§ 31-101

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(a–1) “Application counselor” means an individual who holds an Individual Exchange application counselor certification issued under § 31–113(r) of this subtitle.

(a–2) “Application counselor sponsoring entity” or “sponsoring entity” means an entity designated by the Individual Exchange as a sponsoring entity under § 31–113(r) of this subtitle.

(b) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Exchange.

(b–1) “Captive producer” means an insurance producer who:

(1) is licensed in the State and authorized by the Commissioner to sell, solicit, or negotiate health insurance;

(2) receives an authorization and meets the other requirements set forth in § 31–113(n)(2) of this subtitle;

(3) has a current and exclusive appointment with a single carrier; and

(4) receives compensation as a captive producer only from that carrier.

(c) “Carrier” means:

(1) an insurer authorized to sell health insurance;

(2) a nonprofit health service plan;

(3) a health maintenance organization;

(4) a dental plan organization; or

(5) any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, health benefits, or health services authorized under this article or the Affordable Care Act.

(c–1) “Consolidated Services Center” or “CSC” means the consumer assistance call center established in accordance with the requirement to operate a toll–free hotline under § 1311(d)(4) of the Affordable Care Act and § 31–108(b)(5) of this subtitle.

(d) “Coverage level” means a level of coverage, as defined in § 1302 of the Affordable Care Act and as determined in regulations adopted by the Secretary, for a qualified health plan.

(e) (1) “Exchange” means the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange established as a public corporation under § 31–102 of this subtitle.

(2) “Exchange” includes:

(i) the Individual Exchange; and

(ii) the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP Exchange).

(e–1) (1) ‘‘Full–time employee’’ means, with respect to a calendar month, an employee of a small employer who works, on average, at least 30 hours per week.

(2) ‘‘Full–time employee’’ does not include a seasonal employee as defined in federal law.

(f) “Fund” means the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Fund established under § 31–107 of this subtitle.

(g) (1) “Health benefit plan” means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered, issued, or delivered by a carrier to an individual or small employer in the State to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services.

(2) “Health benefit plan” does not include:

(i) coverage only for accident or disability insurance or any combination of accident and disability insurance;

(ii) coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance;

(iii) liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance;

(iv) workers’ compensation or similar insurance;

(v) automobile medical payment insurance;

(vi) credit–only insurance;

(vii) coverage for on–site medical clinics; or

(viii) other similar insurance coverage, specified in federal regulations issued pursuant to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, under which benefits for health care services are secondary or incidental to other insurance benefits.

(3) “Health benefit plan” does not include the following benefits if they are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance, or are otherwise not an integral part of the plan:

(i) limited scope dental or vision benefits;

(ii) benefits for long–term care, nursing home care, home health care, community–based care, or any combination of these benefits; or

(iii) such other similar limited benefits as are specified in federal regulations issued pursuant to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

(4) “Health benefit plan” does not include the following benefits if the benefits are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance, there is no coordination between the provision of the benefits and any exclusion of benefits under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor, and the benefits are paid with respect to an event without regard to whether the benefits are provided under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor:

(i) coverage only for a specified disease or illness;

(ii) group hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance, if the benefits are payable in a fixed dollar amount per period of time, such as $100 per day of hospitalization, regardless of the amount of expenses incurred; or

(iii) individual hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance, if:

1. the benefits are paid in a fixed dollar amount per period of hospitalization, illness, or service, regardless of the amount of expenses incurred and of the amount of benefits provided with respect to the event or service under any other health coverage; and

2. a notice is displayed prominently in the application materials, in at least 14 point type, that has the following language in capital letters: “This is a supplement to health insurance and is not a substitute for major medical coverage. Lack of major medical coverage (or other minimum essential coverage) may result in an additional payment with your taxes.”.

(5) “Health benefit plan” does not include the following if offered as a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance:

(i) Medicare supplemental insurance (as defined under § 1882(g)(1) of the Social Security Act);

(ii) coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS)); or

(iii) similar supplemental coverage provided to coverage under a group health plan if the coverage qualifies for the exception described in 45 C.F.R. § 146.145(b)(5)(i)(C).

(h) “Health literacy” means the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, process, and understand health information and services in order to make an appropriate health decision.

(i) “Individual Exchange” means the division of the Exchange that serves the individual health insurance market.

(j) “Individual Exchange connector entity” means a community–based organization or other entity or a partnership of entities that:

(1) is authorized by the Individual Exchange under § 31–113(f) of this subtitle; and

(2) employs or engages Individual Exchange navigators to provide the services described in § 31–113(d)(1) of this subtitle.

(k) “Individual Exchange connector entity authorization” means a grant of authority from the Individual Exchange to an Individual Exchange connector entity under § 31–113(f) of this subtitle.

(l) “Individual Exchange navigator” means an individual who:

(1) holds an Individual Exchange navigator certification; and

(2) provides the services described in § 31–113(d)(1) of this subtitle for an Individual Exchange connector entity.

(m) “Individual Exchange navigator certification” means a certificate issued by the Individual Exchange that authorizes an individual to act as an Individual Exchange navigator.

(n) “Insurance producer authorization” means a permit issued by the SHOP Exchange or Individual Exchange to allow an insurance producer to sell qualified plans in the SHOP Exchange or Individual Exchange.

(o) “Managed care organization” has the meaning stated in § 15–101 of the Health – General Article.

(p) “Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council” means the joint executive–legislative council established and expanded by Executive Orders 01.01.2010.07 and 01.01.2011.10.

