18 Del. Admin. Code § 1304
The purpose of this regulation is to implement18 Del.C. Ch. 36(Individual Accident and Sickness Insurance Minimum Standards) so as to provide reasonable standardization and simplification of terms and coverages of individual health insurance policies and individual subscriber contracts of hospital, medical and dental service corporations in order to facilitate public understanding and comparison and to eliminate provisions contained in individual health insurance policies and individual subscriber contracts of hospital, medical, and dental service corporations which may be misleading or confusing in connection either with the purchase of such coverages or with the settlement of claims and to provide for full disclosure in the sale of such coverages.
This regulation is issued pursuant to the authority vested in the Commissioner under18 Del.C. Ch. 36 and 18 Del.C. §314.
This regulation shall apply to all individual health insurance policies and subscriber contracts of hospital and medical and dental service corporations delivered or issued for delivery in this state on and after the effective date hereof, except it shall not apply to individual policies or contracts issued pursuant to a conversion privilege under a policy or contract of group or individual insurance when such group or individual policy or contract includes provisions which are inconsistent with the requirements of this Regulation, nor to policies being issued to employees or members as additions to franchise plans in existence on the effective date of this regulation. The requirements contained in this regulation shall be in addition to any other applicable regulations previously adopted.
This regulation shall be effective six months after signature by the Commissioner, and shall be applicable to all individual health insurance policies and nonprofit hospital, medical and dental service contracts delivered or issued for delivery in this state on and after such date which are not specifically exempt from this regulation. This regulation shall not apply to policies and contracts which were in effect prior to December 20, 1984.*
5.1 Except as provided hereafter, no individual health insurance policy or hospital, medical, or dental service corporation subscriber contract delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state shall contain definitions respecting the matters set forth below unless such definitions comply with the requirements of this section.
"Accident""Accidental Injury""Accidental Means"shall be defined to employ "result" language and shall not include words which establish an accidental means test or use words such as "external, violent, visible wounds" or similar words of description or characterization.
• The definition shall not be more restrictive than the following: Injury or injuries, for which benefits are provided, means accidental bodily injury sustained by the insured person which are the direct cause, independent of disease or bodily infirmity or any other cause and occur while the insurance is in force.
• Such definition may provide that injuries shall not include injuries for which benefits are provided under workmen's compensation, employer's liability or similar law, motor vehicle no-fault plan, unless prohibited by law, or injuries occurring while the insured person is engaged in any activity pertaining to any trade, business, employment, or occupation for wage or profit.
"Convalescent Nursing Home""Extended Care Facility"or "Skilled Nursing Facility" shall be defined in relation to its status, facilities, and available services.
• A definition of such home or facility shall not be more restrictive than one requiring that it:
• be operated pursuant to law;
• be primarily engaged in providing, in addition to room and board accommodations, skilled nursing care under the supervision of a duly licensed physician;
• provide continuous 24 hours a day nursing service by or under the supervision of a registered graduate professional nurse (R.N.); and
• maintains a daily medical record of each patient.
• The definition of such home or facility may provide that such term shall not be inclusive of:
• any home, facility or part thereof used primarily for rest;
• a home or facility for the aged or for the care of drug addicts or alcoholics; or
• a home or facility primarily used for the care and treatment of mental diseases, or disorders, or custodial or educational care.
"Hospital"may be defined in relation to its status, facilities and available services or to reflect its accreditation by the Delaware State Board of Health, the Board of Health of other states, or by the recognized authorities such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.
• The definition of the term "hospital" shall not be more restrictive than one requiring that the hospital:
• be an institution operated pursuant to law; and
• be primarily and continuously engaged in providing or operating, either on its premises or in facilities available to the hospital on a prearranged basis and under the supervision of a staff of duly licensed physicians, medical, diagnostic and major surgical facilities for the medical care and treatment of sick or injured persons on an in-patient basis for which a charge is made; and
• provide 24 hour nursing service by or under the supervision of registered graduate professional nurses (R.N's).
