Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 23 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND REGULATED INDUSTRIES (§§ 23-1-101 — 23-119-105) › Subtitle 3 - INSURANCE (§§ 23-60-101 — 23-103-417) › Chapter 96 - ARKANSAS LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION ACT (§§ 23-96-101 — 23-96-121) › Section 23-96-113 - Authority of association when proceeding under section 23-96-111 or section 23-96-112

(a)
(1)
When proceeding under §
23-96-111
or §
23-96-112(a)(2)
, the Arkansas Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association shall:
(A)
With respect to policies and contracts, assure payment of benefits that would have been payable under the policies or contracts of the insolvent insurer, for claims incurred:
(i)
With respect to group policies and contracts, not later than the earlier of the next renewal date under the policies or contracts or forty-five (45) days, but in no event less than thirty (30) days, after the date on which the association becomes obligated with respect to the policies and contracts; and
(ii)
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 (1) year, but in no event less than thirty (30) days, from the date on which the association becomes obligated with respect to the policies or contracts;
(B)
Make diligent efforts to provide all known insureds, enrollees, or annuitants, for nongroup policies and contracts, or group policy or contract owners with respect to group policies and contracts thirty (30) days' notice of the termination, under this subdivision (a)(1), of the benefits provided; and
(C)
With respect to nongroup policies and contracts covered by the association, make available to each known insured, enrollee, or annuitant, or owner if other than the insured or annuitant, and with respect to an individual formerly an insured, enrollee, or annuitant under a group policy or contract who is not eligible for replacement group coverage, make available substitute coverage on an individual basis according to subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this section, 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 provisions of the policy, contract, or annuity or had a right only to make changes in premium by class.
(2)
(A)
In providing the substitute coverage required under subdivision (a)(1)(C) 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 Insurance Commissioner.
(B)
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.
(C)
The association may reinsure any alternative or reissued policy or contract.
(3)
(A)
(i)
Alternative policies or contracts adopted by the association shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner.
(ii)
The association may adopt alternative policies or contracts of various types for future issuance without regard to any particular impairment or insolvency.
(B)
(i)
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.
(ii)
The association shall set the premium according to a table of rates which it shall adopt.
(iii)
The premium shall reflect the amount of insurance to be provided and the age and class of risk of each insured, but shall not reflect any changes in the health of the insured after the original policy or contract was last underwritten.
(C)
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.
(b)
When proceeding under §
23-96-111
or §
23-96-112(a)
with respect to a policy or contract carrying guaranteed minimum interest rates, the association shall assure the payment or crediting of a rate of interest consistent with §
23-96-106(a)(3)
.
(c)
(1)
In carrying out its duties under §
23-96-111
and §
23-96-112(a)
, the association may:
(A)
Subject to approval by a court in this state, impose permanent policy or contract liens in connection with any guarantee, assumption, or reinsurance agreement, if the association finds that the amounts which can be assessed under this chapter are less than the amounts needed to assure full and prompt performance of the association's duties under this chapter 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
(B)
(i)
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.
(ii)
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 insurer 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 according to a hardship procedure established by the liquidator or rehabilitator and approved by the receivership court.
(2)
(A)
A deposit in this state, held pursuant to law or required by the commissioner for the benefit of creditors, including policy 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 insurer domiciled in this state or in a reciprocal state under §
23-68-115
shall be promptly paid to the association.
(B)
The association:
(i)
Is entitled to retain a portion of any amount so paid to it equal to the percentage determined by dividing the aggregate amount of policy or contract owners' claims related to that insolvency for which the association has provided statutory benefits by the aggregate amount of all policy or contract owners' claims in this state related to that insolvency; and
(ii)
Shall remit to the domiciliary receiver the amount so paid to the association and retained under subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i) of this section.
(C)
Any amount so paid to the association and retained by it under subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i) of this section shall be treated as a distribution of estate assets under §
23-68-126
or similar provision of the state of domicile of the impaired insurer or insolvent insurer.
(d)
In carrying out its duties in connection with guaranteeing, assuming, reissuing, or reinsuring policies or contracts under §
23-96-111
or §
23-96-112(a)
, the association may 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 according to 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:
(A)
A fixed rate;
(B)
Payments of dividends with minimum guarantees; or
(C)
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.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 520,§ 2, eff. 7/24/2019.
Acts 1989, No. 444, § 8; 1997, No. 950, § 1; 2001, No. 1603, §§ 58, 59; 2001, No. 1604, § 122.