PUBLIC Law, Chapter 123, LD 313, 125th Maine State Legislature
An Act To Permit Insured Persons To Designate a 3rd Party To Receive Notice of Cancellation of Medicare Supplement Policies and To Restrict the Cancellation of Certain Insurance Policies for Nonpayment of Premium Due to Cognitive Impairment or Functional Incapacity

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An Act To Permit Insured Persons To Designate a 3rd Party To Receive Notice of Cancellation of Medicare Supplement Policies and To Restrict the Cancellation of Certain Insurance Policies for Nonpayment of Premium Due to Cognitive Impairment or Functional Incapacity
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §2556, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 40, §1, are amended to read:
 
2. Restrictions on lapse or termination; cognitive impairment or functional incapacity.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, ~~the bureau shall adopt rules to~~an insurer shall provide restrictions on cancellation, termination or lapse of individual life insurance policies in accordance with this subsection to reduce the danger that a life insurance policyholder will lose life insurance coverage ~~due to organic brain disease~~when the policyholder suffers from cognitive impairment or functional incapacity and the loss of coverage is due to that cognitive impairment or functional incapacity. Within 90 days after cancellation, termination or lapse of coverage due to nonpayment of premium, a policyholder, a person authorized to act on behalf of the policyholder or a dependent of the policyholder covered under a life insurance policy may request reinstatement on the basis that the loss of coverage was a result of the policyholder's cognitive impairment or functional incapacity. An insurer may request a medical demonstration that the policyholder suffered from cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of cancellation, termination or lapse. The medical demonstration may be at the expense of the policyholder. A policy reinstated pursuant to this subsection must cover any loss or claim occurring from the date of the termination, cancellation or lapse and must be issued without any evidence of insurability. Within 15 days after request from an insurer, a policyholder of a policy reinstated pursuant to this subsection shall pay any unpaid premium from the date of the last premium payment at the rate that would have been in effect had the policy remained in force. If the premium is not paid as required, the policy may not be reinstated and the insurer is not responsible for claims incurred after the initial date of cancellation, termination or lapse of coverage. If an insurer denies a request for reinstatement, the insurer shall notify the policyholder that the policyholder may request a hearing before the superintendent.
 
