverage which is substantially equivalent to coverage in effect before the date of such suspension; and
(III) classification of premiums on terms at least as favorable to the policyholder or certificate holder as the premium classification terms that would have applied to the policyholder or certificate holder had the coverage not been suspended.
(2) Standards for the basic (core) benefits common to all benefit plans. Every issuer shall make available a policy or certificate including only the basic "core" package of benefits described in subparagraphs (A) - (E) of this paragraph to each prospective insured. An issuer may make available to prospective insureds any of the other Medicare supplement insurance benefit plans in addition to the basic core package, but not in lieu of it. The basic core benefits shall consist of the following:
(A) coverage for Part A Medicare eligible expenses for hospitalization to the extent not covered by Medicare from the 61st day through the 90th day in any Medicare benefit period;
(B) coverage for Part A Medicare eligible expenses, to the extent not covered by Medicare, incurred as daily hospital charges during use of Medicare lifetime hospital inpatient reserve days;
(C) upon exhaustion of all Medicare hospital inpatient coverage including the lifetime reserve days, coverage of the Medicare Part A eligible expenses for hospitalization paid at the diagnostic related group (DRG) day outlier per diem or other appropriate standard of payment, subject to a lifetime maximum benefit of an additional 365 days;
(D) coverage under Medicare Parts A and B for the reasonable cost of the first three pints of blood (or equivalent quantities of packed red blood cells, as defined under federal regulation) unless replaced in accordance with federal regulation; and
(E) coverage for the coinsurance amount (or in the case of hospital outpatient department services paid under a prospective payment system, the copayment amount) of Medicare eligible expenses under Part B regardless of hospital confinement, subject to the Medicare Part B deductible.
(3) Standards for Additional Benefits. The additional benefits as uniformly defined in subparagraphs (A) - (K) of this paragraph shall be included in Medicare Supplement Benefit Plans "B" through "J" only as provided in paragraph (5)(A) - (I) of this section.
(A) Medicare Part A Deductible--Coverage for all of the Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible amount per benefit period.
(B) Skilled Nursing Facility Care--Coverage for the actual billed charges up to the coinsurance amount from the 21st day through the 100th day in a Medicare benefit period for post-hospital skilled nursing facility care eligible under Medicare Part A.
(C) Medicare Part B Deductible--Coverage for all of the Medicare Part B deductible amount per calendar year regardless of hospital confinement.
(D) Eighty Percent of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges--Coverage for 80% of the difference between the actual Medicare Part B charge as billed and the Medicare-approved Part B charge, not to exceed any charge limitation established by the Medicare program or state law.
(E) One Hundred Percent of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges--Coverage for all of the difference between the actual Medicare Part B charge as billed and the Medicare-approved Part B charge, not to exceed any charge limitation established by the Medicare program or state law.
(F) Basic Outpatient Prescription Drug Benefit--Coverage for 50% of outpatient prescription drug charges, after a $250 calendar year deductible, to a maximum of $1,250 in benefits received by the insured per calendar year, to the extent not covered by Medicare.
(G) Extended Outpatient Prescription Drug Benefit--Coverage for 50% of outpatient prescription drug charges, after a $250 calendar year deductible to a maximum of $3,000 in benefits received by the insured per calendar year, to the extent not covered by Medicare.
(H) Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country--Coverage to the extent not covered by Medicare for 80% of the billed charges for Medicare-eligible expenses for medically necessary emergency hospital, physician, and medical care received in a foreign country, which care would have been covered by Medicare if provided in the United States and which care began during the first 60 consecutive days of each trip outside the United States, subject to a calendar year deductible of $250, and a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000. For purposes of this benefit, "emergency care" shall mean care needed immediately because of an injury or an illness of sudden and unexpected onset.
(I) Preventive Medical Care Benefit or Services--Coverage for the preventive health services described in clauses (i) - (iv) of this subparagraph. Coverage for preventive medical care benefits or services shall be for the actual charges up to 100% of the Medicare-approved amount for each service, as if Medicare were to cover the service as identified in American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology (AMA CPT) codes, to a maximum of $120 annually under this benefit. This benefit shall not include payment for any procedure covered by Medicare:
(i) an annual clinical preventive medical history and physical examination that may include tests and services from clause (ii) of this subparagraph and patient education to address preventive health care measures;
(ii) any one or a combination of the following preventive screening tests or preventive services, the frequency of which is considered medically appropriate:
(I) digital rectal examination;
(II) dipstick urinalysis for hematuria, bacteriuria, and proteinuria;
(III) pure tone (air only) hearing screening test, administered or ordered by a physician;
(IV) serum cholesterol screening (every five years);
(V) thyroid function test; or
(VI) diabetes screening;
(iii) tetanus and diphtheria booster (every 10 years);
(iv) any other tests or preventive measures determined appropriate by the attending physician.