• The definition of the term "hospital" may state that such term shall not be inclusive of:
• convalescent homes, convalescent, rest, or nursing facilities; or
• facilities primarily affording custodial, educational or rehabilitory care; or
• facilities for the aged, drug addicts or alcoholics; or
• any military or veterans hospital or soldiers home or any hospital contracted for or operated by any national government or agency thereof for the treatment of members or ex-members of the armed forces, except for services rendered on an emergency basis where a legal liability exists for charges made to the individual for such services.
"Mental or Nervous Disorders"shall not be defined more restrictively than a definition including neurosis, psychoneurosis, psychopathy, psychosis, or mental or emotional disease or disorder of any kind.
"Nurses"may be defined so that the description of nurse is restricted to a type of nurse, such as registered graduate professional nurse (R.N.), a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.), or a licensed vocational nurse (L.V.N.). If the words "nurse," "trained nurse" or "registered nurse" are used without specific instruction, then the use of such terms requires the insurer to recognize the services of any individual who qualifies under such terminology in accordance with the applicable statutes or administrative rules of the licensing or registry board of the state.
"One period of confinement"means consecutive days of in-hospital service received as an in-patient, or successive confinements when discharge from and readmission to the hospital occurs within a period of time not more than 90 days or three times the maximum number of days of in-hospital coverage provided by the policy to a maximum of 180 days.
"Partial Disability"shall be defined in relation to the individual's inability to perform one or more but not all of the "major," "important," or "essential" duties of employment or occupation or may be related to a 6 "percentage" of time worked or to a "specified number of hours" or to "compensation." Where a policy provides total disability benefits and partial disability benefits, only one elimination period may be required.
"Pre-existing condition"shall not be defined to be more restrictive than the following: Pre-existing condition means the existence of symptoms which would cause an ordinarily prudent person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment within a five (5) year period preceding the effective date of the coverage of the insured person or a condition for which medical advice or treatment was recommended by a physician or received from a physician within a five (5) year period preceding the effective date of the coverage of the insured person.
"Physician"may be defined by including words such as "duly qualified physician" or "duly licensed physician." The use of such terms requires an insurer to recognize and to accept, to the extent of its obligation under the contract, all providers of medical care and treatment when such services are within the scope of the provider's licensed authority and are provided pursuant to applicable laws.
"Residual Disability"shall be defined in relation to the individual's reduction in earnings and may be related either to the inability to perform some part of the "major...... important," or "essential duties" of employment or occupation, or to the inability to perform all usual business duties for as long as is usually required. A policy which provides for residual disability benefits may require a qualification period, during which the insured must be continuously totally disabled before residual disability benefits are payable. The qualification period for residual benefits may be longer than the elimination period for total disability. In lieu of the term "residual disability," the insurer may use "proportionate disability" or other term of similar import which in the opinion of the Commissioner adequately and fairly describes the benefit.
"Sickness”shall not be defined to be more restrictive than the following: Sickness means sickness or disease of an insured person which first manifests itself after the effective date of insurance and while the insurance is in force. A definition of sickness may provide for a probationary period which will not exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the coverage of the insured person. The definition may be further modified to exclude sickness or disease for which benefits are provided under any workman's compensation, occupational disease, employer's liability or similar law."
"Total Disability"
• A general definition of total disability cannot be more restrictive than one requiring the individual to be totally disabled from engaging in any employment or occupation for which he is or becomes qualified by reason of education, training or experience and not in fact engaged in any employment or occupation for wage or profit.
• Total disability may be defined in relation to the inability of the person to perform duties but may not be based solely upon an individual's inability to: (a) Perform "any occupation whatsoever," "any occupational duty," or "any and every duty of his occupation," or (b) Engage in any training or rehabilitative program.
• An insurer may specify the requirements of the complete inability of the person to perform all of the substantial and material duties of this regular occupation or words of similar import. An insurer may require care by a physician (other than the insured or a member of the insured's immediate family).
6.2 No policy or rider for additional coverage may be issued as a dividend unless an equivalent cash payment is offered to the policyholder as an alternative to such dividend policy or rider. No such dividend policy or rider shall be issued for an initial term of less than 6 months.
