§ 27-60-5 — § 27-60-5. Justification of adverse insurance decisions.

Rhode Island § 27-60-5

• Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
• Title 27: Insurance
• Ch. 27-60: Unfair Discrimination Against Subjects of Abuse in Health Benefit Plans Act

Text

§ 27-60-5. Justification of adverse insurance decisions.

A health carrier that takes an action that adversely affects a subject of abuse on the basis of a medical condition that the health carrier knows or has reason to know is abuse-related shall explain the reason for its action to the applicant or insured, in writing, and shall be able to demonstrate that its action, and any applicable plan provision:

(1) Does not have the purpose or effect of treating abuse status as a medical condition or underwriting criterion;

(2) Is not based upon any actual or perceived correlation between a medical condition and abuse;

(3) Is permissible by law and applies in the same manner and to the same extent to all applicants and the insured with a similar medical condition without regard to whether the condition or claim is abuse-related; and

(4) Is based on a determination, made in conformance with sound actuarial principles and supported by reasonable statistical evidence, that there is a correlation between the medical condition and a material increase in insurance risk.

Legislative History

P.L. 1997, ch. 163, § 1.