(1) Except as provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section, the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board shall offer major medical expense coverage to every eligible person.
(2) The coverage to be issued by the board, its schedule of benefits, exclusions and other limitations, shall be established through rules adopted by the board, taking into consideration the advice and recommendations of the pool members. In the absence of such rules, the pool shall adopt by rule the minimum benefits prescribed by section 6 (Alternative 1) of the Model Health Insurance Pooling Mechanism Act of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (1984).
(3)(a) In establishing portability coverage under the pool, the board shall consider the levels of medical insurance provided in this state and medical economic factors identified by the board. The board may adopt rules to establish benefit levels, deductibles, coinsurance factors, exclusions and limitations that the board determines are equivalent to the portability health benefit plans established under ORS 743.760.
(b) In establishing medical insurance coverage under the pool, the board shall consider the levels of medical insurance provided in this state and medical economic factors identified by the board. The board may adopt rules to establish benefit levels, deductibles, coinsurance factors, exclusions and limitations that the board determines are equivalent to those found in the commercial group or employer-based medical insurance market.
(c) The board may provide a separate Medicare supplement policy for individuals under the age of 65 who are receiving Medicare disability benefits. The board shall adopt rules to establish benefits, deductibles, coinsurance, exclusions and limitations, premiums and eligibility requirements for the Medicare supplement policy.
(d) In establishing medical insurance coverage for persons eligible for coverage under ORS 735.615 (1)(d), the board shall consider the levels of medical insurance provided in this state and medical economic factors identified by the board. The board may adopt rules to establish benefit levels, deductibles, coinsurance factors, exclusions and limitations to create benefit plans that qualify the person for the credit for health insurance costs under section 35 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as amended and in effect on December 31, 2004.
(4)(a) Premiums charged for coverages issued by the board may not be unreasonable in relation to the benefits provided, the risk experience and the reasonable expenses of providing the coverage.
(b) Separate schedules of premium rates based on age and geographical location may apply for individual risks.
(c) The board shall determine the applicable medical and portability risk rates either by calculating the average rate charged by insurers offering coverages in the state comparable to the pool coverage or by using reasonable actuarial techniques. The risk rates shall reflect anticipated experience and expenses for such coverage. Rates for pool coverage may not be more than 125 percent of rates established as applicable for medically eligible individuals or for persons eligible for pool coverage under ORS 735.615 (1)(d), or 100 percent of rates established as applicable for portability eligible individuals.
(d) The board shall annually determine adjusted benefits and premiums. The adjustments shall be in keeping with the purposes of ORS 735.600 to 735.650, subject to a limitation of keeping pool losses under one percent of the total of all medical insurance premiums, subscriber contract charges and 110 percent of all benefits paid by member self-insurance arrangements. The board may determine the total number of persons that may be enrolled for coverage at any time and may permit and prohibit enrollment in order to maintain the number authorized. Nothing in this paragraph authorizes the board to prohibit enrollment for any reason other than to control the number of persons in the pool.
(5)(a) The board may apply:
(A) A waiting period of not more than 90 days during which the person has no available coverage; or
(B) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, a preexisting conditions provision of not more than six months from the effective date of coverage under the pool.
(b) In determining whether a preexisting conditions provision applies to an eligible enrollee, except as provided in this subsection, the board shall credit the time the eligible enrollee was covered under a previous health benefit plan if the previous health benefit plan was continuous to a date not more than 63 days prior to the effective date of the new coverage under the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool, exclusive of any applicable waiting period. The Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board need not credit the time for previous coverage to which the insured or dependent is otherwise entitled under this subsection with respect to benefits and services covered in the pool coverage that were not covered in the previous coverage.
(c) The board may adopt rules applying a preexisting conditions provision to a person who is eligible for coverage under ORS 735.615 (1)(d).
(d) For purposes of this subsection, a “preexisting conditions provision” means a provision that excludes coverage for services, charges or expenses incurred during a specified period not to exceed six months following the insured’s effective date of coverage, for a condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received during the six-month period immediately preceding the insured’s effective date of coverage.
(6)(a) Benefits otherwise payable under pool coverage shall be reduced by all amounts paid or payable through any other health insurance, or self-insurance arrangement, and by all hospital and medical expense benefits paid or payable under any workers’ compensation coverage, automobile medical payment or liability insurance whether provided on the basis of fault or nonfault, and by any hospital or medical benefits paid or payable under or provided pursuant to any state or federal law or program except the Medicaid portion of the Oregon Health Plan offering a level of health services described in ORS 414.707.
(b) The board shall have a cause of action against an eligible person for the recovery of the amount of benefits paid which are not for covered expenses. Benefits due from the pool may be reduced or refused as a setoff against any amount recoverable under this paragraph.
(7) Except as provided in ORS 735.616, no mandated benefit statutes apply to pool coverage under ORS 735.600 to 735.650.
(8) Pool coverage may be furnished through a health care service contractor or such alternative delivery system as will contain costs while maintaining quality of care. [1987 c.838 §8; 1989 c.838 §13; 1993 c.130 §2; 1995 c.603 §27; 1999 c.987 §2; 2001 c.356 §3; 2003 c.684 §5; 2005 c.634 §2; 2005 c.635 §5a]
Section: Previous 735.605 735.610 735.612 735.614 735.615 735.616 735.620 735.625 735.630 735.635 735.640 735.645 735.650 735.700 735.701 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008