The initial renewal subsequent to the issuance of any policy or rider as a dividend shall clearly disclose that the policyholder is renewing the coverage that was provided as a dividend for the previous term and that such renewal is optional with the policyholder.
6.6 No policy shall limit or exclude coverage by type of illness, accident, treatment or medical condition, except as follows:
6.6.4 illness, treatment or medical condition arising out of:
7.1 The following minimum standards for benefits are prescribed for the categories of coverage noted in the following subsections. No individual policy of health insurance or nonprofit hospital, medical or dental service corporation contract shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state which does not meet the required minimum standards for the specified categories unless the Commissioner finds that such policies or contracts are approvable as Limited Benefit Health insurance and the Outline of Coverage complies with the appropriate outline in section 8.11 of this regulation.
Nothing in this section shall preclude the issuance of any policy or contract combining two or more categories of coverage set forth in18 Del.C. §3604 (a) and (b).
7.2 General Rules
7.3 Basic Hospital Expense Coverage
7.3.1 "Basic Hospital Expense Coverage" is a policy of accident and sickness insurance which provides coverage for a period of not less than thirty-one (31) days during any continuous hospital confinement for each person insured under the policy, for expense incurred for medically necessary treatment and services rendered as a result of accident or sickness for at least the following:
7.3.1.4 benefits provided under s sections 7.3.1.1 and 7.3.1.2 above, may be provided subject to a combined deductible amount not in excess of the greater of:
7.4 Basic Medical-Surgical Expense Coverage
7.4.1 "Basic Medical-Surgical Expense Coverage" is a policy of accident and sickness insurance which provides coverage for each person insured under the policy for the expenses incurred for the necessary services rendered by a physician for treatment of an injury or sickness for at least the following:
7.4.1.1 Surgical services:
7.4.1.2 Anesthesia services, consisting of administration of necessary general anesthesia and related procedures in connection with covered surgical service rendered by a physician other than the physician (or his assistant) performing the surgical services;
7.5 Hospital Confinement Indemnity Coverage
7.6 Major Medical Expense Coverage
7.6.1 "Major medical expense coverage" is an accident and sickness insurance policy which provides hospital, medical and surgical expense coverage, to an aggregate maximum of not less than $10,000.00; co-payment by the covered person not to exceed 25% of covered charges; a deductible started on a per person, per family, per illness, per benefit period, or per year basis, or a combination of such bases not to exceed 5% of the aggregate maximum limit under the policy, unless the policy is written to complement underlying hospital and medical insurance in which case such deductible may be increased by the amount of the benefits provided by such underlying insurance, for each covered person for at least:
7.6.1.7 not fewer than three of the following additional benefits, prior to application of the co-payment percentage, for an aggregate maximum of such covered charges of not less than $1,000.00;
7.7 Disability Income Protection Coverage
7.7.1 "Disability income protection coverage" is a policy which provides for periodic payments, weekly or monthly, for a specified period during the continuance of disability resulting from either sickness or injury or a combination thereof which:
7.7.1.2 Contains an elimination period no greater than:
7.8 Accident Only Coverage
7.9 Specified Disease and Specified Accident Coverage
7.9.1 "Specified disease coverage" pays benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of a specifically named disease or diseases. Any such Policy must meet the following general -- rules and one of the following sets of minimum standards for benefits; such insurance covering cancer -- whether cancer only or in conjunction with other conditions) or disease(s) -- must meet the standards of sections 7.9.2, 7.9.3, or 7.9.3.4; insurance covering specified disease(s) other than cancer must meet the standards of section 7.9.1, or 7.9.3.4.
