Minn. Stat. § 62A.31
Subd. 1. Policy requirements.
No individual or group policy, certificate, subscriber contract issued by a health service plan corporation regulated under chapter 62C, or other evidence of accident and health insurance the effect or purpose of which is to supplement Medicare coverage issued or delivered in this state or offered to a resident of this state shall be sold or issued to an individual covered by Medicare unless the requirements in subdivisions 1a to 1u are met.
Subd. 1a. Minimum coverage.
The policy must provide a minimum of the coverage set out in subdivision 2 and for an extended basic plan, the additional requirements of section 62E.07.
Subd. 1b. Preexisting condition coverage.
The policy must cover preexisting conditions during the first six months of coverage if the insured was not diagnosed or treated for the particular condition during the 90 days immediately preceding the effective date of coverage.
Subd. 1c. Limitation on cancellation or nonrenewal.
The policy must contain a provision that the plan will not be canceled or nonrenewed on the grounds of the deterioration of health of the insured.
Subd. 1d. Mandatory offer.
Before the policy is sold or issued, an offer of both categories of Medicare supplement insurance must be made to the individual, together with an explanation of both coverages.
Subd. 1e. Delivery of outline of coverage.
An outline of coverage as provided in section 62A.39 must be delivered at the time of application and prior to payment of any premium and, except for direct response policies, an acknowledgment of receipt of this outline must be obtained from the applicant.
Subd. 1f. Suspension based on entitlement to medical assistance.
Subd. 1g. Notification of counseling services.
The written statement required by an application for Medicare supplement insurance pursuant to section 62A.43, subdivision 1, shall be made on a form, approved by the commissioner, that states that counseling services may be available in the state to provide advice concerning the purchase of Medicare supplement policies and enrollment under the Medicaid program.
Subd. 1h. Limitations on denials, conditions, and pricing of coverage.
No health carrier issuing Medicare-related coverage in this state may impose preexisting condition limitations or otherwise deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of any such coverage available for sale in this state, nor may it discriminate in the pricing of such coverage, because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical condition, or age of an applicant where an application for such coverage is submitted prior to or during the six-month period beginning with the first day of the month in which an individual first enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B. This subdivision applies to each Medicare-related coverage offered by a health carrier regardless of whether the individual has attained the age of 65 years. If an individual who is enrolled in Medicare Part B due to disability status is involuntarily disenrolled due to loss of disability status, the individual is eligible for another six-month enrollment period provided under this subdivision beginning the first day of the month in which the individual later becomes eligible for and enrolls again in Medicare Part B. An individual who is or was previously enrolled in Medicare Part B due to disability status is eligible for another six-month enrollment period under this subdivision beginning the first day of the month in which the individual has attained the age of 65 years and either maintains enrollment in, or enrolls again in, Medicare Part B. If an individual enrolled in Medicare Part B voluntarily disenrolls from Medicare Part B because the individual becomes reemployed and is enrolled under an employee welfare benefit plan, the individual is eligible for another six-month enrollment period, as provided in this subdivision, beginning the first day of the month in which the individual later becomes eligible for and enrolls again in Medicare Part B.
Subd. 1i. Replacement coverage.
If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate replaces another Medicare supplement policy or certificate, the issuer of the replacing policy or certificate shall waive any time periods applicable to preexisting conditions, waiting periods, elimination periods, and probationary periods in the new Medicare supplement policy or certificate for benefits to the extent the time was spent under the original policy or certificate. For purposes of this subdivision, "Medicare supplement policy or certificate" means all coverage described in section 62A.011, subdivision 3, clause (10).
Subd. 1j. Filing and approval.
The policy must have been filed with and approved by the department as meeting all the requirements of sections 62A.31 to 62A.44.
Subd. 1k. Guaranteed renewability.
The policy must guarantee renewability.
Only the following standards for renewability may be used in Medicare supplement insurance policy forms.
No issuer of Medicare supplement insurance policies may cancel or nonrenew a Medicare supplement policy or certificate for any reason other than nonpayment of premium or material misrepresentation.
If a group Medicare supplement insurance policy is terminated by the group policyholder and is not replaced as provided in this clause, the issuer shall offer certificate holders an individual Medicare supplement policy which, at the option of the certificate holder, provides for continuation of the benefits contained in the group policy; or provides for such benefits and benefit packages as otherwise meet the requirements of this clause.
If an individual is a certificate holder in a group Medicare supplement insurance policy and the individual terminates membership in the group, the issuer of the policy shall offer the certificate holder the conversion opportunities described in this clause; or offer the certificate holder continuation of coverage under the group policy.
Subd. 1l. Treatment of sickness and accident losses.
A Medicare supplement policy or certificate shall not indemnify against losses resulting from sickness on a different basis than losses resulting from accidents.
