[ Text of section effective until January 1, 2014. For text effective January 1, 2014, see below.]
Section 3. (a) Premiums charged to every eligible small business for a health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after April 1, 1992, or eligible individuals for a health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2007, shall satisfy the following requirements:--
(1) For every health benefit plan issued or renewed to eligible small groups on or after April 1, 1992 and to eligible individuals on or after July 1, 2007, including a certificate issued to an eligible small group or eligible individual that evidences coverage under a policy or contract issued or renewed to a trust, association or other entity that is not a group health plan, a carrier shall develop a base premium rate for a class of business. The group base premium rates charged by a carrier to each eligible group or eligible individual during a rating period shall not exceed 2 times the group base premium rate which could be charged by that carrier to the eligible group or eligible individual with the lowest group base premium rate for that rate basis type within that class of business in that group's or individual's geographic area. In calculating the premium to be charged to each eligible small group or eligible individual, a carrier shall develop a base premium rate for each rate basis type and may develop and use any of the rate adjustment factors identified in clauses (2) to (6), inclusive, provided that after multiplying any of the used rate adjustment factors by the base premium rate, the resulting product for all adjusted group base premium rate combinations fall within rate bands ranging between 0.66 and 1.32 that is required of all products offered to eligible small groups and eligible individuals. In addition, carriers may apply additional factors, identified in subsection (b) that would apply outside the 0.66 to 1. 32 rate band. All other rating adjustments are prohibited. Carriers may offer any rate basis types, but rate basis types that are offered to any eligible small employer or eligible individual shall be offered to every eligible small employer or eligible individual for all coverage issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2007. If an eligible small employer does not meet a carrier's minimum or participation contribution requirements, the carrier may separately rate each employee as an eligible individual.
(2) A carrier may establish an age rate adjustment that applies to both eligible individuals and eligible small groups; provided, however, that the carrier applies the rate adjustment on a year-to-year basis for both eligible individuals and eligible small groups.
(3) A carrier may establish an industry rate adjustment. If a carrier chooses to establish industry rate adjustments, every eligible small group in an industry shall be subject to the applicable industry rate adjustment. The industry rate adjustment applicable to an eligible individual shall be based on the industry of the eligible individual's primary employer and shall be the same adjustment applied to eligible small groups in the same industry. A carrier may not apply an industry rate to an eligible individual who is not employed.
(4) A carrier may establish participation-rate rate adjustments that apply only to eligible small groups for any health benefit plan or plans for any ranges of participation rates below the minimum participation requirements established under the definition of participation requirement in section 1, the value of which shall be expressed as a number. Alternatively, a carrier may separately rate each employee enrolling through such a group as an eligible individual. The participation-rate rate adjustments must be based upon actuarially sound analysis of the differences in the experience of groups with different participation rates. If a carrier chooses to establish participation-rate rate adjustments, every eligible small group with a participation rate within the ranges defined by the carrier shall be subject to the applicable participation-rate rate adjustment.
(5) A carrier shall apply a wellness program rate discount that applies to both eligible individuals and eligible small groups who follow those wellness programs that have been approved by the commissioner. If a carrier establishes a wellness program rate discount every eligible insured following the wellness program shall be subject to the applicable wellness program rate discount. The division shall determine by regulation the criteria for qualifying for the rate discount. The criteria may require (i) a minimum participation in the programs by percentage, (ii) promoting healthy workplace habits, (iii) promoting health screenings, (iv) promoting health education and (v) any other criteria that the commissioner of insurance deems reasonable.
(6) A carrier may apply a tobacco use rate discount that applies to both eligible small groups and eligible individuals who can certify, in a method approved by the commissioner, that eligible individuals and their eligible dependents or eligible small group employees and their eligible dependents have not used tobacco products within the past year.
(b)(1) A carrier may establish a benefit level rate adjustment for all eligible individuals and eligible small groups that shall be expressed as a number. The number shall represent the relative actuarial value of the benefit level, including the health care delivery network, of the health benefit plan issued to that eligible small group or eligible individual as compared to the actuarial value of other health benefit plans within that class of business. If a carrier chooses to establish benefit level rate adjustments, every eligible small group and every eligible individual shall be subject to the applicable benefit level rate adjustment.