(J) At-Home Recovery Benefit--Coverage for services to provide short-term, at-home assistance with activities of daily living for those recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery.
(i) For purposes of this benefit, the following definitions in subclauses (I) - (IV) of this clause shall apply.
(I) Activities of daily living include, but are not limited to, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, transferring, eating, ambulating, assistance with drugs that are normally self-administered, and changing bandages or other dressings.
(II) Care provider means a duly qualified or licensed home health aide or homemaker, personal care aide, or nurse provided through a licensed home health care agency or referred by a licensed referral agency or licensed nurses registry.
(III) Home shall mean any place used by the insured as a place of residence, provided that such place would qualify as a residence for home health care services covered by Medicare. A hospital or skilled nursing facility shall not be considered the insured's place of residence.
(IV) At-home recovery visit means the period of a visit required to provide at-home recovery care, without limit on the duration of the visit, except each consecutive four hours in a 24-hour period of services provided by a care provider is one visit.
(ii) Coverage requirements and limitations.
(I) At-home recovery services provided must be primarily services which assist in activities of daily living.
(-a-) no more than the number and type of at-home recovery visits certified as necessary by the insured's attending physician. The total number of at-home recovery visits shall not exceed the number of Medicare approved home health care visits under a Medicare approved home care plan
(-b-) the actual charges for each visit up to maximum coverage of $40 per visit;
(-c-) $1,600 per calendar year;
(-d-) seven visits in any one week;
(-e-) care furnished on a visiting basis in the insured's home;
(-f-) services provided by a care provider as defined in this section;
(-g-) at-home recovery visits while the insured is covered under the policy or certificate and not otherwise excluded;
(-h-) at-home recovery visits received during the period the insured is receiving Medicare approved home care services or no more than eight weeks after the service date of the last Medicare approved home health care visit.
(II) care provided by family members, unpaid volunteers, or providers who are not care providers.
(K) New or Innovative Benefits--Any benefit which an issuer may, with the prior approval of the commissioner, offer in addition to the benefits provided in a policy or certificate that otherwise complies with the applicable standards. The new or innovative benefits may include benefits that are appropriate to Medicare supplement insurance, new or innovative, not otherwise available, cost-effective, and offered in a manner which is consistent with the goal of simplification of Medicare supplement policies.
(4) Requirement of uniformity for all Medicare supplement benefit plans. An issuer shall make available only those groups, packages or combinations of Medicare supplement benefits as described in this section, unless otherwise permitted by provisions of paragraph (3)(K) of this section and in §3.3325 of this title (relating to Medicare Select Policies, Certificates and Plans of Operation). Benefit plans shall be uniform in structure, language, designation and format to the standard benefit plan "A," defined as the basic core plan of benefits in paragraph (2) of this section and described in paragraph (5)(A) of this section, and benefit plans "B" through "J", described in paragraph (5)(B) - (L) of this section. All benefit plans shall conform to the definitions set out in §3.3303 of this title (relating to Definitions) and §3.3304 of this title (relating to Policy Definitions and Terms). Each benefit shall be structured in accordance with the format provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this section. Each benefit plan shall list the benefits in the order shown in paragraph (5)(A - (L) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph, "structure, language, and format" means style, arrangement and overall content of a benefit. In addition to the benefit plan designations required in this paragraph, an issuer may use other designations to the extent permitted by law.
(5) Make-up of Benefit Plans. Subparagraphs (A) - (L) of this paragraph set out the composition of benefit plans. Each benefit plan shall meet the requirements of this subchapter.
(A) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "A." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "A" shall include only the Core Benefits common to All Benefit Plans, as defined in paragraph (2) of this section.
