50 Ill. Adm. Code 2010.APPENDIX A
A Interpretive Guidelines
Section 2010
Section 2010.APPENDIX A
Interpretive Guidelines
Section 2010.ILLUSTRATION H Guideline
to Section 2010.60(a)(2)
This Section recognizes that
certain words and phrases in advertising may have a tendency to mislead the
public as to the extent of benefits under an advertised policy. Consequently,
such terms (and those specified in this Part do not represent a comprehensive
list but only examples) must be used with caution to avoid any tendency to
exaggerate benefits and must not be used unless the statement is literally true
in every instance. The use of the following phrases based on such terms or
having the same effect must be similarly restricted: "pays hospital,
surgical, etc., bills," "pays dollars to offset the cost of medical
care," "safeguards your standard of living," "pays full
coverage," "pays complete coverage," or "pays for financial
needs." Other phrases may or may not be acceptable depending upon the
nature of the coverage being advertised.
This Section also prohibits
words or phrases which exaggerate the effect of benefit payment on the
insured's general well-being, such as "worry-free savings plan," "guaranteed
savings," "financial peace of mind," and "you will never
have to worry about hospital bills again."
Advertisements which are an
invitation to contract for policies designed to supplement Medicare benefits
are unacceptable if they fail to disclose that no hospital confinement benefits
will be payable for that portion of a Medicare benefit period for which
Medicare pays all hospital confinement expenses (currently sixty days) other
than the initial deductible if the policy so provides. The length of said
period must be stated in days.