(2) The commissioner shall establish not less than 5 distinct regions of the state for the purposes of area rate adjustments. A carrier may establish an area rate adjustment for each distinct region, the value of which shall range from eight-tenths to one and one-fifth. If a carrier chooses to establish area rate adjustments, every eligible small group and every eligible individual within each area shall be subject to the applicable area rate adjustment.
(3) A carrier shall establish a rate basis type adjustment factor for eligible individuals and eligible small groups which shall be expressed as a number. The number shall represent the relative actuarial value of the rate basis type, which shall include at least the following 4 categories: --single, 2 adults, 1 adult and children, and family.
(4) A carrier may establish a group size rate adjustment that applies to both eligible individuals and eligible small groups, the value of which shall range from 0.95 to 1.10. If a carrier chooses to establish group size rate adjustments, every eligible individual and eligible small group shall be subject to the applicable group size rate adjustment. If an eligible small business does not meet a carrier's participation or contribution requirements, the carrier may apply the group size adjustment that applies to eligible individuals to each employee who enrolls through the eligible small business.
(c)(1) A carrier that, as of the close of the calendar year 2005, had a combined total of 5,000 or more eligible employees and eligible dependents as defined by this chapter who are enrolled in health benefit plans sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to qualified small businesses pursuant to its license under chapter 176G, shall be required to file a plan with the connector, for its consideration, which could attain the connector seal of approval.
(2) As of January 1, 2007, a carrier that as of the close of any preceding calendar year, has a combined total of 5,000 or more eligible individuals, eligible employees and eligible dependents, who are enrolled in health benefit plans sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to qualified small businesses or eligible individuals pursuant to its license under chapter 176G, shall be required annually to file a plan with the connector for its consideration, which could attain the connector seal of approval; provided however, the plan shall be filed no later than October 1 of any calendar year.
(d)(1) A carrier that, as of the close of the calendar year 2005 had a combined total of 5,000 or more eligible employees and eligible dependents as defined by this chapter who are enrolled in health benefit plans sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to qualified small businesses pursuant to its authority under chapter 175, chapter 176A or chapter 176B shall be required to file a plan with the connector for its consideration, which could attain the connector seal of approval.
(2) As of January 1, 2007, a carrier that as of the close of any preceding calendar year, has a combined total of 5,000 or more eligible individuals, eligible employees and eligible dependents, who are enrolled in health benefit plans sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to qualified small businesses or eligible individuals pursuant to its authority under chapter 175, 176A or 176B, shall be required annually to file a plan with the connector for its consideration, which could attain the connector seal of approval; provided however, the plan shall be filed no later than October 1 of any calendar year.
(e) For the purposes of this section, neither an eligible individual or eligible employee, nor an eligible dependent, shall be considered to be enrolled in a health benefit plan issued pursuant to its authority under chapter 175, 176A or 176B if the health benefit plan is sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to said eligible employee or eligible dependent as a supplement to a health benefit plan subject to licensure under chapter 176G.
(f) The commissioner may conduct an examination of the rating factors used in the small group health insurance market in order to identify whether any expenses or factors inappropriately increase the cost in relation to the risks of the affected small group. The commissioner may adopt changes to the small group regulation each July 1 for rates effective each subsequent January 1 to modify the derivation of group base premium rates or of any factor used to develop individual group premiums.
Chapter 176J: Section 3. Individual and small group plans; group base premium rate; filing plan with connector; investigation of deviations from group base premium rate
[ Text of section as amended by 2013, 35, Sec. 48 effective January 1, 2014. See 2013, 35, Sec. 104. For text effective until January 1, 2014, see above.]
