Note
Article heading amended by L 2002, c 155, §48.
State innovation waiver task force; health care reform plan; reports to 2015-2017 legislature (dissolved June 30, 2017). L 2014, c 158; L 2015, c 184.
Cross References
Conformance to federal law, see §431:2-201.5.
Federally qualified health centers; rural health clinics; reimbursement, see §346-53.6.
Health maintenance organization act, see chapter 432D.
Medicaid-related mandates, see chapter 431L.
Mental health and alcohol and drug abuse treatment insurance benefits, see chapter 431M.
Patients' bill of rights and responsibilities act, see chapter 432E.
Prescription drug benefits, see chapter 431R.
Prescription drugs; mail order opt out option, see §87A-16.3.
Proposed mandatory health insurance coverage and assessment report, see §§23-51, 52.
State health insurance program, see chapter 431N.
Attorney General Opinions
Section 431:10A-601 applied to all parts of article 10A if the category of policy under consideration included family coverage, as defined in §431:10A-103. Att. Gen. Op. 97-10.
The placement of §431:10A-601 in this article, regulating content of insurance contracts, makes clear that the legislative intent was to mandate benefits that must be made available by insurers that write contracts of insurance providing family coverage. Att. Gen. Op. 97-10.
Law Journals and Reviews
Tax Justice and Same-Sex Domestic Partner Health Benefits: An Analysis of the Tax Equity For Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. 32 UH L. Rev. 73 (2009).
Case Notes
As chapter 432D does not cover the field of managed care regulation and because §§432D-2, 432E-1, and this article can be read together and there is no explicit language or policy reason not to give each statute effect, chapter 432D does not repeal chapter 432E by implication. 126 H. 326, 271 P.3d 621 (2012).
Properly licensed HMOs, like plaintiff, were authorized pursuant to §432D-1 to "provide or arrange", at their option, for the closed panel health care services required under the managed care plan program; accident and health insurers were authorized under §431:10A-205(b) to arrange for medical services for members using a defined network of providers, i.e., particular "hospitals or persons"; thus, this article and chapter 432D authorized both accident and health insurers and HMOs, as risk-bearing entities, to provide the closed panel product required by the managed care plan contracts. 126 H. 326, 271 P.3d 621 (2012).
PART I. INDIVIDUAL ACCIDENT AND HEALTH
OR SICKNESS POLICIES
Note
Part heading amended by L 2002, c 155, §48.
Attorney General Opinions
Section 431:10A-601 applied to all parts of article 10A if the category of policy under consideration included family coverage, as defined in §431:10A-103. Att. Gen. Op. 97-10.
Case Notes
Under this article and §431:10A-105(2)(A)(ii), standard "incontestability clause" of contract precluded insurer from denying insured "total disability benefit" contracted for, notwithstanding that HIV infection that caused the disability arguably "manifested" itself prior to policy's effective date of coverage. 86 H. 262, 948 P.2d 1103.
[§431:10A-132] Orthodontic services for orofacial anomalies; benefits and coverage; notice. (a) Each individual and group accident and health or sickness insurance policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued or renewed in this State after December 31, 2015, shall provide to the policyholder and individuals under twenty-six years of age covered under the policy, contract, plan, or agreement, coverage of medically necessary orthodontic services for the treatment of orofacial anomalies resulting from birth defects or birth defect syndromes. Coverage required by this section shall be paid for by medical insurance.
(b) Every insurer shall provide written notice to its policyholders regarding the coverage required by this section. The notice shall be in writing and prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence sent to policyholders and shall be transmitted to policyholders within calendar year 2016 when annual information is made available to members or in any other mailing to members, but in no case later than December 31, 2016.
(c) Orthodontic services for treatment of orofacial anomalies provided under this section shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $5,500 per treatment phase, but shall not be subject to limits on the number of visits to an orthodontist. After December 31, 2016, the insurance commissioner, on an annual basis, shall adjust the maximum benefit for inflation using the medical care component of the United States Department of Labor Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers. The commissioner shall publish the adjusted maximum benefit annually no later than April 1 of each calendar year, which shall apply during the following calendar year to accident and health or sickness insurance policies, contracts, plans, or agreements subject to this section. Payments made by an insurer on behalf of a covered individual for any care, treatment, intervention, or service other than orthodontic services, shall not be applied toward any maximum benefit established under this subsection.
(d) Coverage under this section may be subject to copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions of an accident and health or sickness insurance policy, contract, plan, or agreement that are no less favorable than the copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions for other medical services covered by the policy, contract, plan, or agreement.
(e) This section shall not be construed as limiting benefits that are otherwise available to an individual under an accident and health or sickness insurance policy, contract, plan, or agreement.
(f) Coverage for treatment under this section shall not be denied on the basis that the treatment is habilitative or non-restorative in nature.
(g) This section shall not apply to limited benefit health insurance as provided pursuant to section 431:10A-102.5.
(h) As used in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
"Orofacial anomalies" means cleft lip or cleft palate and other birth defects of the mouth and face affecting functions such as eating, chewing, speech, and respiration.
"Orthodontic services" mean direct or consultative services provided by a licensed dentist with a certification in orthodontics by the American Board of Orthodontics.
"Treatment of orofacial anomalies" includes the care prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with an orofacial anomaly by a craniofacial team that includes a licensed dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, and physician, and is coordinated between specialists and providers. [L 2015, c 213, §3]
Section: Previous 431-10a-119 431-10a-120 431-10a-121 431-10a-122 431-10a-125 431-10a-126 431-10a-131 431-10a-132 431-10a-133 431-10a-140 431-10a-201 431-10a-202 431-10a-203 431-10a-204 431-10a-205 NextLast modified: October 27, 2016