(B) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "B." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "B" shall include only the Core Benefits as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(C) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "C." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "C" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Medicare Part B Deductible and Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(D) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "D." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "D" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country and the At-Home Recovery Benefit as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(E) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "E." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "E" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country and Preventive Medical Care as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(F) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "F." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "F" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, the Skilled Nursing Facility Care, the Part B Deductible, One Hundred Percent of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges, and Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(G) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit High Deductible Plan "F." Medicare supplement benefit high deductible Plan "F" shall include only the following: 100% of covered expenses following the payment of the annual high deductible Plan "F" deductible. The covered expenses include the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Medicare Part B Deductible, 100% of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges, and Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country as defined in paragraph (3) of this section. The annual high deductible Plan "F" deductible shall consist of out-of-pocket expenses, other than premiums for services covered by the Medicare supplement Plan "F" policy, and shall be in addition to any other specific benefit deductibles. The annual high deductible Plan "F" deductible shall be $1500 for 1998 and 1999, and shall be based on the calendar year. It shall be adjusted annually thereafter by the Secretary to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the twelve-month period ending with August of the preceding year, and rounded to the nearest multiple of $10.
(H) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "G." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "G" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Eighty Percent of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges, Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country, and the At-Home Recovery Benefit as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(I) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "H." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "H" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Basic Prescription Drug Benefit and Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(J) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "I." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "I" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, One Hundred Percent of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges, Basic Prescription Drug Benefit, Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country and At-Home Recovery Benefit as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(K) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit Plan "J." Medicare supplement benefit Plan "J" shall include only the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Medicare Part B Deductible, One Hundred Percent of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges, Extended Prescription Drug Benefit, Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country, Preventive Medical Care and At-Home Recovery Benefit as defined in paragraph (3) of this section.
(L) Standardized Medicare Supplement Benefit High Deductible Plan "J." Medicare supplement benefit high deductible Plan "J" shall include only the following: 100% of covered expenses following the payment of the annual high deductible Plan "J" deductible. The covered expenses include the Core Benefit as defined in paragraph (2) of this section, plus the Medicare Part A Deductible, Skilled Nursing Facility Care, Medicare Part B Deductible, 100% of the Medicare Part B Excess Charges, Extended Outpatient Prescription Drug Benefit, Medically Necessary Emergency Care in a Foreign Country, Preventive Medical Care and At-Home Recovery Benefit as defined in paragraph (3) of this section. The annual high deductible Plan "J" deductible shall consist of out-of-pocket expenses, other than premiums for services covered by the Medicare supplement Plan "J" policy, and shall be in addition to any other specific benefit deductibles. The annual high deductible Plan "J" deductible shall be $1500 for 1998 and 1999, and shall be based on the calendar year. It shall be adjusted annually thereafter by the Secretary to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the twelve-month period ending with August of the preceding year, and rounded to the nearest multiple of $10.
§3.3308. Required Disclosure Provisions.
(1) Medicare supplement policies and certificates shall include a renewal or continuation provision. The language or specifications of such provision must be consistent with the type of contract issued. The provisions shall be appropriately captioned, and shall appear on the first page of the policy, and shall include any reservation by the issuer of the right to change premiums and any automatic renewal premium increases based on the age of the policyholder.
(2) Except for riders or endorsements by which the issuer effectuates a request made in writing by the policyholder, or by which the issuer exercises a specifically reserved right under a Medicare supplement policy, or by which the issuer is required to reduce or eliminate benefits to avoid duplication of Medicare benefits, all riders or endorsements added to a Medicare supplement policy after the date of issue or at reinstatement or renewal which reduce or eliminate benefits or coverage in the policy shall require signed acceptance by the policyholder. After the date of issue of the policy or certificate, any rider or endorsement which increases benefits or coverage with concomitant increase in premium during the policy term shall be agreed to in writing signed by the policyholder, unless the benefits are required by the minimum standards for Medicare supplement insurance policies, or unless the increased benefits or coverage is required by law. Where a separate additional premium is charged for benefits provided in connection with riders or endorsements, the additional premium charge shall be set forth in the policy.
(3) Medicare supplement policies shall not provide for the payment of benefits based on standards described as "usual and customary," "reasonable and customary," or words of similar import.
