(vi) Longer/Shorter Length of Coverage. If none of the above rules determines the order of benefits, the benefits of the Plan which covered an employee, member or subscriber longer are determined before those of the Plan which covered that person for the shorter time.
(IV) Effect on the benefits of this plan.
(A) When This Section Applies. This Section (IV) applies when, in accordance with Section (III) Order of Benefit Determination Rules, This Plan is a Secondary Plan as to one or more other Plans. In that event the benefits of This Plan may be reduced under this section. Such other Plan or Plans are referred to as “the other Plans" in (B).
(B) Reduction in This Plan's Benefits. The benefits of This Plan will be reduced when the sum of the following exceeds the Allowable Expenses in a Claim Determination Period:
(i) the benefits that would be payable for the Allowable Expenses under This Plan in the absence of this COB provision; and
(ii) the benefits that would be payable for the Allowable Expenses under the other Plans, in the absence of provisions with a purpose like that of this COB provision, whether or not claim is made. Under this provision, the benefits of This Plan will be reduced so that they and the benefits payable under the other Plans do not total more than those Allowable Expenses.
When the benefits of This Plan are reduced as described above, each benefit is reduced in proportion. It is then charged against any applicable benefit limit of This Plan.
Ins 3.40 Note
Note:
The last paragraph may be omitted if the Plan provides only one benefit or may be altered to suit the coverage provided.
(V) Right to receive and release needed information. The [name of insurance company] has the right to decide the facts it needs to apply these COB rules. It may get needed facts from or give them to any other organization or person without the consent of the insured but only as needed to apply these COB rules. Medical records remain confidential as provided by state law. Each person claiming benefits under This Plan must give the [name of insurance company] any facts it needs to pay the claim.
(VI) Facility of payment. A payment made under another Plan may include an amount which should have been paid under This Plan. If it does, The [name of insurance company] may pay that amount to the organization which made that payment. That amount will then be treated as though it were a benefit paid under This Plan. The [name of insurance company] will not have to pay that amount again. The term “payment made" means reasonable cash value of the benefits provided in the form of services.
(VII) Right of recovery. If the amount of the payments made by the [name of insurance company] is more than it should have paid under this COB provision, it may recover the excess from one or more of:
(A) the persons it has paid or for whom it has paid;
(B) insurance companies; or
(C) other organizations.
The “amount of the payments made" includes the reasonable cash value of any benefits provided in the form of services.
Ins 3.41
Ins 3.41 Individual conversion policies. Ins 3.41(1)(1)
Reasonably similar coverage. An insurer provides reasonably similar coverage under s.
632.897 (4), Stats., to a terminated insured as defined in s.
632.897 (1) (f), Stats., if a person is offered individual coverage under the group policy or individual policy, or is offered his or her choice of the 3 plans described in s.
Ins 3.42, or is offered a high limit comprehensive plan of benefits approved for the purpose of conversion by the commissioner as meeting the standards described in s.
Ins 3.43. Individual conversion policies must include benefits required for individual disability insurance policies by subch.
VI of ch. 632, Stats. This subsection does not apply to a long-term care policy as defined under s.
Ins 3.46 (3) (m).
Ins 3.41(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in par.
(b), individual conversion policies shall be renewable at the option of the insured unless the insured fails to make timely payment of a required premium amount, there is over-insurance as provided by s.
632.897 (4) (d), Stats., or there was fraud or material misrepresentation in applying for any benefit under the policy.
Ins 3.41(2)(b)
(b) Conversion policies issued to a former spouse under s.
632.897 (9) (b), Stats., must include renewal provisions at least as favorable to the insured as did the previous coverage.
Ins 3.41(3)(a)(a) In determining the rates for the class of risks to be covered under individual conversion policies, the premium and loss experience of policies issued to meet the requirements of s.
632.897 (4), Stats., may be considered in determining the table of premium rates applicable to the age and class of risks of each person to be covered under the policy and to the type and amount of coverage provided.