(p–1) (1) “Minimum essential coverage” means:

(i) Medicare;

(ii) the Maryland Medical Assistance Program;

(iii) the Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program;

(iv) medical coverage under 10 U.S.C. §§ 1071 through 1110b;

(v) a health care program under 38 U.S.C. §§ 1701 through 1788 or 38 U.S.C. §§ 1802 through 1834, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury;

(vi) a health plan under 22 U.S.C. § 2504(e);

(vii) the Nonappropriated Fund Health Benefits Program of the Department of Defense, established under 10 U.S.C. § 1587;

(viii) coverage under an eligible employer–sponsored plan, as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 5000A;

(ix) coverage under a health plan offered in the individual market in the State;

(x) coverage under a grandfathered health plan; or

(xi) other coverage as the Exchange recognizes, consistent with policy goals of Subtitle 2 of this title.

(2) “Minimum essential coverage” does not include:

(i) health insurance coverage that consists of coverage of excepted benefits described in:

1. § 2791(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act; or

2. § 2791(c)(2), (3), or (4) of the Public Health Service Act if the benefits are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance;

(ii) a short–term limited duration insurance;

(iii) an association health plan that fails to meet the requirements of the State small group market or, in the case of a plan purchased by sole proprietors, the State individual market; or

(iv) another form of coverage identified by the Exchange that:

1. does not meet the requirements of Title I of the Affordable Care Act; and

2. undermines the stability or increases average premiums in the individual or small group market.

(p–2) “Plan year” has the meaning stated in § 15–1201 of this article.

(q) “Qualified dental plan” means a dental plan certified by the Exchange that provides limited scope dental benefits, as described in § 31–108(b)(2) of this subtitle.

(r) “Qualified employer” means a small employer that elects to make its full–time employees and, at the option of the employer, some or all of its part–time employees eligible for one or more qualified health plans offered through the SHOP Exchange, provided that the employer:

(1) has its principal place of business in the State and elects to provide coverage through the SHOP Exchange to all of its eligible employees, wherever employed; or

(2) elects to provide coverage through the SHOP Exchange to all of its eligible employees who are principally employed in the State.

(s) “Qualified health plan” means a health benefit plan that has been certified by the Exchange to meet the criteria for certification described in § 1311(c) of the Affordable Care Act and § 31–115 of this subtitle.

(t) “Qualified individual” means an individual, including a minor, who at the time of enrollment:

(1) is seeking to enroll in a qualified health plan offered to individuals through the Exchange;

(2) resides in the State;

(3) is not incarcerated, other than incarceration pending disposition of charges; and

(4) is, and reasonably is expected to be for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States.

(u) “Qualified plan” means a:

(1) qualified health plan;

(2) qualified dental plan; and

(3) qualified vision plan.

(u–1) “Qualified resident” means an individual, including a minor, regardless of immigration status, who at the time of enrollment:

(1) is seeking to enroll in a qualified plan offered to individuals through the Exchange;

(2) resides in the State;

(3) is not incarcerated, other than incarceration pending disposition of charges; and

(4) is not eligible for the federal premium tax credit, the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, Medicare, the Maryland Children’s Health Plan, or employer–sponsored minimum essential coverage.

(v) “Qualified vision plan” means a vision plan certified by the Exchange that provides limited scope vision benefits, as described in § 31–108(b)(3) of this subtitle.

(w) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

(x) “SHOP Exchange” means the Small Business Health Options Program authorized under § 31–108(b)(13) of this subtitle.

(y) “SHOP Exchange navigator” means an individual engaged by the SHOP Exchange and authorized by the Commissioner to provide the services described in § 31–112(c)(1) of this subtitle.

(z) “SHOP Exchange navigator license” means a license issued by the Commissioner that authorizes an individual to carry out the functions set forth in § 31–112(c) of this subtitle in the SHOP Exchange.

(aa) (1) “Small employer” means an employer that, during the preceding calendar year, employed an average of not more than 50 employees.

(2) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) all persons treated as a single employer under § 414(b), (c), or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as a single employer;

(ii) an employer and any predecessor employer shall be treated as a single employer;

(iii) the number of employees of an employer shall be determined by adding:

1. the number of full–time employees; and

2. the number of full–time equivalent employees, which shall be calculated for a particular month by dividing the aggregate number of hours of service of employees who are not full–time employees for the month by 120;

(iv) if an employer was not in existence throughout the preceding calendar year, the determination of whether the employer is a small employer shall be based on the average number of employees that the employer is reasonably expected to employ on business days in the current calendar year;

(v) an employer that makes enrollment in qualified health plans available to its employees through the SHOP Exchange, and would cease to be a small employer by reason of an increase in the number of its employees, shall continue to be treated as a small employer for purposes of this subtitle as long as it continuously makes enrollment through the SHOP Exchange available to its employees; and

(vi) to the extent permitted by federal law, an entity that leases employees from a professional employer organization, coemployer, or other organization engaged in employee leasing and that otherwise meets the description in this section shall be treated as a small employer.

(bb) “State benchmark plan” means the health benefit plan designated by the State, under regulations adopted by the Secretary, to serve as the standard for the essential health benefits to be offered by:

(1) qualified health plans inside the Exchange;

(2) individual health benefit plans, except grandfathered health plans, as defined in § 1251 of the Affordable Care Act; and

(3) health benefit plans offered to small employers, except grandfathered health plans, as defined in § 1251 of the Affordable Care Act.