Oregon Statutes - Chapter 743 - Health and Life Insurance - Section 743.767 - Premium rates for individual health benefit plans.

Premium rates for individual health benefit plans shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) Each carrier must file the geographic average rate for its individual health benefit plans for a rating period with the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services on or before March 15 of each year.

(2) The premium rates charged during a rating period for individual health benefit plans issued to individuals shall not vary from the individual geographic average rate, except that the premium rate may be adjusted to reflect differences in benefit design, family composition and age. For age adjustments to the individual plans, a carrier shall apply uniformly its schedule of age adjustments for individual health benefit plans as approved by the director.

(3) A carrier may not increase the rates of an individual health benefit plan more than once in a 12-month period except as approved by the director. Annual rate increases shall be effective on the anniversary date of the individual health benefit plan’s issuance. The percentage increase in the premium rate charged for an individual health benefit plan for a new rating period may not exceed the sum of the following:

(a) The percentage change in the carrier’s geographic average rate for its individual health benefit plan measured from the first day of the prior rating period to the first day of the new period; and

(b) Any adjustment attributable to changes in age and differences in benefit design and family composition.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a carrier that imposes an individual coverage waiting period pursuant to ORS 743.766 may impose a monthly premium rate surcharge for a period not to exceed six months and in an amount not to exceed the percentage by which the rates for coverage under the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool exceed the rates established by the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board as applicable for individual risks under ORS 735.625. The surcharge shall be approved by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services and, in combination with the waiting period, shall not exceed the actuarial value of a six-month preexisting conditions provision. [1995 c.603 §23; 1999 c.987 §16]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008