(4) If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate contains any limitations with respect to preexisting conditions:
(A) the limitations shall appear as a separate paragraph of the policy or certificate and be labeled as "Preexisting Condition Limitations;"
(B) the policy or certificate shall define the term "preexisting condition" and shall provide an explanation of the term in its accompanying outline of coverage; and
(C) the policy or certificate shall include a provision explaining the reduction of the preexisting condition limitation for individuals that qualify under §3.3306(1)(A) of this title (relating to Minimum Benefit Standards), §3.3312(a)(2) of this title (relating to Guaranteed Issue to Eligible Persons), or §3.3324(c) and (d) of this title (relating to Open Enrollment).
(5) Medicare supplement policies and certificates shall have a notice prominently printed on the first page or attached thereto stating in substance that the policyholder or certificate holder shall have the right to return the policy or certificate within 30 days of its delivery and to have the premium refunded if after examination the insured person is not satisfied for any reason.
(6) Issuers of accident and sickness policies, certificates, or subscriber contracts which provide hospital or medical expense coverage on an expense incurred or indemnity basis, to a person(s) eligible for Medicare shall provide to those applicants a Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare in the form developed jointly by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the United States Department of Health and Human Services in no smaller than 12-point type.
(A) For purposes of this section, "form" means the language, format, style, type size, type proportional spacing, bold character, and line spacing.
(B) If a Guide incorporating the latest statutory changes is not available from a government agency, companies may comply with this provision by modifying the latest available Guide to the extent required by applicable law.
(C) Except as provided in this section, delivery of the Guide shall be made whether or not such policies, certificates, subscriber contracts, or evidences of coverage are advertised, solicited, or issued as Medicare supplement policies or certificates as defined in this regulation.
(D) Except in the case of direct response issuers, delivery of the Guide shall be made to the applicant at the time of application and acknowledgment of receipt of the Guide shall be obtained by the issuer. Provided, however, issuers shall deliver the Guide to the applicant for a direct response Medicare supplement policy upon request, but not later than at the time the policy is delivered.
(7) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the terms "Medicare Supplement," "Medigap," "Medicare Wrap-Around" and words of similar import may not be used unless the policy is issued in compliance with §3.3306 of this title (relating to Minimum Benefit Standards).
(b) Outline of coverage requirements for Medicare supplement policies.
(1) Issuers of Medicare supplement coverage in this state shall provide an outline of coverage to all applicants, including certificate holders under group policies, at the time application is presented to the prospective applicant, and, except for direct response policies, shall obtain an acknowledgment of receipt of such outline from the applicant.
(2) If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate is issued on a basis which would require revision of the outline of coverage delivered at the time of application, a substitute outline of coverage properly describing the policy or certificate actually issued shall accompany such policy or certificate when it is delivered and contain the following statement in no less than 12-point type, immediately above the company name: "Notice: Read this outline of coverage carefully. It is not identical to the outline of coverage provided upon application and the coverage originally applied for has not been issued."
(c) Form for outline of coverage. In providing outlines of coverage to applicants pursuant to the requirements of subsection (b)(1) of this section, insurers shall use a form which complies with the requirements of this subsection. The outline of coverage must contain each of the following four parts in the following order: a cover page, premium information, disclosure pages, and charts displaying the features of each benefit plan offered by the issuer. The outline of coverage shall be in the language and format prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection in no less than 12-point type.
(1) All plans A - J shall be shown on the cover page, and the plan(s) that are offered by the issuer shall be prominently identified. Premium information for plans that are offered shall be shown on the cover page or immediately following the cover page and shall be prominently displayed. The premium and mode shall be stated for all plans that are offered to the prospective applicant. All possible premiums for the prospective applicant shall be illustrated.
(2) The items in subparagraphs (A) ­ (C) of this paragraph shall be included in the outline of coverage in addition to the items specified in the plan-specific outline-of-coverage forms.
(A) Dollar amounts which are shown in parentheses for each of the plan-specific charts on the following pages are for calendar year 1992. Issuers shall, for each plan offered, appropriately complete outline-of-coverage-chart statements about amounts to be paid by Medicare, the plan, and the covered person by replacing the amount in parentheses with the dollar amount corresponding to each covered service for the applicable calendar year benefit period.
(B) The outline of coverage must include an explanation of any limitations and exclusions. Those limitations and exclusions resulting from Medicare program provisions may be disclosed as such by reference and need not be explained in their entirety. All limitations and exclusions related to preexisting conditions, and all other limitations and exclusions not resulting from Medicare regulations must be fully explained in the outline of coverage.