7.9.1.1 General Rules
7.9.1.1.1 Except for cancer coverage provided on an expense-incurred basis, either as cancer-only coverage or in combination with one or more other specified diseases, the following rules shall apply to specified-disease coverages in addition to all other rules imposed by this regulation; in cases of conflict between the following and other rules, the following ones shall govern:
7.9.1.2 The following minimum benefits standards apply to noncancer coverages:
7.9.1.2.1 Coverage for each person insured under the policy for a specifically named disease (or diseases) with a deductible amount not in excess of $250.00 and an overall aggregate benefit limit of no less than $5,000.00 and a benefit period of not less than two (2) years for at least the following incurred expenses:
7.9.2 A policy which provides coverage for each person insured under the policy for cancer-only coverage or in combination with one or more other specified diseases on an expense incurred basis for services, supplies, care and treatment that are ordered or prescribed by a physician as necessary for the treatment of cancer, in amounts not in excess of the usual and customary charges, with a deductible amount not in excess of $250.00, and an overall aggregate benefit limit of not less than $10,000.00 and a benefit period of not less than three (3) years for at least the following:
7.9.2.11 * Home health care that is necessary care and treatment provided at the covered person's residence by a home health care agency or by others under arrangements made with a home health care agency. The program of treatment must be prescribed in writing by the covered person's attending physician, who must approve the program prior to its start. The physician must certify that hospital confinement would be otherwise required.
7.9.2.11.2 is licensed to provide home health care under applicable state law, or 3) meets all of the following requirements.
7.9.2.11.3 Home health includes, but is not limited to:
7.9.3 The following minimum benefits standards apply to cancer coverages written on a per them indemnity basis. Such coverages must offer covered persons:
7.9.3.3 Benefits tied to confinement in a skilled nursing home or to receipt of home health care are optional; if a policy offers these benefits, they must equal the following:
7.9.3.4 The following minimum benefits standards apply to lump-sum indemnity coverage of any specified disease(s):
7.9.3.4.2 Where coverage is advertised or otherwise represented to offer generic coverage of a disease or diseases, the same dollar amounts must be payable regardless of the particular subtype of the disease with one exception. In the case of clearly identifiable subtypes with significantly lower treatments costs, lesser amounts may be payable so long as the policy clearly differentiates that subtype and its benefits.
7.10 Limited Benefit Insurance Coverage
8.1 General Rules
8.2 Outline of Coverage Requirements for Individual Coverages
8.2.1 No individual health insurance policy or nonprofit hospital, medical or dental service corporation subscriber contract subject to this regulation shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state unless an appropriate outline of coverage, as prescribed in section 8.3 through 8.11 is completed as to such policy or contract and the outline is either:
8.3 Basic Hospital Expense Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.3.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issue in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.3 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed:
(COMPANY NAME)
BASIC HOSPITAL EXPENSE COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(1) Read Your Policy Carefully — This outline of coverage provides a very brief description of the important features of your policy. This is not the insurance contract and only the actual policy provisions will control. The policy itself sets forth in detail the rights and obligations of both you and your insurance company. It is, therefore, important that you READ YOUR POLICY CAREFULLY!
8.3.3 (A brief specific description of the benefits, including dollar amounts and number of days duration where applicable, contained in this policy, in the following order:
8.3.3.4 other benefits, if any.)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductible or co-payment provision applicable to the benefits described.)
8.4 Basic Medical-Surgical Expense Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.4.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.4 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed:
(COMPANY NAME)
BASIC MEDICAL-SURGICAL EXPENSE COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(d) other benefits, if any.)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductible or co-payment provision applicable to the benefits described.)
(5) (A description of policy provisions respecting renewability or continuation of coverage, including age restrictions or any reservation of right to change premiums.)
8.5 Basic Hospital and Medical Surgical Expense Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.5.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.3 and 7.4 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
BASIC HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SURGICAL EXPENSE COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(g) other benefits, if any.
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductible or co-payment provision applicable to the benefits described.)
(5) (A description of policy provisions respecting renewability or continuation of coverage, including age restrictions or any reservation of right to change premiums.)
8.6 Hospital Confinement Indemnity Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.6.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.5 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
HOSPITAL CONFINEMENT INDEMNITY COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(b) duration of benefit described in (a).)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely.)
(6) Any benefits provided in addition to the daily hospital benefit.
8.7 Major Medical Expense Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.7.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.6 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
MAJOR MEDICAL EXPENSE COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(h) other benefits, if any.)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductible or co-payments provision applicable to the benefits described.)
