Sec. 3829.
(1) An insurer shall not deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of a Medicare supplement policy available for sale in this state, or discriminate in the pricing of such a policy, because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition of an applicant if an application for the policy is submitted during the 6-month period beginning with the first month in which an individual who is 65 years of age or older enrolled for benefits under Medicare part B. Each Medicare supplement policy currently available from an insurer must be made available to all applicants who qualify under this section without regard to age.
(2) If an applicant qualifies under subsection (1), submits an application during the time period provided in subsection (1), and as of the date of application has had a continuous period of creditable coverage of not less than 6 months, the insurer shall not exclude benefits based on a preexisting condition. If the applicant qualifies under subsection (1), submits an application during the time period in subsection (1), and as of the date of application has had a continuous period of creditable coverage that is less than 6 months, the insurer shall reduce the period of any preexisting condition exclusion by the aggregate of the period of creditable coverage applicable to the applicant as of the enrollment date. The secretary shall specify the manner of the reduction under this subsection.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (2) and section 3833, subsection (1) does not prevent the exclusion of benefits under a policy, during the first 6 months, based on a preexisting condition for which the policyholder or certificate holder received treatment or was otherwise diagnosed during the 6 months before the coverage became effective.
(4) As used in this section, "creditable coverage" does not include any of the following:
(a) One or more of the following:
(i) Coverage only for accident or disability income insurance, or any combination of accident or disability income insurance.
(ii) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance.
(iii) Liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance.
(iv) Workers' compensation or similar insurance.
(v) Automobile medical payment insurance.
(vi) Credit-only insurance.
(vii) Coverage for on-site medical clinics.
(viii) Other similar insurance coverage, specified in federal regulations, under which benefits for medical care are secondary or incidental to other insurance benefits.
(b) The following benefits if they are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance or are otherwise not an integral part of the plan:
(i) Limited scope dental or vision benefits.
(ii) Benefits for long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination of long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, or community-based care.
(iii) Such other similar, limited benefits as are specified in federal regulations.
(c) The following benefits if offered as independent, noncoordinated benefits:
(i) Coverage only for a specified disease or illness.
(ii) Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance.
(d) The following if it is offered as a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance:
(i) Medicare supplemental policy as defined in 42 USC 1395ss.
(ii) Coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under chapter 55 of title 10 of the United States Code, 10 USC 1071 to 1110b.
(iii) Similar supplemental coverage provided to coverage under a group health plan.
History: Add. 1992, Act 84, Imd. Eff. June 2, 1992 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 304, Imd. Eff. May 10, 2002 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 429, Eff. Mar. 20, 2019
Popular Name: Act 218