Section 3. (a) (1) For every health benefit plan issued or renewed to eligible individuals and eligible small groups, including a certificate issued to an eligible individual or eligible small group that evidences coverage under a policy or contract issued or renewed to a trust, association or other entity that is not a group health plan, a carrier shall develop a group base premium rate that is the same for eligible individuals and eligible small groups. In developing these merged market group base premium rates, carriers:
(i) with respect to the group base premium rate developed for eligible individuals and eligible small groups, a carrier shall consider all enrollees in those health plans, other than grandfathered health plans, offered by such carrier to be members of a merged individual and small group risk pool;
(ii) in calculating the premium to be charged to each eligible individual or eligible small group, a carrier shall develop a base premium and use only those rate adjustment factors identified in this section, inclusive, for all insured health benefit plans offered to eligible individuals and eligible small groups, respectively, with all other rating adjustments being prohibited;
(iii) may offer any rate basis types, but rate basis types that are offered to any eligible individual or eligible small group shall be offered to every eligible individual or eligible small group for all coverage issued or renewed; provided, however, that if an eligible small group does not meet a carrier's minimum or participation contribution requirements, the carrier may separately rate each employee as an eligible individual, as set forth in clause (i);
(iv) shall apply the same rating factors when calculating premiums for eligible individuals as are used when calculating premiums for eligible small groups; and
(v) notwithstanding this section, all carriers offering any coverage to any eligible individual or eligible small group shall make that coverage available to every eligible individual and eligible small group.
(2) The commissioner shall annually file with the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a standard age rate adjustment factor table so that the ratio of the highest factor for adults over age 20 compared to the lowest factor for adults over age 20 shall not exceed a ratio of 2-to-1. A carrier that elects to apply standard age rate adjustment factors shall apply them based upon the covered person's age when the coverage period begins.
(3) The commissioner shall annually file with the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish not more than 7 distinct regions of the state for the purposes of area rate adjustments. A carrier may establish an area rate adjustment for each distinct region, the value of which shall range from .8 to 1.2. If a carrier chooses to apply area rate adjustments, every eligible individual and eligible small group within each area shall be subject to the applicable area rate adjustment.
(4) A carrier shall establish a basis type rate adjustment factor for eligible individuals and eligible small groups which shall vary the rate only on the basis of whether the health benefit plan covers an individual or family. For purposes of this section, the total premium for family coverage must be determined by summing the premiums for each individual family member. With respect to family members under the age of 21, the premiums for not more than the 3 oldest covered children must be taken into account in determining the total family premium.
(5) The commissioner shall annually file with the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a standard tobacco use factor. A carrier may apply a tobacco use rate factor in a manner permitted under state and federal law that applies to both eligible small groups and eligible individuals; provided, however, that the carrier uses a certification of tobacco use process that has been approved by the commissioner to determine that eligible individuals and their eligible dependents or eligible small group employees and their eligible dependents have not used tobacco products within the past year.
(6) A carrier may establish a benefit level rate adjustment for all eligible individuals and eligible small groups that shall be expressed as a number. The number shall represent the relative actuarial value of the benefit level, including the health care delivery network, of the health benefit plan issued to that eligible individual or eligible small group as compared to the actuarial value of other health benefit plans within that class of business. If a carrier chooses to establish benefit level rate adjustments, every eligible individual and every eligible small group shall be subject to the applicable benefit level rate adjustment.
(7) A carrier shall not apply any rate adjustment factor to the group base premium rate, other than those set forth herein.
(b) (1) A carrier that, as of the close of any preceding calendar year, has a combined total of 5,000 or more eligible individuals, eligible employees and eligible dependents, who are enrolled in health benefit plans sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to qualified small businesses or eligible individuals pursuant to its license under chapter 176G, shall be required annually to file a plan with the connector for its consideration, which meets the requirements for the connector seal of approval pursuant to section 10 of chapter 176Q; provided, however, that the plan shall be filed not later than October 1.
(2) A carrier that, as of the close of any preceding calendar year, has a combined total of 5,000 or more eligible individuals, eligible employees and eligible dependents, who are enrolled in health benefit plans sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to qualified small businesses or eligible individuals pursuant to its authority under chapter 175, 176A or 176B, shall be required annually to file a plan with the connector for its consideration, which meets the requirements for the connector seal of approval pursuant to section 10 of chapter 176Q; provided, however, that the plan shall be filed not later than October 1.
(c) For the purposes of this section, no eligible individual, eligible employee, or eligible dependent shall be considered to be enrolled in a health benefit plan issued pursuant to a carrier's authority under chapter 175, 176A or 176B if the health benefit plan is sold, issued, delivered, made effective or renewed to said eligible employee or eligible dependent as a supplement to a health benefit plan subject to licensure under chapter 176G.
(d) The commissioner may conduct an examination with respect to the derivation of group base premium rates used to develop individual group premiums in order to identify whether any expenses inappropriately increase the cost in relation to the risks of the merged individual and small group health insurance market.
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