(a) The commissioner may adopt regulations that include standards for full and fair disclosure setting forth the manner, content, and required disclosures for the sale of long-term care insurance policies, terms of renewability, initial and subsequent conditions of eligibility, nonduplication of coverage provisions, coverage of dependents, preexisting conditions, termination of insurance, continuation or conversion, probationary periods, limitations, exceptions, reductions, elimination periods, requirements for replacement, recurrent conditions, and definitions of terms. Regulations under this subsection should recognize the developing and unique nature of long-term care insurance and the distinction between group and individual long-term insurance policies.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 27-19-105

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • month: means a calendar month. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • preceding: means next before. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) No long-term care insurance policy may do any of the following:

(1) Be cancelled, nonrenewed, 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.
(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.
(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.
(c)

(1) No long-term care insurance policy or certificate other than a policy or certificate thereunder issued to a group as defined in Section 27-19-103(4)a, 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 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 27-19-103(4)a, may exclude coverage for a loss or confinement which is the result of a preexisting condition unless the loss or confinement begins within six months following the effective date of coverage of an insured person.
(3) The commissioner may extend the limitation periods set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) 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 the underwriting standards established by the insurer. 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 subdivision (2) expires. No long-term care insurance policy or certificates 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 subdivision (2).
(d) Prior hospitalization or institutionalization standards:

(1) No long-term care insurance policy may be delivered or issued for delivery in this state if the policy does any one of the following:

a. Conditions eligibility for any 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.
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” the limitations or conditions, including any required number of days of confinement
b. A long-term care insurance policy or rider which conditions eligibility of noninstitutional benefits on the prior receipt of institutional care shall not require a prior institutional stay of more than 30 days.
(3) No long-term care insurance policy or rider which provides benefits only following institutionalization shall condition the benefits upon admission to a facility for the same or related conditions within a period of less than 30 days after discharge from the institution.
(e) The commissioner may adopt regulations establishing loss ratio standards for long-term care insurance policies provided that a specific reference to long-term care insurance policies is contained in the regulation.
(f) Long-term care insurance applicants shall have the right to return the policy or certificate within 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 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, as defined in Section 27-19-103(4)a., the applicant is not satisfied for any reason.

This subsection shall also apply to denials of applications and any refund must be made within 30 days of the return or denial.

(g)

(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. The commissioner shall prescribe a standard format, including style, arrangement, and overall appearance, and the content of an outline of coverage.
b. In the case of agent solicitations, an agent shall deliver the outline of coverage prior to the presentation of an application or enrollment form.
c. In the case of direct response solicitations, the outline of coverage shall be presented in conjunction with any application or enrollment form.
(2) The outline of coverage shall include all of the following:

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 conversion 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 contains governing contractual provisions.
e. A description of the terms under which the policy or certificate may be returned and premium refunded.
f. A brief description of the relationship of cost of care and benefits.
g. A statement that discloses to the policyholder or certificateholder whether the policy is intended to be a federally tax-qualified long-term care insurance contract under 7702B (b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h) A certificate issued, pursuant to a group long-term care insurance policy, which policy is delivered or issued for delivery, in this state shall include all of the following:

(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.
(3) A statement that the group master policy determines governing contractual provisions.
(i) If an application for a long-term care insurance contract or certificate is approved, the issuer shall deliver the contract or certificate of insurance to the applicant no later than 30 days after the date of approval.
(j) 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 the delivery no later than at the time of policy delivery. In addition to complying with all applicable requirements, the summary shall also include all of the following:

(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.
(4) A statement that any long-term care inflation protection option required by regulations promulgated by the commissioner is not available under this policy.
(5) If applicable to the policy type, the summary shall also include all of the following:

a. A disclosure of the effects of exercising other rights under the policy.
b. A disclosure of guarantees related to long-term care costs of insurance charges.
c. Current and projected maximum lifetime benefits.
(6) The provisions of the policy summary listed above may be incorporated into a basic illustration required to be delivered in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner or into the life insurance policy summary which is required to be delivered in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
(k) 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. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) Any long-term care benefits paid out during the month.
(2) An explanation of any changes in the policy, for example, death benefits or cash values, due to long-term care benefits paid out.
(3) The amount of long-term care benefits existing or remaining.
(l) If a claim under a long-term care insurance contract is denied, the issuer, within 60 days of the date of a written request by the policyholder or certificateholder, or a representative thereof, shall do both of the following:

(1) Provide a written explanation of the reasons for the denial.
(2) Make available all information directly related to the denial.
(m) Any policy or rider advertised, marketed, or offered as long-term care or nursing home insurance shall comply with this article.
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