Ins 3.41(3)(b)
(b) Except as provided in par.
(c), conditions pertaining to health shall not be an acceptable basis for classification of risks.
Ins 3.41(3)(c)
(c) A conversion policy issued to a former spouse under s.
632.897 (9) (b), Stats., may be rated on the basis of a health condition if a similar rating had been previously applied to the prior individual coverage due to the same condition.
Ins 3.41 History
History: Cr.
Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; am. (1),
Register, April, 1991, No. 424, eff. 6-1-91;
EmR0817: emerg. am. (1), eff. 6-3-08;
CR 08-032: am. (1)
Register October 2008 No. 634, eff. 11-1-08.
Ins 3.41 Note
Note:
CR 08-032 first applies to policies or certificates issued on or after January 1, 2009 or on the first renewal date on or after January 1, 2009, but no later than January 1, 2010 for collectively bargained policies or certificates.
Ins 3.42
Ins 3.42
Plans of conversion coverage. Pursuant to s.
632.897 (4) (b), Stats., the following plans of conversion coverage are established.
Ins 3.42(1)
(1)
Plan 1—basic coverage. Plan 1 basic coverage consists of the following:
Ins 3.42(1)(a)
(a) Hospital room and board daily expense benefits in a maximum dollar amount approximating the average semi-private rate charged in the major metropolitan area of this state, for a maximum duration of 70 days per calendar year;
Ins 3.42(1)(b)
(b) Miscellaneous in-hospital expenses, including anesthesia services, up to a maximum amount of 20 times the hospital room and board daily expense benefits per calendar year; and
Ins 3.42(1)(c)
(c) In-hospital and out-of-hospital surgical expenses payable on a usual, customary and reasonable basis up to a maximum benefit of $2,000 a calendar year.
Ins 3.42(2)
(2)
Plan 2—major medical expense coverage. Plan 2 major medical expense coverage shall consist of benefits for hospital, surgical and medical expenses incurred either in or out of a hospital of the following:
Ins 3.42(2)(b)
(b) Payment of benefits at the rate of 80% of covered hospital, medical, and surgical expenses which are in excess of the deductible, until 20% of such expenses in a benefit period reaches $1,000, after which benefits shall be paid at 100% for the remainder of the benefit period; provided, however, benefits for outpatient treatment of mental illness, if covered by the policy, may be limited as provided in par.
(g), and surgical expenses shall be covered at a usual, customary and reasonable level.
Ins 3.42(2)(c)
(c) A deductible for each benefit period of $500 except that the deductible shall be $1,000 for each benefit period for a policy insuring members of a family. All covered expenses of any insured family member may be applied to satisfy the deductible.
Ins 3.42(2)(d)
(d) A “benefit period" shall be defined as a calendar year.
Ins 3.42(2)(e)
(e) Payment for all services covered under the contract by any licensed health care professional qualified to provide the services; except payment for psychologists' services may be conditioned upon referral or supervision by a physician.
Ins 3.42(2)(f)
(f) Payment of benefits for maternity, subject to the limitations in pars.
(a),
(b), and
(c), if maternity was covered under the prior policy.
Ins 3.42(2)(g)
(g) Benefits for outpatient treatment of mental illness, if provided by the policy, may be limited to either of the following coverages at the option of the insurer:
Ins 3.42(2)(g)1.
1. At least 50% of usual, customary and reasonable expenses which are in excess of the policy deductible, subject to the policy lifetime maximum.
Ins 3.42(3)
(3)
Plan 3—major medical expense coverage. Plan 3 major medical expense coverage shall consist of benefits for hospital, surgical and medical expenses incurred either in or out of a hospital of the following:
(Same as Plan 2 except that maximum benefit is $100,000 and deductible is $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family.)
Ins 3.42 History
History: Cr.
Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; am. (2) (b) and (e), cr. (2) (f) and (g),
Register, October, 1982, No. 322, eff. 11-1-82.
