17B:27A-9 Determination of rates.
8. a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2008, c.38).
b. The board shall make application on behalf of all carriers for any other subsidies, discounts, or funds that may be provided for under State or federal law or regulation. A carrier may include subsidies or funds granted to the board to reduce its premium rates for individual health benefits plans subject to this act.
c. A carrier shall not issue individual health benefits plans on a new contract or policy form pursuant to this act until an informational filing of a full schedule of rates which applies to the contract or policy form has been filed with the commissioner. The commissioner shall provide a copy of the informational filing to the Attorney General and the board.
d. A carrier desiring to increase or decrease premiums for any contract or policy form may implement that increase or decrease upon making an informational filing with the commissioner of that increase or decrease, along with the actuarial assumptions and methods used by the carrier in establishing that increase or decrease. The commissioner may disapprove any informational filing on a finding that it is incomplete and not in substantial compliance with P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et al.), or that the rates are inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.
e. (1) Rates shall be formulated on contracts or policies required pursuant to section 3 of this act so that the anticipated minimum loss ratio for a contract or policy form shall not be less than 80% of the premium. The carrier shall submit with its rate filing supporting data, as determined by the commissioner, and a certification by a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, or other individuals in a format acceptable to the commissioner, that the carrier is in compliance with the provisions of this subsection.
(2) Each calendar year, a carrier shall return, in the form of aggregate benefits for all of the policy or contract forms offered by the carrier pursuant to subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17:B:27A-4), at least 80% of the aggregate premiums collected for all of the policy or contract forms during that calendar year. Carriers shall annually report, no later than August 1 of each year, the loss ratio calculated pursuant to this section for all of the policy or contract forms for the previous calendar year. In each case in which the loss ratio fails to comply with the 80% loss ratio requirement, the carrier shall issue a dividend or credit against future premiums for all policy or contract holders, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to assure that the aggregate benefits paid in the previous calendar year plus the amount of the dividends and credits equal 80% of the aggregate premiums collected for the policy or contract forms in the previous calendar year. All dividends and credits shall be distributed by December 31 of the year following the calendar year in which the loss ratio requirements were not satisfied. The annual report required by this subsection shall include a carrier's calculation of the dividends and credits applicable to all policy or contract forms, as well as an explanation of the carrier's plan to issue dividends or credits. The instructions and format for calculating and reporting loss ratios and issuing dividends or credits shall be specified by the commissioner by regulation. Those regulations shall include provisions for the distribution of a dividend or credit in the event of cancellation or termination by a policyholder.
f. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2008, c.38).
L.1992, c.161, s.8; amended 1994, c.58, s.45; 1994, c.102, s.2; 2008, c.38, s.16.