2017 Michigan Compiled Laws
Chapter 500 - Insurance Code of 1956
Act 218 of 1956 THE INSURANCE CODE OF 1956 (500.100 - 500.8302)
218-1956-38 CHAPTER 38 MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT POLICIES AND CERTIFICATES (500.3801...500.3861)
Section 500.3841 Riders or endorsements; signed acceptance or agreement; additional premium; use of certain standards, terms, and words; filing of changes in medicare benefits; elimination of duplicate benefits; notice of modifications; notice requirements of medicare prescription drug, improvement, and modernization act of 2003.
Sec. 3841.
(1) Except for riders or endorsements by which the insurer effectuates a request made in writing by the insured, exercises a specifically reserved right under a medicare supplement policy, or as required to reduce or eliminate benefits to avoid duplication of medicare benefits, all riders or endorsements added to a medicare supplement policy after date of issue or at reinstatement or renewal that reduce or eliminate benefits or coverage in the policy shall require signed acceptance by the insured. After the date of policy issue, any rider or endorsement that increases benefits or coverage with a concomitant increase in premium during the policy term shall be agreed to in writing and signed by the insured, unless the benefits are required minimum standards for medicare supplement policies or if the increase in benefits or coverage is required by law. If a separate additional premium is charged for benefits provided in connection with riders or endorsements, the premium charged shall be set forth in the policy.
(2) A medicare supplement policy shall not provide for the payment of benefits based on standards described as "usual and customary", "reasonable and customary", or words of similar import.
(3) If a medicare supplement policy contains any limitations with respect to preexisting conditions, the limitations shall appear as a separate paragraph of the policy and shall be labeled as "preexisting condition limitations".
(4) The term "medicare supplement", "medigap", "medicare wrap-around", or words of similar import shall not be used unless the policy is issued in compliance with this chapter.
(5) As soon as practicable but prior to the effective date of any changes in medicare benefits, every insurer offering medicare supplement insurance policies in this state shall file with the commissioner both of the following:
(a) Any appropriate premium adjustments necessary to produce loss ratios as anticipated for the current premium for the applicable policies and any supporting documents necessary to justify the adjustment.
(b) Any appropriate riders, endorsements, or policy forms needed to accomplish the medicare supplement insurance modifications necessary to eliminate benefits under the policy or certificate that duplicate benefits provided by medicare. The riders, endorsements, and policy forms shall provide a clear description of the medicare supplement benefits provided by the policy.
(6) Upon satisfying the filing and approval requirements, an insurer providing medicare supplement policies delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall provide to each covered policyholder any rider, endorsement, or policy form necessary to eliminate benefits under the policy that duplicate benefits provided by medicare.
(7) As soon as practicable but no later than 30 days before the annual effective date of any medicare benefit changes, every insurer of medicare supplement policies delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall notify each covered policyholder or certificate holder of modifications made to its medicare supplement policies in a format acceptable to the commissioner. The notice shall be in outline form, contain clear and simple language, shall not contain or be accompanied by any solicitation, and shall include both of the following:
(a) A description of revisions to the medicare program and of each modification made to the coverage provided under the medicare supplement policy.
(b) Whether a premium adjustment is due to changes in medicare.
(8) Insurers shall comply with any notice requirements of the medicare prescription drug, improvement, and modernization act of 2003, Public Law 108-173.
History: Add. 1992, Act 84, Imd. Eff. June 2, 1992 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 462, Imd. Eff. Dec. 20, 2006
Popular Name: Act 218