Ins 3.43
Ins 3.43
High limit comprehensive plan of benefits. Ins 3.43(1)(1)
A policy form providing a high limit comprehensive plan of benefits may be approved as an individual conversion policy as provided by s.
632.897 (4) (b), Stats., if it provides comprehensive coverage of expenses of hospital, surgical and medical services of not less than the following:
Ins 3.43(1)(b)
(b) Payment of benefits at the rate of 80% of covered hospital, medical, and surgical expenses which are in excess of the deductible, until 20% of such expenses in a benefit period reaches $1,000, after which benefits shall be paid at 100% for the remainder of the benefit period; provided, however, benefits for outpatient treatment of mental illness, if covered by the policy, may be limited as provided in par.
(g), and surgical expenses shall be covered at a usual, customary and reasonable level.
Ins 3.43(1)(c)
(c) A deductible for each benefit period of at least $250 and not more than $500 except that the deductible shall be at least $250 and not more than $1,000 for each benefit period for a policy insuring members of a family. All covered expenses of any insured family member may be applied to satisfy the deductible.
Ins 3.43(1)(d)
(d) A “benefit period" shall be defined as a calendar year.
Ins 3.43(1)(e)
(e) Payment for all services covered under the contract by any licensed health care professional qualified to provide the services; except payment for psychologists' services may be conditioned upon referral or supervision by a physician.
Ins 3.43(1)(f)
(f) Payment of benefits for maternity, subject to the limitations in pars.
(a),
(b), and
(c), if maternity was covered under the prior policy.
Ins 3.43(1)(g)
(g) Benefits for outpatient treatment of mental illness, if provided by the policy, may be limited to either of the following coverages at the option of the insurer:
Ins 3.43(1)(g)1.
1. At least 50% of usual, customary and reasonable expenses which are in excess of the policy deductible, subject to the policy lifetime maximum.
Ins 3.43(2)
(2) The filing procedures of s.
Ins 6.05, shall apply to policy forms filed as individual conversion policies.
Ins 3.43 History
History: Cr.
Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; am. (1) (b) and (e), cr. (1) (f) and (g),
Register, October, 1982, No. 322, eff. 11-1-82; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, January, 1999, No. 517.
Ins 3.44
Ins 3.44
Effective date of s. 632.897, Stats. Ins 3.44(1)(1)
Section
632.897, Stats., applies to group policies issued or renewed on or after May 14, 1980, or if a policy is not renewed within 2 years after the effective date of the act, s.
632.897, Stats., is effective at the end of 2 years from May 14, 1980.
Ins 3.44(2)(a)(a) A group policy as defined in s.
632.897 (1) (c) 1. or
3., Stats., shall be considered to have been renewed on any date specified in the policy as a renewal date or on any date on which the insurer or the insured changed the rate of premium for the group policy.
Ins 3.44(2)(b)
(b) A group policy as defined in s.
632.897 (1) (c) 2., Stats., shall be considered to have been renewed on any date on which an underlying collective bargaining agreement or other underlying contract is renewed, or on which a significant change is made in benefits.
Ins 3.44(3)
(3) Section
632.897, Stats., applies to individual policies issued or renewed after May 14, 1980, except that it shall not apply to any individual policy in force on May 13, 1980, in which the insurer does not have the option of changing premiums.
Ins 3.44 History
History: Cr.
Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81.
Ins 3.45
Ins 3.45
Conversion policies by insurers offering group policies only. Section
632.897 (4) (d), Stats., (first sentence), establishes that an insurer offering group policies only is not required to offer individual coverage. Since the insurer has no individual conversion policies which it may offer, it may not require a terminated insured who elected to continue coverage under s.
632.897 (2), Stats., to convert to individual coverage under s.
632.897 (6), Stats., after 12 months. The terminated person may continue group coverage except as provided in s.
632.897 (3) (a), Stats.
Ins 3.45 History
History: Cr.
Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81.
