§ 27-19-56 — Outline of Coverage; Disclosure of Information

Alabama § 27-19-56

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 27: Insurance
• Ch. 19: Disability Insurance Policies
• Art. 2: Medicare Supplement Policy Minimum Standards

Text

(a) In order to provide for full and fair disclosure in the sale of Medicare supplement policies, no Medicare supplement policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state and no certificate shall be delivered pursuant to a group Medicare supplement policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state unless an outline of coverage is delivered to the applicant at the time application is made.
(b) The commissioner shall prescribe the format and content of the outline of coverage required by subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this section, “format” means style, arrangements, and overall appearance, including, but not limited to, the size, color, and prominence of type and the arrangement of text and captions. This outline of coverage shall include all of the following:
(1) A description of the principal benefits and coverage provided in the policy.
(2) A statement of the renewal provisions including any reservation by the insurer of a right to change the premiums and disclosure of the existence of any automatic renewal premium increases based on the policyholder’s age.
(3) A statement that the outline of coverage is a summary of the policy issued or applied for and that the policy should be consulted to determine governing contractual provisions.
(c) The commissioner may prescribe by regulation a standard form and the contents of an informational brochure for persons eligible for Medicare, which is intended to improve the buyer’s ability to select the most appropriate coverage and improve the buyer’s understanding of Medicare. Except in the case of direct response insurance policies, the commissioner may require by regulation that the informational brochure be provided to any prospective insurers eligible for Medicare concurrently with delivery of the outline of coverage. With respect to direct response insurance policies, the commissioner may require by regulation that the prescribed brochure be provided upon request to any prospective insurers eligible for Medicare, but in no event later than the time of policy delivery.
(d) The commissioner may adopt regulations for captions or notice requirements, determined to be in the public interest and designed to inform prospective insurers that particular insurance coverages are not Medicare supplement coverages, for all disability insurance policies sold to persons eligible for Medicare, other than any of the following:
(1) Medicare supplement policies;
(2) Disability income policies;
(3) Basic, catastrophic, or major medical expense policies;
(4) Single premium, nonrenewable policies; or
(5) Other policies defined in subdivision (6) of Section 27-19-52.
(e) The commissioner may adopt reasonable regulations to govern the full and fair disclosure of the information in connection with the replacement of accident and sickness policies, subscriber contracts or certificates by persons eligible for Medicare.
(f) The commissioner may promulgate reasonable regulations to govern the full and fair disclosure of the information in connection with the replacement of accident and sickness policies, subscriber contracts, or certificates by persons eligible for Medicare.

Legislative History

(Acts 1981, No. 81-560, p. 940, §7; Act 2000-795, p. 1876, §3.)