3. a. The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations establishing a plan to provide Medicare Supplement Plan C coverage of the standardized Medicare supplement plans to persons under 50 years of age in this State who are entitled to Medicare benefits due to disability prior to January 1, 2020, and further, establishing a plan to provide Medicare Supplement Plan D coverage to persons in this State under 50 years of age who are entitled, on a newly eligible basis, to Medicare benefits due to disability on or after January 1, 2020.

b. The plan shall not deny or condition the issuance or renewal of a Medicare supplement insurance policy or contract available for sale in this State pursuant to subsection a. of this section nor discriminate in the pricing of such policy or contract because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care or medical condition of an applicant if an application for a Medicare Supplement Plan C policy or contract is submitted during the six-month period beginning with the first month in which an individual is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B or if the application for a Medicare Supplement Plan D policy or contract is submitted during the 12-month period beginning with the first month in which an individual is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B, and a newly eligible Medicare beneficiary on or after January 1, 2020. The plan shall provide that an individual who becomes eligible for Medicare due to disability prior to January 1, 2020 has an opportunity to apply for Medicare Supplement Plan D if the individual applies on or after January 1, 2020, but during the six-month period beginning with the first of the month in which the individual is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B, and the individual is not covered by any other Medicare Supplement Plan.

c. Subsections a. and b. of this section shall not be construed as preventing the exclusion of benefits under a policy or contract during the first three months, based on a preexisting condition for which the insured received treatment or was otherwise diagnosed during the six months before the policy or contract became effective.

d. The plan shall provide for the appointment of a contracting carrier to provide the coverage specified in subsection a. of this section. The carrier shall have experience in providing and servicing standardized Medicare supplement insurance policies or contracts to persons in this State.

e. The rates for the plan established pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be no greater than the lowest rate charged by the contracting carrier for Medicare Supplement Plan C or Medicare Supplement Plan D policies or contracts, as applicable, issued by the contracting carrier to persons pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1995, c.229 (C. 17B:26A-13).

f. The plan shall provide for the appointment of a governing board which shall be responsible for implementing the provisions of P.L.1995, c.229 (C. 17B:26A-12 et seq.) consistent with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The governing board shall include representatives from, among others, the carriers and health maintenance organizations subject to the provisions of section 4 of P.L.1995, c.229 (C. 17B:26A-15).

L.1995, c.229, s.3; amended 2019, c.139, s.3.