Subd. 1m. Medicare cost sharing coverage changes.
A Medicare supplement policy or certificate 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 co-payment percentage factors. Premiums may be modified to correspond with the changes.
(2) inform each policyholder or certificate holder as to when any premium adjustment is to be made, due to changes in Medicare.
The notice of benefit modifications and any premium adjustments must be in outline form and in clear and simple terms so as to facilitate comprehension.
The notices must not contain or be accompanied by any solicitation.
As soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days prior to the annual effective date of any Medicare benefit changes, an issuer shall notify its policyholders and certificate holders of modifications it has made to Medicare supplement insurance policies or certificates in a format acceptable to the commissioner. Such notice shall:
Subd. 1n. Termination of coverage.
Termination by an issuer of a Medicare supplement policy or certificate shall be without prejudice to any continuous loss that began while the policy or certificate was in force, but the extension of benefits beyond the period during which the policy or certificate was in force may be conditioned on the continuous total disability of the insured, limited to the duration of the policy or certificate benefit period, if any, or payment of the maximum benefits. The extension of benefits does not apply when the termination is based on fraud, misrepresentation, or nonpayment of premium. An issuer may discontinue the availability of a policy form or certificate form if the issuer provides to the commissioner in writing its decision at least 30 days before discontinuing the availability of the form of the policy or certificate. An issuer that discontinues the availability of a policy form or certificate form shall not file for approval a new policy form or certificate form of the same type for the same Medicare supplement benefit plan as the discontinued form for five years after the issuer provides notice to the commissioner of the discontinuance. The period of discontinuance may be reduced if the commissioner determines that a shorter period is appropriate. The sale or other transfer of Medicare supplement business to another issuer shall be considered a discontinuance for the purposes of this section. A change in the rating structure or methodology shall be considered a discontinuance under this section unless the issuer complies with the following requirements:
Subd. 1o. Refund or credit calculation.
Subd. 1p. Renewal or continuation provisions.
Medicare supplement policies and certificates shall include a renewal or continuation provision. The language or specifications of the provision shall be consistent with the type of contract issued. The provision shall be appropriately captioned and shall appear on the first page of the policy or certificate, and shall include any reservation by the issuer of the right to change premiums. Except for riders or endorsements by which the issuer effectuates a request made in writing by the insured, exercises a specifically reserved right under a Medicare supplement policy or certificate, or is required to reduce or eliminate benefits to avoid duplication of Medicare benefits, all riders or endorsements added to a Medicare supplement policy or certificate after the date of issue or at reinstatement or renewal that reduce or eliminate benefits or coverage in the policy or certificate shall require a signed acceptance by the insured. After the date of policy or certificate issue, a rider or endorsement that increases benefits or coverage with a concomitant increase in premium during the policy or certificate term shall be agreed to in writing and signed by the insured, unless the benefits are required by the minimum standards for Medicare supplement policies or if 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 premium charge shall be set forth in the policy, declaration page, or certificate. If a Medicare supplement policy or certificate contains limitations with respect to preexisting conditions, the limitations shall appear as a separate paragraph of the policy or certificate and be labeled as "preexisting condition limitations."
Issuers of accident and sickness policies or certificates that provide hospital or medical expense coverage on an expense incurred or indemnity basis to persons eligible for Medicare shall provide to those applicants a "Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare" in the form developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and in a type size no smaller than 12-point type. Delivery of the guide must be made whether or not such policies or certificates are advertised, solicited, or issued as Medicare supplement policies or certificates as defined in this section. Except in the case of direct response issuers, delivery of the guide must be made to the applicant at the time of application, and acknowledgment of receipt of the guide must be obtained by the issuer. Direct response issuers shall deliver the guide to the applicant upon request, but no later than the time at which the policy is delivered.
Subd. 1q. Marketing procedures.
(1) An issuer, directly or through its producers, shall:
(iv) display prominently by type or other appropriate means, on the first page of the policy or certificate, the following:
"Notice to buyer: This policy or certificate may not cover all of your medical expenses";
(2) in addition to the practices prohibited in chapter 72A, the following acts and practices are prohibited:
Subd. 1r. Community rate.
Each health maintenance organization, health service plan corporation, insurer, or fraternal benefit society that sells Medicare-related coverage shall establish a separate community rate for that coverage. Beginning January 1, 1993, no Medicare-related coverage may be offered, issued, sold, or renewed to a Minnesota resident, except at the community rate required by this subdivision. The same community rate must apply to newly issued coverage and to renewal coverage.
(3) premium reductions in recognition of healthy lifestyle behaviors, including but not limited to, refraining from the use of tobacco. Premium reductions must be actuarially valid and must relate only to those healthy lifestyle behaviors that have a proven positive impact on health. Factors used by the health carrier making this premium reduction must be filed with and approved by the commissioner of commerce.
