Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 2729-A – Limits on priority liens
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No policy for health insurance shall provide for priority over the insured of payment for any hospital, nursing, medical or surgical services or of any expenses paid or reimbursed under the policy, in the event the insured is entitled to receive payment reimbursement from any other person as a result of legal action or claim, except as provided herein. [PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).]
A policy may contain a provision that allows such payments, if that provision is approved by the superintendent, and if that provision requires the prior written approval of the insured and allows such payments only on a just and equitable basis and not on the basis of a priority lien. A just and equitable basis shall mean that any factors that diminish the potential value of the insured’s claim shall likewise reduce the share in the claim for those claiming payment for services or reimbursement. Such factors shall include, but are not limited to: [PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).]
1. Legal defenses. Questions of liability and comparative negligence or other legal defenses;
[PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 2729-A
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- health insurance: means insurance of human beings against bodily injury, disablement or death by accident or accidental means, or the expense thereof, or against disablement or expense resulting from sickness, and every insurance appertaining thereto, including provision for the mental and emotional welfare of human beings by defraying the costs of legal services only to the extent provided for in chapter 38. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 704
- insured: as used in this chapter , shall not be construed as preventing a person other than the insured with a proper insurable interest from making application for and owning a policy covering the insured or from being entitled under such a policy to any indemnities, benefits and rights provided therein. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 2731
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
2. Exigencies of trial. Exigencies of trial that reduce a settlement or award in order to resolve the claim; and
[PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).]
3. Limits of coverage. Limits on the amount of applicable insurance coverage that reduce the claim to an amount recoverable by the insured.
[PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).]
In the event of a dispute as to the application of any such provision or the amount available for payment to those claiming payment for services or reimbursement, the dispute shall be determined if the action is pending, before the court in which it is pending; or if no action is pending, by filing an action in any court for determination of the dispute. [PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 471, §1 (NEW).