ME Insurance Bulletin 423
Further Updated Uniform Deadlines for Rate, Form, and QHP Filings for Non-Grandfathered Individual and Small Group Health Plans with Effective Dates of Coverage During 2018
STATE OF MAINE
DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
BUREAU OF INSURANCE
34 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, MAINE
04333-0034
Paul R. LePage
GOVERNOR
Eric A. Cioppa
Superintendent
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
O F F IC E S L O C A T ED A T 76 N O R T H ER N AV EN U E, G A R D IN ER, M AI N E 04345
www.maine.gov/insurance
Phone: (207) 624-8475 TTY: Please call Maine Relay 711 Customer Complaint: 1-800-300-5000 Fax (207) 624-8599
Bulletin 423
Further Updated Uniform Deadlines for Rate, Form, and QHP Filings
for Non-Grandfathered Individual and Small Group Health Plans
With Effective Dates of Coverage During 2018
(Supersedes Bulletins 416 and 421)
Shortly after the publication of Bulletin 416, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) announced a revised timetable for 2018 Qualified Health Plan (QHP) filings, which enables
the extension of the corresponding state filing deadlines to the extent consistent with the Bureau’s
ability to conduct meaningful rate and form review. The filing schedule established in Bulletin 416
was revised accordingly, in Bulletin 421, which was issued on April 5, 2017. Recently, the hearing
schedule for individual health plan rates was finalized, and that schedule requires any rate revisions
made by the carrier to be incorporated into the carrier’s prefiled testimony. In order for prefiled
testimony to be submitted reasonably in advance of the hearing, the filing date for the first rate
hearing has been set for July 14, 2017. Therefore, to provide fair and uniform treatment for all
carriers, the schedule for 2018 filings has been further revised as follows, to change the rate revision
deadline from July 17 to July 14. Dates that have already passed are included below for
completeness.
June 2, 2017 has been established as the uniform rate and form filing deadline for all nongrandfathered medical plans subject to the Affordable Care Act in the individual and small group
markets in this state, offered with effective dates during 2018. May 2, 2017 has been established as
the uniform rate and form filing deadline for all stand-alone dental plans (SADP). This will allow
time for the Bureau of Insurance to schedule rate hearings, if necessary, and to transfer initial
submissions to CMS within the timeframe required by the Final Notice of Benefit and Payment
Parameters Regulation and Letter to Issuers, as modified by the bulletins and addendum issued by
CMS. No new products or plans may be added by a carrier after the initial submission. If the plan
is not available across the entire state, the available areas should be finalized and specified in the
initial submission.
Revisions to rate submissions are acceptable up until July 14, 2017. No rate revisions may be made
after that date unless the revision is required by the Bureau or is necessary due to updated information
related to risk adjustment. Updates due to recent claims experience will only be accepted before the
July 14 deadline.
The initial filing deadline of June 2, 2017 applies to all carriers that will be issuing health plans in the
individual and small group markets, whether or not they participate in the Marketplace. It applies to
QHP (Marketplace-qualified), non-QHP plans (except SADP (Stand-Alone Dental) plans which are
due May 2), and to the “binders” that contain additional information for QHP products.
Form filings, both on and off the Marketplace, must include all supporting information related to the
filing in one submission. That includes, but is not limited to: Policy/Certificate, Applications, Outline
of Coverage, Notice of Coverage, Schedule of Benefits and Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
Carriers should use the new age curve, including the new child age factors required by the Final
Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Regulation. The Bureau anticipates a 5-business-day
turnaround to requested additional information or filing modification. Rates will be treated as public
documents when submitted. Forms will be public when they are approved by the Bureau. Rates and
forms should be submitted separately and cross-referenced to each other on the corresponding filings.
Carriers must follow the SERFF Form and Rate General Instructions page for further instructions and
additional requirements. For plans to be offered on the Marketplace, carriers must follow the Plan
Management General Instructions page.
The final transfer date is August 16, 2017 for QHP and SADP issuers. For carriers that participate in
the Marketplace, the URRT must be finalized in HIOS by that date. For carriers that do not
participate in the Marketplace, the URRT (Uniform Rate Review Template) must be finalized in
HIOS by October 6, 2017.
June 15, 2017
Eric A. Cioppa
Superintendent of Insurance
NOTE: This Bulletin is intended solely for informational purposes. It is not intended to set forth legal rights,
duties, or privileges, nor is it intended to provide legal advice. Readers should consult applicable statutes and
rules and contact the Bureau of Insurance if additional information is needed.