(ii) with respect to any person whose premium adjustment was constrained under clause (i), a premium adjustment as of January 1, 1994, that consists of the remaining one-half of the premium difference attributable to the transition to the community rate, as described in clause (i).
A health plan that initially follows the phase-in timetable may at any subsequent time comply on a more rapid timetable. A health plan that is in full compliance as of January 1, 1993, may not use the phase-in timetable and must remain in full compliance. Health plans that follow the phase-in timetable must charge the same premium rate for newly issued coverage that they charge for renewal coverage. A health plan whose premiums are constrained by clause (i) may take the constraint into account in establishing its community rate.
From January 1, 1993 to February 28, 1993, a health plan may, at the health carrier's option, charge the community rate under this paragraph or may instead charge premiums permitted as of December 31, 1992.
For insureds not residing in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington County, a health plan may, at the option of the health carrier, phase in compliance under the following timetable:
For coverage that supplements Medicare and for the Part A rate calculation for plans governed by section 1833 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1395, et seq., the community rate may take into account only the following factors:
Subd. 1s. Prescription drug coverage.
Beginning January 1, 1993, a health maintenance organization that issues Medicare-related coverage must offer, to each person to whom it offers any contract described in this subdivision, at least one contract that either:
Subd. 1t. Notice of lack of drug coverage.
Each policy or contract issued without prescription drug coverage by any insurer, health service plan corporation, health maintenance organization, or fraternal benefit society must contain, displayed prominently by type or other appropriate means, on the first page of the contract, the following:
"Notice to buyer: This contract does not cover prescription drugs. Prescription drugs can be a very high percentage of your medical expenses. Coverage for prescription drugs may be available to you. Please ask for further details."
From January 1, 1993 to February 28, 1993, compliance with this paragraph is optional. If a health maintenance organization does not comply with this paragraph during that period, the health maintenance organization must extend any person's six-month eligibility period provided under subdivision 1h that began prior to or during that period and ends during or after that period. The length of the extension must be no less than that portion of the person's six-month eligibility period during which the health carrier did not comply with this paragraph. The extended eligibility period applies only to contracts that provide the prescription drug coverage required by this paragraph.
Subd. 1u. Guaranteed issue for eligible persons.
(a)(1) Eligible persons are those individuals described in paragraph (b) who seek to enroll under the policy during the period specified in paragraph (c) and who submit evidence of the date of termination or disenrollment with the application for a Medicare supplement policy.
(b) An eligible person is an individual described in any of the following:
(2) the individual is enrolled with a Medicare hoice organization under a Medicare hoice plan under Medicare Part C, 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 federal Social Security Act, and there are circumstances similar to those described in this clause that would permit discontinuance of the individual's enrollment with the provider if the individual were enrolled in a Medicare hoice plan:
(iii) the individual demonstrates, in accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary, that:
(A) the organization offering the plan substantially violated a material provision of the organization's contract in relation to the individual, including the failure to provide an enrollee 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
(B) 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
(iv) the individual meets such other exceptional conditions as the secretary may provide;
(3)(i) the individual is enrolled with:
(A) an eligible organization under a contract under section 1876 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1395mm (Medicare cost);
(B) a similar organization operating under demonstration project authority, effective for periods before April 1, 1999;
(C) an organization under an agreement under section 1833(a)(1)(A) of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1395l(a)(1)(A) (health care prepayment plan); or
(D) an organization under a Medicare Select policy under section 62A.318 or the similar law of another state; and
(4) the individual is enrolled under a Medicare supplement policy, and the enrollment ceases because:
(i)(A) of the insolvency of the issuer or bankruptcy of the nonissuer organization; or
(B) of other involuntary termination of coverage or enrollment under the policy;
(iii) 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)(i) the individual was enrolled under a Medicare supplement policy and terminates that enrollment and subsequently enrolls, for the first time, with any Medicare hoice organization under a Medicare hoice plan under Medicare Part C; any eligible organization under a contract under section 1876 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1395mm (Medicare cost); any similar organization operating under demonstration project authority; any PACE provider under section 1894 of the federal Social Security Act, or a Medicare Select policy under section 62A.318 or the similar law of another state; and
(6) the individual, upon first enrolling for benefits under Medicare Part B, enrolls in a Medicare hoice plan under Medicare Part C, or with a PACE provider under section 1894 of the federal Social Security Act, and disenrolls from the plan by not later than 12 months after the effective date of enrollment.
(c)(1) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (b), clause (1), the guaranteed issue period begins on the date the individual receives a notice of termination or cessation of all supplemental health benefits or, if a notice is not received, notice that a claim has been denied because of a termination or cessation, and ends 63 days after the date of the applicable notice.
(5) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (b) but not described in this paragraph, the guaranteed issue period begins on the effective date of disenrollment and ends on the date that is 63 days after the effective date.
