8. a. Except as provided by this act, the insurance laws of this State do not apply to the operation of self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements. A self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement is not an insurance company or insurer under the laws of this State.

b. Any self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement shall offer all products that it is actively marketing to any employer, and accept any employer and any employee of that employer who applies for any of those products; provided, however that a self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement may limit participation to members of the association.

c. Assessments payable by small employer members, except for dental plans, shall be established in accordance with the rating requirements of section 9 of P.L.1992, c.162 (C. 17B:27A-25) and regulations promulgated thereunder.

d. If the member is a small employer, the health benefits to be provided by the self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement shall at all times be equal to or greater than benefits required to be provided in the lowest benefit level standard plan promulgated by the New Jersey Small Employer Health Benefits Program pursuant to P.L.1992, c.162 (C. 17B:27A-17 et seq.).

e. A large employer participating in a multiple employer welfare arrangement shall not be required to adhere to the plan or design elements, or any required coverage offerings applicable to small employers, including but not limited to deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance amounts. After the effective date of P.L.2015, c.172, large employer members of a multiple employer welfare arrangement shall continue to offer all health benefits mandated by State law and in effect on October 1, 2014. Any new or additional health benefits mandated by State law required to be offered after October 1, 2014 shall not be required to be offered by large employers participating in a multiple employer welfare arrangement. Except as provided in P.L.2001, c.352 (C. 17B:27C-1 et seq.) as amended by P.L.2015, c.172, multiple employer welfare arrangements with large employers shall be otherwise subject to the requirements of State and federal law.

f. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, if the member is a large employer, the rate manual used to calculate program rates may include appropriate classification factors such as claims experience and utilization, age, gender, tobacco use, and geography, and such specific underwriting adjustments as may be certified in accordance with subsection d. of section 6 of P.L.2001, c.352 (C. 17B:27C-6).

g. The self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement may provide to its members a health and wellness program consistent with the United States Department of Labor’s requirements.

h. The self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement may provide to its members an internet-based system for the administration, billing and claims processing of its benefits.

L.2001, c.352, s.8; amended 2015, c.172, s.5.