A. At the time of the initial purchase of coverage, a carrier who offers benefits additional to the benefits offered in the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan shall obtain a signed disclosure statement certifying that:
- (1) The small employer was offered the Standard Comprehensive Health Benefit Plan; and
- (2) Additional benefits were offered and priced separately.
- B. The disclosure statement required in §A of this regulation shall be in at least 12-point type and shall read as follows: "MARYLAND HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM ACT COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Under Maryland law, small employers, including self-employed individuals and certain government and nonprofit organizations, as defined by Insurance Article, §15-1203, Annotated Code of Maryland, must be offered the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan (“Standard Plan”) by each carrier when health coverage is elected or renewed. A carrier may not offer small employers a health benefit plan having fewer benefits than the Standard Plan. A carrier may offer benefits in addition to those in the Standard Plan provided the optional, additional benefits are offered and priced separately from the Standard Plan. A small employer who is subject to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 shall be offered, at a minimum, the Standard Plan plus an additional benefit rider to make the mental health and substance abuse benefits comply with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED A DESCRIPTION OF THE STANDARD PLAN AND RATES AND ANY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND RATES HAVE BEEN SHOWN AND PRICED SEPARATELY. Name of Carrier: Name of Producer: Employer Name: Employer Signature: Date: ".
- C. The disclosure statement required by §A of this regulation may be included on the carrier's sales proposal sheet.
- D. The carrier or insurance producer shall maintain the signed disclosure statement for not less than 5 years.
Authority: Insurance Article, §§2-109 and 15-1204, Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date: May 10, 2004 (31:9 Md. R. 713)
Regulation .03B amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 397)
Regulation .04A amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 397)