TITLE 41

INSURANCE

CHAPTER 22

GROUP AND BLANKET DISABILITY INSURANCE

41-2215.  Policy standards — Replacement contracts. (1) Any carrier providing replacement coverage with respect to hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits within a period of sixty (60) days from the date of discontinuance of a prior policy providing such hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits shall immediately cover all employees and dependents validly covered under the previous policy at the date of discontinuance who are within the definitions of eligibility and who would otherwise be eligible for coverage under the succeeding carrier’s policy, regardless of any limitations or exclusions relating to active employment or nonconfinement.

(2)  With respect to an employee or dependent who was totally disabled on the date of discontinuance of the prior carrier’s policy and required to be covered under subsection (1) of this section, the succeeding carrier shall be entitled to deduct from any benefits becoming payable under its policy the amount of benefits payable by the prior carrier pursuant to an extension of benefits provision.

(3)  An employee or dependent entitled to coverage under a succeeding carrier’s policy pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall continue to be covered by the succeeding carrier until the earlier of the following:

(a)  The date coverage would terminate for an employee or dependent in accordance with the provisions of the succeeding carrier’s policy; or

(b)  In the case of an employee or dependent who was totally disabled on the date of discontinuance of the prior carrier’s policy and entitled to an extension of benefits pursuant to subsection (2) of section 41-2213, the date the period of extension of benefits terminates or, if the prior carrier’s policy is not subject to this act, the date to which benefits would have been extended had the prior carrier’s policy been subject to this act.

(4)  No provision in a succeeding carrier’s policy of replacement coverage which would operate to reduce or exclude benefits on the basis that the condition giving rise to benefits preexisted the effective date of the succeeding carrier’s policy shall be applied with respect to those employees and dependents validly insured under the prior carrier’s policy on the date of discontinuance, if benefits for such condition would have been payable under the prior carrier’s policy.

(5)  In a situation where a determination of the prior carrier’s benefit is required by the succeeding carrier, at the succeeding carrier’s request, the prior carrier shall furnish a statement of benefits available or pertinent information, sufficient to permit verification of the benefit determination by the succeeding carrier, at no cost.

History:

[41-2215, added 1975, ch. 204, sec. 6, p. 565; am. 2003, ch. 307, sec. 1, p. 843.]