N.M. Stat. § 59A-18-12
Filing of forms and classifications; review of effect upon
insured.
A. An insurance policy, health care plan or annuity contract shall not be delivered or
issued for delivery in this state, nor shall an assumption certificate, endorsement, rider
or application that becomes a part of a policy or health care plan be used, until a copy of
the form and the classification of risks pertaining to the policy or health care plan has
been filed with the superintendent. Except for a filing for health insurance or health care
plan rates, a filing shall be made at least sixty days before its proposed effective date. A
filing made pursuant to this section shall not become effective nor shall it be used until
approved by the superintendent pursuant to Section 59A-18-14 NMSA 1978, at which
time it may be used. A filing related to health insurance or health care plan or rates shall
be subject to the provisions of Section 5 [59A-18-13 NMSA 1978] of this 2011 act. A
filing for any kind of insurance other than life insurance, health care plans or health
insurance, as defined in the Insurance Rate Regulation Law, shall be deemed to meet
the requirements of Chapter 59A, Article 18 NMSA 1978 to become effective unless
disapproved pursuant to Section 59A-18-14 NMSA 1978 by the superintendent before
the expiration of the waiting period or an extension of the waiting period; provided, that:
(1)
this subsection shall not apply as to policies, contracts, endorsements or
riders of unique and special character not for general use or offering but designed and
used solely as to a particular insured or risk;
(2)
if the superintendent has exempted a person or a class of persons or a
market segment from a part or all of the provisions of the Insurance Rate Regulation
Law pursuant to Subsection C of Section 59A-17-2 NMSA 1978, the superintendent
also may exempt by rule that person, class of persons or market segment from a part or
all of the provisions of this subsection;
(3)
an insurer subject to the Insurance Rate Regulation Law may authorize an
advisory organization to file policy forms, endorsements and other contract language
and related attachment rules on its behalf. Reference filings shall be made prior to their
use or by other methods the superintendent may allow by rule; and
(4)
the superintendent may, by rule, exempt various lines and kinds of
commercial insurance, as defined in the Insurance Rate Regulation Law, from some or
all of the requirements of this subsection.
B. A workers' compensation insurance policy covering a risk arising from the
employment of a worker performing work for an employer in New Mexico when that
employer is not domiciled in New Mexico shall not be issued or become effective, nor
shall any endorsement or rider covering such a risk be issued or become effective, until
a copy of the form and the classification of risks pertaining thereto have been filed with
the superintendent.
C. An insured, a beneficiary or, in the public interest of the state, the attorney
general, may in writing request the insurer to review the manner in which its filing has
been applied as to insurance or health care plan afforded the insured, the beneficiary,
or the attorney general. If the insurer fails to make a review and grant appropriate relief
within thirty days after the request is received, the insured, the beneficiary or the
attorney general may file a written complaint and request for a hearing with the
superintendent stating grounds relied upon. If the complaint charges a violation of the
Insurance Code and the superintendent finds that the complaint was made in good faith
and that the insured, the beneficiary or the attorney general would be aggrieved if the
violation is proved, the superintendent shall hold a hearing, with notice to the insured,
the beneficiary or the attorney general and insurer stating the grounds of complaint. If
upon the hearing the superintendent finds the complaint justified, the superintendent
shall order the insurer to correct the matter complained of within a reasonable time
specified but not less than twenty days after a copy of the order was mailed to or served
upon the insurer.
D. All filings submitted pursuant to this section shall be filed electronically. The
superintendent may designate an entity to receive the electronic filings submitted
pursuant to this section.
E. As used in this section, "health insurance" or "health care plan" means a hospital
and medical expense-incurred policy, plan or contract offered by a health insurer;
nonprofit health service provider; health maintenance organization; managed care
organization; or provider service organization; "health insurance" or "health care plan"
does not include an individual policy intended to supplement major medical group-type
coverage such as medicare supplement, long-term care, disability income, specified
disease, accident-only, hospital indemnity or any other limited-benefit health insurance
policy.