Ins 3.455
Ins 3.455 Long-term care, nursing home and home health care policies; loss ratios; rating practices; continuation and conversion, reserves. Ins 3.455(1)(a)(a) The commissioner finds that long-term care policies and life insurance-long-term care coverage are offered and marketed to a population which is particularly susceptible to pressure sales tactics and misleading or fraudulent sales activities. These products are also complex and difficult for most purchasers to analyze and understand.
Ins 3.455(1)(b)
(b) The purchase of any of these products is an important and significant decision because of the cost and the significance of these insurance products in planning and providing for long-term care. This section and s.
Ins 3.46 are adopted to provide adequate protection for Wisconsin insureds and the public.
Ins 3.455(2)(a)(a) This section does not apply to an accelerated benefit coverage of a life insurance policy, endorsement or rider as described under s.
Ins 3.46 (2).
Ins 3.455(2)(b)
(b) This section, except for subs.
(6) and
(8), does not apply to individual long-term care policy or life insurance-long-term care coverage, to a group long-term care policy or life insurance-long-term care coverage or a certificate under the group policy, or to a renewal policy or coverage or certificate, if:
Ins 3.455(2)(b)1.
1. The individual long-term care policy or life insurance-long-term care coverage was issued prior to June 1, 1991;
Ins 3.455(2)(b)2.
2. The group policy is issued prior to June 1, 1991 and all certificates under the policy are issued prior to June 1, 1991; or
Ins 3.455(2)(c)
(c) Section
Ins 3.46 in effect prior to June 1, 1991 and subs.
(6) and
(8) apply to those policies, coverages or certificates which qualify for exemption under par.
(b).
Ins 3.455(3)(a)
(a) “Basis for continuation of coverage" means a policy provision that maintains coverage under the existing group policy when the coverage would otherwise terminate and that is subject only to the continued timely payment of premium when due. Group policies that restrict provision of benefits and services to, or contain incentives to use certain providers or facilities may provide continuation benefits that are substantially equivalent to the benefits of the existing group policy. The commissioner shall make a determination as to the substantial equivalency of benefits, and in doing so, shall take into consideration the differences between managed care and non-managed care plan, including but not limited to, provider system arrangements, service availability, benefit levels and administrative complexity.
Ins 3.455(3)(b)
(b) “Basis for conversion of coverage" means a policy provision that an individual whose coverage under the group policy would otherwise terminate or has been terminated for any reason, including discontinuance of the group policy in its entirety or with respect to an insured class, and who has been continuously insured under the group policy, and any group policy that it replaced, for at least 3 months immediately prior to termination, shall be entitled to the issuance of a converted policy by the insurer under whose group policy he or she is covered, without evidence of insurability.
Ins 3.455(3)(c)
(c) “Converted policy" means an individual policy of long-term care insurance providing benefits identical to or benefits determined by the commissioner to be substantially equivalent to or in excess of those provided under the group policy from which conversion is made. Where the group policy form which conversion is made restricts provision of benefits and services to or contains incentives to use certain providers or facilities, the commissioner, in making a determination as to the substantial equivalency of the benefits, shall take into consideration the differences between managed-care and non-managed-care plans, including but not limited to, provider system arrangements, service availability, benefit levels and administrative complexity. The converted policy offered shall be on a form generally available in the state.
Ins 3.455(3)(d)
(d) “Exceptional increase" means an increase in premium by an insurer that the commissioner determines is justified under any of the following circumstances:
Ins 3.455(3)(d)1.
1. Changes in laws or rules applicable to long-term care coverage in this state.
Ins 3.455(3)(d)2.
2. Increased and unexpected utilization that affects the majority of insurers of similar products.
Ins 3.455(3)(f)
(f) “Incidental" means that the value of the long-term care benefits provided is less than 10% of the total value of the benefits provided over the life of the policy measured as of the date of issue.
Ins 3.455(3)(i)
(i) “Managed-care plan" is a health care or assisted living arrangement designed to coordinate patient care or control costs through utilization review, case management or use of specific provider networks.
