Disclosure and Performance Standards for Long-Term Care Insurance

Disclosure and Performance Standards for Long-Term Care Insurance A. No long-term care insurance policy may: 1. Be cancelled, non-renewed or otherwise terminated on the grounds of the age or the deterioration of the mental or physical health of the insured individual or certificate holder; or 2. Contain a provision establishing a new waiting period in the event existing coverage is converted to or replaced by a new or other form within the same company, except with respect to an increase in benefits voluntarily selected by the insured individual or group policyholder; or 3. Provide coverage for skilled nursing care only or provide significantly more coverage for skilled care in a facility than coverage for lower levels of care. B. Pre-existing condition: 1. No long-term care insurance policy or certificate other than a policy or certificate thereunder issued to a group as defined in Section 4E(1) of this Regulation shall use a definition of “preexisting condition” which is more restrictive than the following: Preexisting condition means a condition for which medical advice or treatment was recommended by, or received from a provider of health care services, within six (6) months preceding the effective date of coverage of an insured person. 2. No long-term care insurance policy or certificate other than a policy or certificate thereunder issued to a group as defined in Section 4E(1) may exclude coverage for a loss or confinement which is the result of a preexisting condition unless such loss or confinement begins within six (6) months following the effective date of coverage of an insured person. 3. The Commissioner may extend the limitation periods set forth in Sections 6B (1) and (2) above as to specific age group categories in specific policy forms upon findings that the extension is in the best interest of the public. 4. The definition of “preexisting condition” does not prohibit an insurer from using an application form designed to elicit the complete health history of an applicant, and, on the basis of the answers on that application, from underwriting in accordance with that insurer’s established underwriting standards. Unless otherwise provided in the policy or certificate, a preexisting condition, regardless of whether it is disclosed on the application, need not be covered until the waiting period described in Section 6B(2) expires. No long- term care insurance policy or certificate may exclude or use waivers or riders of any kind to exclude, limit or reduce coverage or benefits for specifically named or described preexisting diseases or physical conditions beyond the waiting period described in Section 6B(2). C. Prior hospitalization/institutionalization: 1. No long-term care insurance policy may be delivered or issued for delivery in the State if such policy: a. Conditions eligibility for benefits on a prior hospitalization requirement; b. Conditions eligibility for benefits provided in an institutional care setting on the receipt of a higher level of institutional care; or c. Conditions eligibility for any benefits other than waiver of premium, post-confinement, post-acute care or recuperative benefits on a prior institutionalization requirement. 2. a. A long-term care insurance policy containing post-confinement, post acute care or recuperative benefits shall clearly label in a separate paragraph of the policy or certificate entitled “Limitations or Conditions on Eligibility for Benefits” such limitations or conditions, including any required number of days of confinement. A long-term care insurance policy or rider which conditions eligibility of non-institutional benefits on the prior receipt of institutional care shall not require a prior institutional stay of more than thirty (30) days. D. Right to return-free look: Long-term care insurance applicants shall have the right to return the policy or certificate within thirty (30) days of its delivery and to have the premium refunded if, after examination of the policy or certificate, the applicant is not satisfied for any reason. Long-term care insurance policies and certificates shall have a notice prominently printed on the first page or attached thereto stating in substance that the applicant shall have the right to return the policy or certificate within thirty (30) days of its delivery and to have the premium refunded if, after examination of the policy or certificate, other than a certificate issued pursuant to a policy issued to a group defined under Section 4(E)1 of the Regulation, the applicant is not satisfied for any reason. E. 1. An outline of coverage shall be delivered to a prospective applicant for long-term care insurance at the time of initial solicitation through means which prominently direct the attention of the recipient to the document and its purpose. a. In the case of agent solicitations, the outline of coverage must be presented in conjunction with any application or enrollment form. b. In the case of direct response solicitations, the outline of coverage must be presented in conjunction with any application or enrollment form. 2. The outline of coverage shall include: a. A description of the principal benefits and coverage provided in the policy; b. A statement of the principal exclusions, reductions, and limitations contained in the policy; c. A statement of the terms under which the policy or certificate, or both, may be continued in force or discontinued, including any reservation in the policy of a right to change premium. Continuation or conversation provisions of group coverage shall be specifically described. d. A statement that the outline of coverage is a summary only, not a contract of insurance, and that the policy or group master policy contain governing contractual provisions; e. A description of the terms under which the policy or certificate may be returned and premium refunded; and f. A brief description of the relationship of cost of care and benefits. F. A certificate issued pursuant to a group long-term insurance policy which policy is delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall include: 1. A description of the principal benefits and coverage provided in the policy. 2. A statement of the principal exclusions, reductions and limitations contained in the policy; and 3. A statement that the group master policy determines governing contractual provisions. G. At the time of policy delivery, a policy summary shall be delivered for an individual life insurance policy which provides long-term care benefits within the policy or by rider. In the case of direct response solicitations, the insurer shall deliver the policy summary upon the applicant’s request, but regardless of request shall make such delivery no later than at the time of policy delivery, In addition to complying with all applicable requirements, the summary shall also include: 1. An explanation of how the long-term care benefit interacts with other components of the policy, including deductions from death benefits; 2. An illustration of the amount of benefits, the length of benefit, and the guaranteed lifetime benefits, if any, for each covered person: 3. Any exclusions, reductions and limitations on benefits of long-term care: and 4. If applicable to the policy type, the summary shall also include: a. A disclosure of the effects of exercising other rights under the policy; b. A disclosure of guarantees related to long-term care cost of insurance charges; and c. Current and projected maximum lifetime benefits. H. Any time a long-term care benefit, funded through a life insurance vehicle by the acceleration of the death benefit, is in benefit payment status, a monthly report shall be provided to the policyholder. Such report shall include: 1. Any long-term care benefits paid out during the month; 2. An explanation of any changes in the policy, e.g. death benefits or cash values, due to long-term care benefits being paid out; and 3. The amount of long-term care benefits existing or remaining. I. .Any policy or rider advertised, marketed or offered as long-term care or nursing home insurance shall comply with the provisions of this Regulation.