(5) (A description of policy provisions respecting renewability or continuation of coverage, including age restrictions or any reservation of right to change premiums.)
8.8 Disability Income Protection Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.8.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.7 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
DISABILITY INCOME PROTECTION COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(3) (A brief specific description of the benefits contained in this policy.)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely.)
(5) (A description of policy provisions respecting renewability or continuation of coverage, including age restrictions or any reservation of right to change premiums.)
8.9 Accident Only Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.9.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.8 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
ACCIDENT ONLY COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(3) (A brief specific description of the benefits contained in this policy.)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductibles or co-payment provision applicable to the benefits described. Proper disclosure of benefits which vary according to accidental cause shall be made in accordance with subsection (A)(13) of Section 7 of this Regulation.)
(5) (A description of policy provisions respecting renewability or continuation of coverage, including age restrictions or any reservation of right to change premiums.)
8.10 Specified Disease or Specified Accident Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.10.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies meeting the standards of section 7.9 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
(SPECIFIED DISEASE) (SPECIFIED ACCIDENT) COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE
(4) (A brief specific description of the benefits contained in this policy.)
8.11 Limited Benefit Health Coverage (Outline of Coverage)
8.11.1 An outline of coverage, in the form prescribed below, shall be issued in connection with policies which do not meet the minimum standards of sections 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8 and 7.9 of this Regulation. The items included in the outline of coverage must appear in the sequence prescribed.
(COMPANY NAME)
LIMITED BENEFIT HEALTH COVERAGE
OUTLINE OF COVERAGE*
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductible or co-payment provision applicable to the benefits described. Proper disclosure of benefits which vary according to accidental cause shall be made in accordance with subsection(A)(13) of Section 7 of this Regulation.)
(3) (A brief specific description of the benefits, including dollar amounts, contained in this policy.)
(NOTE: The above description of benefits shall be stated clearly and concisely, and shall include a description of any deductible or co-payment provision applicable to the benefits described. Proper disclosure of benefits which vary according to accidental cause shall be made in accordance with subsection (A)(13) of Section 7 of this Regulation.)
9.3 The notice required by section 9.2 for an insurer, other than a direct response insurer, shall provide, in substantially the following form:
NOTICE TO APPLICANT REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE
According to (your application) (information you have furnished), you intend to lapse or otherwise terminate existing accident and sickness insurance and replace it with a policy to be issued by (insert Company Name) Insurance Company. For your own information and protection, you should be aware of and seriously consider certain factors which may affect the insurance protection available to you under the new policy.
(3) If, after due consideration, you still wish to terminate your present policy and replace it with new coverage, be certain to truthfully and completely answer all questions on the application concerning your medical/health history. Failure to include all material medical information on an application may provide a basis for the company to deny any future claims and to refund your premium as though your policy had never been in force. After the application has been completed and before you sign it, re-read it carefully to be certain that all information has been properly recorded.
9.4 The notice required by section 9.2 for a direct response insurer shall be as follows:
NOTICE TO APPLICANT REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF ACCIDENTS AND SICKNESS INSURANCE
According to (your application) (information you have furnished), you intend to lapse or otherwise terminate existing accident and sickness insurance and replace it with a policy to be issued by (insert Company Name) Insurance Company. Your new policy provides 10 days within which you may decide without cost whether you desire to keep the policy. For your own information and protection, you should be aware of and seriously consider certain factors which may affect the insurance protection available to you under the new policy.
The above "Notice to Applicant" was delivered to me on:
____________________________
(Date)
_________________________
(Applicant's Signature)
(3) (To be included only if the application is attached to the policy.) If, after due consideration, you still wish to terminate your present policy and replace it with new coverage, read the copy of the application attached to your new policy and be sure that all questions are answered fully and correctly. Omissions or misstatements in the application could cause an otherwise valid claim to be denied. Carefully check the application and write to (insert Company Name and Address) within 10 days if any information is not correct and complete, or if any past medical history has been left out of the application.
(Company Name)
If any provision of this Regulation or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is for any reason held to be invalid, the remainder of the Regulation and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.