MI DIFS Bulletin 2018-08-INS
2019 Form and Rate Filing Requirements for Stand-Alone Dental Plans __________________________________________
STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Bulletin 2018-08-INS
In the matter of
2019 Form and Rate Filing
Requirements for Stand-Alone Dental Plans
__________________________________________/
Issued and entered
this 22nd day of March 2018
By Patrick M. McPharlin
Director
Information in this Bulletin is subject to change as federal guidance is finalized. The final
Letter to Issuers in the Federally-facilitated Exchanges and Notice of Benefit and
Payment Parameters have not yet been issued. Issuers are strongly urged to routinely
check the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) website and the
System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF) state messages for updates.
SECTION 1: CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION FILING REQUIREMENTS
FOR STAND-ALONE DENTAL PLANS (SADPs) ON- AND OFF-MARKETPLACE
General Information
DIFS will continue to perform Plan Management functions for the 2019 plan
year (PY19). Plan Management functions are part of DIFS’ regulatory role
for products offered on- and off-Marketplace. Issuers will work directly with
DIFS to submit all Stand-Alone Dental Plan (SADP) application data in
accordance with federal and state guidelines. SERFF will be used by
issuers to transmit information to DIFS, and DIFS will use SERFF to
transmit information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS).
New for PY19, issuers are required by CMS to register for the CCIIO Plan
Management Community. This platform will be utilized to issue all notices,
including corrections and notification notices.
- 2 -
New Plans and Recertification of SADPs
For PY19, DIFS’ process for certification and recertification of a SADP is
consistent with the process used in prior plan years. Issuers submitting
previously-approved plans for recertification will be required to submit much
of the same information as for prior plan years. Issuers submitting plans
for certification for the first time should review the pertinent federal and
state
guidance. The omission of any particular federal or state
requirement from this Bulletin should not be construed to mean that
compliance with those requirements is not necessary. For additional
guidance, issuers are urged to refer to the 2019 Draft Letter to Issuers in
the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (Draft Letter).
2019 SADP Filing Requirements
A complete submission includes SERFF Form/Rate filing and Binder, with
all required validated templates and associated items, as outlined in
Exhibit 1. Issuers are required to run the 2019 QHP Application Tools and
Data Integrity Tool for the initial and any subsequent template submissions.
Please note: only one Business Rules Template needs to be completed.
The one template will include both individual and small group plans.
However, the Business Rules Template must be submitted in both the
individual and small group SERFF Form/Rate filing and Binder.
Stand-Alone Dental Checklist Requirements
Checklists that must be completed and filed as shown in Exhibit 1 are:
• Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Forms (FIS 2305);
• Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Rates (FIS 2304);
and
• Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Network Adequacy
(FIS 2314).
SERFF Filings
All filings submitted via SERFF (on- and/or off-Marketplace) are considered
to be public immediately upon being filed in SERFF.
All federal and Michigan-specific templates must be filed in Excel (xlsm)
formats. Do not submit templates in PDF. Additionally, do not submit
templates in the Supporting Documentation tab of the Binder, except for
the Plan ID Crosswalk template.
- 3 -
Timeline for SADP Submissions
Activity
Dates
SADP
Application
Submission
and Review
Process
Michigan Filing Deadline
5/17/18
DIFS 1st transfer of plan data to CMS
6/20/18
DIFS 2nd transfer of plan data to CMS
7/25/18
CMS releases 1st correction notices
8/8/18 to 8/9/18
Service Area Petition deadline
8/13/18
Final Review
DIFS final transfer of plan data to CMS
8/22/18
CMS reviews final SADP applications
8/23/18 to 9/10/18
SADP
Agreement/
Final
Certification
CMS posts SADP Agreements, plan
lists and sends final correction notices;
Issuers send signed agreements
9/17/18 to 9/25/18
Limited data correction window and last
date to withdraw plans
9/20/18 to 9/21/18
DIFS sends final plan
recommendations
9/25/18
CMS sends Certification Notices
10/4/18 to 10/5/18
Open Enrollment
11/1/18 to 12/15/18
- 4 -
Revisions to Previously-Approved SADPs: Red-Lines Versions
Issuers revising previously-approved SADP forms must provide red-lined
versions, as well as clean versions. The red-lined and clean versions
should both be filed under the Forms Schedule tab of the SERFF Form/Rate
filing under the same document number. Please note: Forms not being
revised must still be submitted.
