Sec. 11. No policy of accident and sickness insurance on a franchise plan shall be delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state unless it conforms to the definitions, limitations, requirements and standards in this section prescribed:

     (A) Qualified Groups.

     (1) Two (2) or more employees of any employer, inclusive of any governmental division, department or agency.

     (2) Ten (10) or more members of any trade, occupational or professional association or of a labor union, or of any other association or group which has had an active existence for at least two (2) years and which has a constitution or by-laws and was formed in good faith for purposes other than that of obtaining insurance.

     (3) Members of the family and dependents of persons eligible under (1) or (2) above may be included in the group with such eligible persons.

     (B) Nature of Insurance Coverage. The insurance policies issued to members of a qualified group shall be written on identical individual policy form or forms, varying only as to amounts and kinds of coverage applied for by such persons, and such policy form or forms shall otherwise fulfill the requirements of sections 2 through 9 of this chapter. The premiums for such policies may be paid to the insurer periodically by the employer, with or without payroll deduction, or by the association for its members, or by some designated person acting on behalf of such employer or association.

     (C) Rates, Benefits, Underwriting Procedures. Premium rates, benefits and underwriting procedures relating to such individual policies may differ from those relating to comparable individual policies issued singly, but as between comparable groups such rates, benefits and procedures shall be nondiscriminatory.

Formerly: Acts 1953, c.15, s.169.11. As amended by Acts 1981, P.L.248, SEC.1.