(C) The outline of coverage must include a statement that the policy either does or does not contain provisions providing for a refund or partial refund of premium upon the death of an insured or the surrender of the policy or certificate. If the policy contains such provisions, a description of them must be included.
(D) The outline of coverage for Medicare Select policies or certificates shall include information regarding grievance procedures which meet the requirements of §3.3325(m) of this title (relating to Medicare Select Policies, Certificates and Plans of Operation). Figure: 28 §3.3308(c)(2)(D)(contact ChiefClerk@tdi.texas.gov
(1) As soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days prior to the annual effective date of any Medicare benefit changes, every issuer providing Medicare supplement coverage to a resident of this state shall notify its policyholders, contract holders, and certificate holders of modifications it has made to Medicare supplement insurance policies, contracts, or certificates. The notice shall:
(A) include a description of revisions to the Medicare program and a description of each modification made to the coverage provided under the Medicare supplement insurance policy, contract, or certificate; and
(B) inform each covered person as to when any premium adjustment is to be made due to changes in Medicare.
(3) The notice shall not contain or be accompanied by any solicitation.
§3.3312. Guaranteed Issue for Eligible Persons.
(a) Guaranteed issue.
(1) Eligible persons are those individuals described in subsection (b) of this section who seek to enroll under the Medicare supplement policy during the period specified in subsection (d) of this section, and who submit evidence of the date of termination or disenrollment with the application for a Medicare supplement policy.
(2) With respect to eligible persons, an issuer shall not deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of a Medicare supplement policy described in subsection (c) of this section that is offered and is available for issuance to newly enrolled individuals by the issuer, and shall not discriminate in the pricing of such a Medicare supplement policy because of health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition, and shall not impose an exclusion of benefits based on a preexisting condition under such a Medicare supplement policy.
(b) Eligible Persons. An eligible person is an individual described in any of the following paragraphs:
(1) The individual is enrolled under an employee welfare benefit plan that provides health benefits that supplement the benefits under Medicare, and the plan terminates, or the plan ceases to provide all such supplemental health benefits to the individual; or the individual is enrolled under an employee welfare benefit plan that is primary to Medicare and the plan terminates or the plan ceases to provide all health benefits to the individual because the individual leaves the plan.
(2) The individual is enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under a Medicare+Choice plan under Part C of Medicare, and any of the following circumstances apply, or the individual is 65 years of age or older and is enrolled with a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provider under section 1894 of the Social Security Act, and there are circumstances similar to the following that would permit discontinuance of the individual's enrollment with such provider if such individual were enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan:
(A) The certification of the organization or plan has been terminated; or
(C) The individual is no longer eligible to elect the plan because of a change in the individual's place of residence or other change in circumstances specified by the Secretary, but not including termination of the individual's enrollment on the basis described in section 1851(g)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (where the individual has not paid premiums on a timely basis or has engaged in disruptive behavior as specified in standards under section 1856), or the plan is terminated for all individuals within a residence area;
(i) The organization offering the plan substantially violated a material provision of the organization's contract under U.S.C. Title 42, Chapter 7, Subchapter XVIII, Part D in relation to the individual, including the failure to provide an individual on a timely basis medically necessary care for which benefits are available under the plan or the failure to provide such covered care in accordance with applicable quality standards; or
(ii) The organization, or agent or other entity acting on the organization's behalf, materially misrepresented the plan's provisions in marketing the plan to the individual; or
(3) The individual is enrolled with an entity listed in subparagraphs (A) - (D) of this paragraph and enrollment ceases under the same circumstances that would permit discontinuance of an individual's election of coverage under paragraph (2) of this subsection:
(A) An eligible organization under a contract under section 1876 of the Social Security Act (Medicare cost);
(C) An organization under an agreement under section 1833(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (health care prepayment plan); or
(A) Of the insolvency of the issuer or bankruptcy of the nonissuer organization; or of other involuntary termination of coverage or enrollment under the policy;
(B) The issuer of the policy substantially violated a material provision of the policy; or
(C) The issuer, or an agent or other entity acting on the issuer's behalf, materially misrepresented the policy's provisions in marketing the policy to the individual;
(5) The individual was enrolled under a Medicare supplement policy and terminates enrollment and subsequently enrolls, for the first time, with any Medicare+Choice organization under a Medicare+Choice plan under part C of Medicare, any eligible organization under a contract under section 1876 of the Social Security Act (Medicare cost), any similar organization operating under demonstration project authority, any PACE provider under section 1894 of the Social Security Act, or a Medicare Select policy; and the subsequent enrollment is terminated by the individual during any period within the first 12 months of such subsequent enrollment (during which the individual is permitted to terminate such subsequent enrollment under section 1851(e) of the Social Security Act); or
(6) The individual, upon first becoming enrolled in Medicare part B for benefits at age 65 or older, enrolls in a Medicare+Choice plan under part C of Medicare, or with a PACE provider under section 1894 of the Social Security Act, and disenrolls from the plan or program no later than 12 months after the effective date of enrollment.