File Naming
Certain items under the Supporting Documentation tab in the Form/Rate
filing and/or the Binder filing must adhere to a standard naming convention
as follows: IssuerName_MIFormDescription_Version#.
The purpose of adherence to a standard naming convention is to have the
ability to track new versions as they are updated on the system. It is
important to start with Version 1 and use the same issuer name and form
description in the file name each time. In addition, all review tools must be
run each time a template is revised.
Items that are required to have a standard naming convention are:
• DIFS SADP Forms Checklist;
• DIFS SADP Rates Checklist;
• DIFS SADP Network Adequacy Checklist;
• MI Network Data Template;
• Rates Table Template;
• Actuarial Memorandum;
• MI Uniform Modification Justification form;
• Justifications and Attestations;
• Any document that is amended from its original version that is
not automatically versioned through SERFF.
Guaranteed Renewability
Although SADPs are considered excepted benefits, and therefore not
subject to federal guaranteed renewability requirements, CMS will apply
certain guaranteed renewability standards to SADPs.
Product Withdrawal
Plans may be withdrawn in accordance with the timeline published in
the Draft Letter. The final opportunity to withdraw plans will be during the
plan confirmation process. Issuers opting to withdraw must submit the
following in both the SERFF Form/Rate filing and Binder:
- 5 -
1. A completed CMS Plan Withdrawal form for plans offered either on-
Marketplace or on- and off-Marketplace or a list of plans to be
withdrawn for those offered off-Marketplace only;
2. A letter to the DIFS Director outlining the issuer’s intent and how it
will comply with both state and federal guaranteed renewability and
availability requirements; and
3. A copy of the proposed letter that will be sent to enrollees/consumers
outlining the issuer’s intent and detailing all options available to the
enrollee/consumer, including seeking coverage from a different
issuer. This letter must not be sent to enrollees/consumers until
approved by DIFS.
Note: Do not make changes to templates.
Uniform Modification and Plan ID Crosswalks
DIFS requires that the Michigan Uniform Modification Justification form
(FIS 2316) and Plan ID Crosswalk be submitted as shown on Exhibit 1.
CMS requires that the Plan ID Crosswalk Template be submitted to
QHP_Applications@cms.hhs.gov by June 20, 2018, for SADPs in the
individual market after it is approved by DIFS.
Licensure and Good Standing
DIFS will review the licensure status of all issuers filing SADPs on- and/or
off-Marketplace.
Annual Limit on Cost-Sharing
The PY19 out-of-pocket maximums for Marketplace-certified SADPs are
$350 for one covered child and $700 for two or more covered children.
Service Area
With regard to plans on-Marketplace, CMS requires that any partial service
areas (geographic areas smaller than a county) be established without
regard to racial, ethnic, language, or health status related factors. Issuers
with partial service areas must submit a partial service area justification
in the supporting documentation tab of the Binder. Issuers should refer to
the CMS Service Area Partial County Justification Instructions regarding
acceptable reasons for partial service areas. Partial service area requests
will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Issuers of on-Marketplace SADP
plans are urged to refer to the Draft Letter.
- 6 -
Network Adequacy
The Michigan Network Adequacy Guidance reflects current network
sufficiency standards and requirements. Links to this document are
available on: the DIFS’ website; in SERFF / Plan Management General
Instructions / Michigan Network Adequacy Guidance; and in SERFF / Plan
Management/Supporting Documentation / MI Network Data Template
Description.
Essential Community Providers
For PY19:
• Issuers of plans on-Marketplace are required to contract with at least
20 percent of available ECPs in each plan’s service area to
participate in the plan’s provider network.
• The write-in process for ECPs will continue.
For additional ECP requirements, see the Letter and the proposed 2019
Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (Proposed Notice).
SECTION 2: CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
Readability
Submitted forms must comply with the following readability standards
found under MCL 500.2236(3):
1. Each form entered in the SERFF Forms Schedule tab shall
include the form’s readability score.
2. The readability score must be based on the Microsoft Word
Flesch Reading Ease test and have a score of 45 or higher.
Forms with a Microsoft Word Flesch Reading Ease score lower
than 45 will not be approved by DIFS or transferred to CMS for
certification.
