As used in this chapter:
(1) “Affiliation period” means a period of time not to exceed 2 months (3 months for late enrollees) during which a health maintenance organization does not collect premiums and coverage issued is not effective.
(2) “Bona fide association” means, with respect to health insurance coverage offered in Delaware, an association which:
a. Has been actively in existence for at least 5 years;
b. Has been formed and maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance and does not condition membership on the purchase of association-sponsored insurance;
c. Does not condition membership in the association on any health status-related factor relating to an individual (including an employee of an employer or a dependent of an employee) and clearly so states in all membership and application materials;
d. Makes health insurance coverage offered through the association available to all members regardless of any health status-related factor relating to such members (or individuals eligible for coverage through a member) and clearly so states in all marketing and application materials;
e. Does not make health insurance coverage offered through the association available other than in connection with a member of the association and clearly so states in all marketing and application materials; and
f. Provides and annually updates information necessary for the Commissioner to determine whether or not an association meets the definition of a bona fide association before qualifying as a bona fide association for the purposes of this chapter.
(3) “Carrier” means an entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of this State, or subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner, that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for or reimburse any of the costs of health-care services, including a sickness and accident insurance company, a health maintenance organization, a nonprofit hospital and health service corporation or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, health benefits or health services. “Carrier” also includes any third-party administrator or other entity that adjusts, administers, or settles claims in connection with health benefit plans.
(4) “Church plan” has the meaning given such term under § 3(33) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. § 1002(33)].
(5) “Creditable coverage” means, with respect to an individual, health benefits or coverage provided under any of the following:
a. A group health benefit plan;
b. An individual health benefit plan or individual insurance coverage;
c. Part A or Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 1395 et seq. or 42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq.];
d. Title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.], other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under § 1928 [42 U.S.C. § 1396s];
e. Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code [10 U.S.C. § 1071 et seq.];
f. A medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization;
g. A state health benefits risk pool;
h. A health plan offered under Chapter 89 of Title 5, United States Code [5 U.S.C. § 8901 et seq.];
i. A public health plan as defined in federal regulations;
j. A health benefit plan under § 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act [22 U.S.C. § 2504(e)]. Such term does not include coverage consisting solely of coverage of excepted benefits as defined in paragraph (10)b. of this section.
(6) “Dependent” means a spouse, an enrollee's child by blood or law who is less than 26 years of age and an unmarried child of any age who is medically certified as totally disabled and dependent upon the enrollee.
(7) “Federally eligible individual” means an individual:
a. For whom, as of the date on which the individual seeks coverage under this chapter, the aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage, as defined in this section, is 18 or more months;
b. Whose most recent prior creditable coverage was under a group health plan, governmental plan, church plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with any such plan;
c. Who is not eligible for coverage under a group health plan, Part A or Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or a state plan under Title XIX of such act or any successor program, and who does not have other health insurance coverage;
d. With respect to whom the most recent coverage within the period of aggregate creditable coverage was not terminated based on a factor relating to nonpayment of premiums or fraud;
e. Who, if offered the option of continuation coverage under a COBRA continuation provision or under a similar state program, elected such coverage; and
f. Who has exhausted such continuation coverage under such provision or program, if the individual elected the continuation coverage described in subparagraph e. of this paragraph.
(8) “Form” means policies, contracts, riders, endorsements and applications required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to §§ 2712 and 6306 of this title.
(9) “Governmental plan” has the meaning given such term under § 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. § 1002(32) et seq.] and any federal governmental plan.
(10) a. “Health benefit plan” means any hospital or medical expense policy or certificate, major medical expense insurance policy or certificate, any hospital or medical service plan contract, health maintenance organization or health service corporation subscriber contract or any other similar health contract subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner.
b. “Health benefit plan” does not include:
accident only; credit; dental; vision; Medicare supplement; benefits for long-term care, home health care, community-based care or any combination thereof; disability income insurance; liability insurance including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance; coverage for on-site medical clinics; coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance, worker's compensation or similar insurance; or automobile medical payment insurance. The term also excludes specified disease, hospital confinement indemnity or limited benefit health insurance if such types of coverage do not provide coordination of benefits and are provided under separate policies or certificates; provided, that the carrier offering such policies or certificates complies with the following:1. The carrier files, on or before March 1 of each year, a certification with the Commissioner that contains the statement and information described in paragraph (10)b.2. of this section.
2. The certification shall contain the following:
A. A statement from the carrier certifying that policies or certificates described in this subparagraph are being offered and marketed as supplemental health insurance and not as a substitute for hospital or medical expense insurance or major medical expense insurance.
B. A summary description of each policy or certificate described in this paragraph, including the average annual premium rates (or range of premium rates in cases where premiums vary by age or other factors) charged for these policies and certificates in this State.
3. In the case of a policy or certificate that is described in this paragraph and that is offered for the first time in this State on or after July 1, 1997, the carrier files with the Commissioner the information and statement required in paragraph (10)b.2. of this section at least 30 days prior to the date the policy or certificate is issued or delivered in this State.
(11) “Health insurance” means insurance permitted to be written in accordance with § 903 of this title, other than credit health insurance, and coverages written under Chapter 63 of this title, Health Service Corporations. For purposes of this chapter, health service corporations shall be deemed to be engaged in the business of insurance.
(12) “Health status-related factor” means any of the following factors:
a. Health status;
b. Medical condition, including both physical and mental illnesses;
c. Claims experience;
d. Receipt of health care;
e. Medical history;
f. Genetic information, as defined in § 2317 of this title;
g. Evidence of insurability, including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence;
h. Disability.
(13) “Medical care” means amounts paid for:
a. The diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or amounts paid for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body;
b. Transportation primarily for and essential to medical care referred to in subparagraph a. of this paragraph; and
c. Insurance covering medical care referred to in paragraphs (13)a. and b. of this section.
(14) “Network plan” means health insurance coverage offered by a health carrier under which the financing and delivery of medical care including items and services paid for as medical care are provided, in whole or in part, through a defined set of providers under contract with the carrier.
(15) “Policy” means the entire contract between the insurer and the insured, including the policy riders, endorsements and the application, if attached, and also includes subscriber contracts issued by health service corporations.
(16) “Waiting period” means, with respect to an individual who is a potential participant or beneficiary in the plan, the period that must pass with respect to the individual before the individual is eligible for benefits under the terms of the plan. For purposes of calculating periods of creditable coverage, a waiting period shall not be considered a gap in coverage.