(c) Products to Which Eligible Persons are Entitled. The Medicare supplement policy to which eligible persons are entitled under:
(1) Subsection (b)(1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section is a Medicare supplement policy which has a benefit package classified as Plan A, B, C, or F offered by any issuer.
(2) Subsection (b)(5) of this section is the same Medicare supplement policy in which the individual was most recently previously enrolled, if available from the same issuer, or, if not so available, a policy described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) Subsection (b)(6) of this section shall include any Medicare supplement policy offered by any issuer.
(d) Guaranteed Issue Time Period(s).
(1) In the case of an individual described in subsection (b)(1) of this section:
(A) for a plan that supplements the benefits under Medicare, the guaranteed issue period begins on the later of: (i) the date the individual receives a notice of termination or cessation of all supplemental health benefits (or if a notice is not received, the date the individual receives notice that a claim has been denied because of
such termination or cessation); or (ii) the date the applicable coverage terminates or ceases; and ends sixty-three (63) days thereafter; or
(B) for a plan that is primary to the benefits under Medicare, the guaranteed issue period begins on the later of: (i) the date the individual receives a notice of termination or cessation of all health benefits (or if a notice is not received, the date the individual receives notice that a claim has been denied because of such termination or cessation); or (ii) the date the applicable coverage terminates or ceases; and ends sixty-three (63) days thereafter.
(2) In the case of an individual described in subsections (b)(2), (3), (5), or (6) of this section whose enrollment is terminated involuntarily, the guaranteed issue period begins on the date that the individual receives a notice of termination and ends 63 days after the date the applicable coverage is terminated;
(3) In the case of an individual described in subsection (b)(4)(A) of this section, the guaranteed issue period begins on the earlier of the date that the individual receives a notice of termination, a notice of the issuer´s bankruptcy or insolvency, or other such similar notice if any, and the date that the applicable coverage is terminated, and ends on the date that is 63 days after the date the coverage is terminated;
(4) In the case of an individual described in subsections (b)(2), (4)(B) and (C), (5), or (6) of this section, who disenrolls voluntarily, the guaranteed issue period begins on the date that is 60 days before the effective date of the disenrollment and ends on the date that is 63 days after the effective date of disenrollment; and
(5) In the case of an individual described in subsection (b) of this section, but not described in paragraphs (1) - (4) of this subsection, the guaranteed issue period begins on the effective date of disenrollment and ends on the date that is 63 days after the effective date of disenrollment.
(e) Extended Medicare Supplement Access for Interrupted Trial Periods.
(1) In the case of an individual described in subsection (b)(5) of this section (or deemed to be so described, pursuant to this paragraph), whose enrollment with an organization or provider described in subsection (b)(5) is involuntarily terminated within the first 12 months of enrollment, and who, without an intervening enrollment, enrolls with another such organization or provider, the subsequent enrollment shall be deemed to be an initial enrollment as described in subsection (b)(5) of this section.
(2) In the case of an individual described in subsection (b)(6) of this section (or deemed to be so described, pursuant to this paragraph), whose enrollment with a plan or in a program described in subsection (b)(6) is involuntarily terminated within the first 12 months of enrollment, and who, without an intervening enrollment, enrolls with another such plan or program, the subsequent enrollment shall be deemed to be an initial enrollment as described in subsection (b)(6) of this section.
(3) For purposes of subsections (b)(5) and (6) of this section, no enrollment of an individual with an organization or provider described in subsection (b)(5), or with a plan or in a program described in subsection (b)(6), may be deemed to be an initial enrollment under this paragraph after the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the individual first enrolled with such an organization, provider, plan, or program.