3. Dental policies and certificates with more than 3,000 words printed
on not more than three pages, or more than three pages of text
regardless of the number of words, shall contain a table of
contents.
(This requirement
does not apply to riders or
endorsements.)
4. Be printed with font size not less than 10 point.
- 7 -
Dependent Coverage
Essential Health Benefit (EHB) coverage for pediatric services are required
for enrollees until at least the end of the month in which the enrollee turns
19 years of age.
Internal Formal Grievance and External Review Procedures
SADPs offered by commercial issuers must offer a formal grievance
procedure pursuant to MCL 500.2213 and adhere to the external review
process under the Patient’s Right to Independent Review Act (PRIRA), PA
251 of 2000 (MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929). These procedures must be
part of the policy and submitted for approval with the SADP filing. If the
issuer has DIFS-approved grievance and external review procedures,
these must be filed under the Supporting Documentation tab of the
SERFF Form/Rate filing.
Complaint and Grievance Procedures must include the DIFS PRIRA link in
addition to the DIFS fax number, email address and mailing address.
Marketplace Certification
All SADPs intended to be EHB-compliant must be Marketplace-certified,
even if the plan will not be marketed on-Marketplace. The only SADPs
that can be considered to provide EHB must have followed the certification
process and have been approved and recommended for certification to
CMS.
Benefit Enhancement in Excess of EHB
Issuers of SADPs may offer enhanced benefit and benefit payment
arrangements in excess of EHB. These enhanced arrangements are
limited to non-EHB pediatric oral benefits only.
SECTION 3: RATING
DIFS will not accept more than one filing per market (individual or small group).
Issuers that offer various types of offerings, such as on- and off-Marketplace or
pediatric and adult, must submit all filings in the same Form/Rate filing. SADP
issuers may submit more than one actuarial memorandum or format their actuarial
memorandum to adequately address their entire filing.
All SADP issuers must complete a separate Rates Table Template for individual
and small group markets. For all plans other than the FF-SHOP plans, rates
should be identified as either “guaranteed” or “estimated” in the Plans and
- 8 -
Benefits Template and can either be individually age rated or family tier rated. For
FF-SHOP plans, rates must be “guaranteed” and individually age rated.
The Proposed Notice removes the actuarial value (AV) standard for SADPs.
SADP Michigan rate filings must include the following components:
• Rate manual showing only Michigan-specific rates;
• Sample rate calculation;
• Michigan Rate Checklist for SADPs;
• Actuarial memorandum addressing items from the Michigan Rate Checklist,
including but not limited to:
â–Ş Description and exhibits showing the development of rates from the
experience;
â–Ş Derivation of the EHB apportionment percentage for pediatric dental
(individual plans only).
Any questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to:
Department of Insurance and Financial Services
Office of Insurance Rates and Forms
530 West Allegan Street, 7th Floor
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Toll Free: (877) 999-6442
_________/s/__________________________
Patrick M. McPharlin
Director
Exhibit 1
2019 Stand-Alone Dental Filing Requirements
Federal Required Templates
Requires Submission via SERFF
SERFF Location
Essential Community Providers/Network Adequacy
Yes
Binder only
Plans and Benefits
Yes
Binder only
Service Area
Yes
Binder only
Network ID
Yes
Binder only
Rates Table
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Business Rules – One per Issuer, include both Individual
and Small Group on the same template
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
* Plan ID Crosswalk (Individual only)
Yes
Binder only
Michigan Required Documents
Michigan Network Data Template
Yes
Binder only
Checklist for Individual and Small Group Stand-Alone
Dental Plans – Forms
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Checklist for Individual and Small Group Stand-Alone
Dental Plans – Rates
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Checklist for Individual and Small Group Stand-Alone
Dental Plans – Network Adequacy
Yes
Binder only
Company Actuarial Memorandum
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
MI Uniform Modification Justification Form
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Filing Deadline
5/17/2018
NOTE: All required templates must be completed and, if applicable, validated before filing. Use of the 2019 QHP Application Tools and
Data Integrity Tool is required for the initial template and any subsequent template submissions. All Template revisions must be uploaded
to the same locations as originally filed (i.e., SERFF Form/Rate Filing, Binder or BOTH). * With the exception of the Plan ID Crosswalk
template, do not submit templates in the Supporting Documentation tab of the Binder