3. Rulemaking.   The bureau may adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section. The rules adopted pursuant to this ~~section~~subsection apply to all life insurance policies and riders delivered or issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. Rules adopted pursuant to this ~~section~~subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2707-A, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 835, §2, is amended to read:
§ 2707-A.Notification prior to cancellation; restrictions on lapse or termination due to cognitive impairment or functional incapacity
~~The superintendent shall, by January 1, 1991, adopt rules to~~An insurer shall provide for notification of the insured person and another person, if designated by the insured, prior to cancellation of a health insurance policy for nonpayment of ~~premiums, and to provide restrictions on cancellation when an insured person suffers from organic brain disease~~premium.
Within 90 days after cancellation due to nonpayment of premium, a policyholder, a person authorized to act on behalf of the policyholder or a dependent of the policyholder covered under a health insurance policy or certificate may request reinstatement on the basis that the loss of coverage was the result of the policyholder's cognitive impairment or functional incapacity. An insurer may require a medical demonstration that the policyholder suffered from cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of cancellation. If the medical demonstration is waived or substantiates the existence of a cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of policy cancellation to the satisfaction of the insurer, the policy must be reinstated. The medical demonstration may be at the expense of the policyholder.
A policy reinstated pursuant to this section must cover any loss or claim occurring from the date of the cancellation. Within 15 days after request from an insurer, a policyholder of a policy reinstated pursuant to this section shall pay any unpaid premium from the date of the last premium payment at the rate that would have been in effect had the policy remained in force. If the premium is not paid as required, the policy may not be reinstated and the insurer is not responsible for claims incurred after the initial date of cancellation. If an insurer denies a request for reinstatement, the insurer shall notify the policyholder that the policyholder may request a hearing before the superintendent.
The superintendent may adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section. The rules may include, but are not limited to, definitions, minimum disclosure requirements, notice provisions and ~~cancellation restrictions~~the right of reinstatement. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §2847-C, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 695, §5 and c. 824, Pt. A, §51, is amended to read:
§ 2847-C.Notification prior to cancellation; restrictions on cancellation, termination or lapse due to cognitive impairment or functional incapacity
~~The superintendent shall, by January 1, 1991, adopt rules to~~An insurer shall provide for notification of the insured person and another person, if designated by the insured, prior to cancellation of a health insurance certificate for nonpayment of ~~premiums, and to provide restrictions on cancellation when an insured person suffers from organic brain disease~~premium.
Within 90 days after cancellation due to nonpayment of premium, a policyholder, a person authorized to act on behalf of the policyholder or a dependent of the policyholder covered under a health insurance policy or certificate may request reinstatement on the basis that the loss of coverage was a result of the policyholder's cognitive impairment or functional incapacity. An insurer may require a medical demonstration that the policyholder suffered from cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of cancellation. If the medical demonstration is waived or substantiates the existence of a cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of policy cancellation to the satisfaction of the insurer, the policy must be reinstated. The medical demonstration may be at the expense of the policyholder.
A policy reinstated pursuant to this section must cover any loss or claim occurring from the date of the cancellation. Within 15 days after request from an insurer, a policyholder of a policy reinstated pursuant to this section shall pay any unpaid premium from the date of the last premium payment at the rate that would have been in effect had the policy remained in force. If the premium is not paid as required, the policy may not be reinstated and the insurer is not responsible for claims incurred after the initial date of cancellation. If an insurer denies a request for reinstatement, the insurer shall notify the policyholder that the policyholder may request a hearing before the superintendent.
The superintendent may adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section. The rules may include, but are not limited to, definitions, minimum disclosure requirements, notice provisions and ~~cancellation restrictions~~the right of reinstatement. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
The requirements of this section apply to all policies and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State.
Sec. 4.  24-A MRSA §5016  is enacted to read:
§ 5016. Notification prior to cancellation; restrictions on lapse or termination due to cognitive impairment or functional incapacity
 
1.  Notice of cancellation.     An insurer that issues Medicare supplement policies shall provide notification to the insured person and another person, if designated by the insured, prior to cancellation of a Medicare supplement policy for nonpayment of premiums.
 
2.  Right to reinstatement.     Within 90 days after cancellation, termination or lapse of coverage due to nonpayment of premium, a policyholder, a person authorized to act on behalf of the policyholder or a dependent of the policyholder covered under the policy may request reinstatement of the policy on the basis that the loss of coverage was a result of the policyholder's cognitive impairment or functional incapacity. An insurer may require a medical demonstration that the policyholder suffered from cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of cancellation, termination or lapse. If the medical demonstration is waived or substantiates the existence of a cognitive impairment or functional incapacity at the time of policy cancellation to the satisfaction of the insurer, the policy must be reinstated. The medical demonstration may be at the expense of the policyholder.
 
A policy reinstated pursuant to this subsection must cover any loss or claim occurring from the date of the termination, cancellation or lapse and must be issued without any evidence of insurability. Within 15 days after request from an insurer, a policyholder of a policy reinstated pursuant to this subsection shall pay any unpaid premium from the date of the last premium payment at the rate that would have been in effect had the policy remained in force. If the premium is not paid as required, the policy may not be reinstated and the insurer is not responsible for claims incurred after the initial date of cancellation. If an insurer denies a request for reinstatement, the insurer shall notify the policyholder that the policyholder may request a hearing before the superintendent.
 
3.  Rules.     The superintendent may adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The requirements of this section apply to all policies and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State.
Sec. 5. Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2012. For purposes of this Act, all policies, contracts and certificates are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

SP0093, Signed on 2011-05-23 00:00:00.0 - First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature, page