(d)(1) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (b), clause (5), or deemed to be so described, pursuant to this paragraph, whose enrollment with an organization or provider described in paragraph (b), clause (5), item (i), 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 is deemed to be an initial enrollment described in paragraph (b), clause (5).
(e) The Medicare supplement policy to which eligible persons are entitled under:
(3) paragraph (b), clause (6), shall include any Medicare supplement policy offered by any issuer.
(f)(1) At the time of an event described in paragraph (b), because of which an individual loses coverage or benefits due to the termination of a contract or agreement, policy, or plan, the organization that terminates the contract or agreement, the issuer terminating the policy, or the administrator of the plan being terminated, respectively, shall notify the individual of the individual's rights under this subdivision, and of the obligations of issuers of Medicare supplement policies under paragraph (a). The notice must be communicated contemporaneously with the notification of termination.
Subd. 2. General coverage.
For a policy to meet the requirements of this section it must contain (1) a designation specifying whether the policy is an extended basic Medicare supplement plan or a basic Medicare supplement plan, (2) a caption stating that the commissioner has established two categories of Medicare supplement insurance and minimum standards for each, with the extended basic Medicare supplement being the most comprehensive and the basic Medicare supplement being the least comprehensive, and (3) the policy must provide the coverage prescribed in sections 62A.315 and 62A.316.
Subd. 3. Definitions.
(b) "Accident," "accidental injury," or "accidental means" means to employ "result" language and does not include words that establish an accidental means test or use words such as "external," "violent," "visible wounds," or similar words of description or characterization.
(c) "Applicant" means:
(j) "Health care expenses" means expenses of health maintenance organizations associated with the delivery of health care services which are analogous to incurred losses of insurers. The expenses shall not include:
(p) "Medicare hoice plan" means a plan of coverage for health benefits under Medicare Part C as defined in section 1859 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1395w-28, and includes:
(v) "Sickness" shall not be defined more restrictively than the following:
"Sickness means illness or disease of an insured person which first manifests itself after the effective date of insurance and while the insurance is in force."
The definition may be further modified to exclude sicknesses or diseases for which benefits are provided under a workers' compensation, occupational disease, employer's liability, or similar law.
Subd. 4. Prohibited policy provisions.
A Medicare supplement policy or certificate in force in the state shall not contain benefits that duplicate benefits provided by Medicare or contain exclusions on coverage that are more restrictive than those of Medicare.
No Medicare supplement policy or certificate may use waivers to exclude, limit, or reduce coverage or benefits for specifically named or described preexisting diseases or physical conditions, except as permitted under subdivision 1b.
Subd. 5. Advertising.
An issuer shall provide a copy of any Medicare supplement advertisement intended for use in this state whether through printed or electronic medium to the commissioner for review or approval to the extent it may be required.
Subd. 6. Application to certain policies.
The requirements of sections 62A.31 to 62A.44 shall not apply to disability income protection insurance policies, long-term care policies issued pursuant to sections 62A.46 to 62A.56 or chapter 62S, or group policies of accident and health insurance which do not purport to supplement Medicare issued to any of the following groups:
(c) A policy issued to an association, a trust or the trustee of a fund established, created or maintained for the benefit of members of one or more associations. The association or associations shall have at the outset a minimum of 100 persons; shall have been organized and maintained in good faith for purposes other than that of obtaining insurance; shall have a constitution and bylaws which provide that (1) the association or associations hold regular meetings not less frequently than annually to further purposes of the members, (2) except for credit unions, the association or associations collect dues or solicit contributions from members, (3) the members have voting privileges and representation on the governing board and committees, and (4) the members are not, within the first 30 days of membership, directly solicited, offered, or sold a long-term care policy or Medicare supplement policy if the policy is available as an association benefit. This clause does not prohibit direct solicitations, offers, or sales made exclusively by mail.
An association may apply to the commissioner for a waiver of the 30-day waiting period as to that association. The commissioner may grant the waiver upon a finding of all of the following: (1) that the association is in full compliance with this section; (2) that sanctions have not been imposed against the association as a result of significant disciplinary action by the Department of Commerce; and (3) that at least 90 percent of the association's income comes from dues, contributions, or sources other than income from the sale of insurance.
Subd. 7. Medicare prescription drug benefit.
If Congress enacts legislation creating a prescription drug benefit in the Medicare program, nothing in this section or any other section shall prohibit an issuer of a Medicare supplement policy from offering this prescription drug benefit consistent with the applicable federal law or regulations. If an issuer offers the federal benefit, such an offer shall be deemed to meet the issuer's mandatory offer obligations under this section and may, at the discretion of the issuer, constitute replacement coverage as defined in subdivision 1i for any existing policy containing a prescription drug benefit.