(a) On and after
July 1, 1997, all insurers which issue, issue for delivery, deliver, or renew
existing individual policies or contracts of health insurance in the State of
Georgia shall renew or continue such coverage at the option of the
insured.
(b) Notwithstanding
paragraph (a), an insurer may cancel or nonrenew coverage only in the following
instances:
(1) The insured has failed to pay
premiums in accordance with the terms of the individual health insurance policy
or contract, including any timeliness requirements, subject to applicable State
law;
(2) The insured has performed
an act or practice that constitutes fraud or intentional misrepresentation of
material fact in applying for or procuring coverage, subject to the time limit
specified in O.C.G.A. §
33-29-3(b)(2)(A);
or
(3) Subject to the Rules and
Regulations of the Office of Commissioner of Insurance Rule
120-2-33-.06(6),
the insured no longer lives, resides, or works in the service area of the
network if the individual policy or contract is issued by a health maintenance
organization or a provider-sponsored health care corporation, but only if
coverage is canceled or non-renewed uniformly without regard to any health
status related factor of the insureds.
(4) An insurer terminates, cancels, or does
not renew all coverage under a particular policy form, provided that:
(A) the insurer provides at least ninety (90)
days notice prior to the discontinuance of the policy form to all insured and
to the Commissioner;
(B) the
insurer offers to such insured all other individual policies currently being
offered or renewed by the insurer in this State for which the insured are
otherwise eligible without regard to any health status related factor;
and
(C) the insurer acts uniformly
without regard to the claims experience or any health-status related factor of
individuals insured or eligible to be insured.
(5) An insurer discontinues offering and
terminates, cancels, or does not renew all coverage under all policy forms in
the individual market, provided that:
(A) the
insurer provides at least 180 days notice prior to the discontinuance or
nonrenewal of a policy or contract to all insured under that policy or
contract;
(B) the insurer provides
at least 180 days notice to the Commissioner prior to the earliest date of
termination or non-renewal related to the discontinuation in the market and
indicates in such notice the date described in subparagraph (5)(C);
(C) the insurer does not issue coverage in
such market for 5 years beginning with the date of the last health insurance
policy or contract in that market not renewed; and
(D) the insurer acts uniformly without regard
to the claims experience or any health status related factor of individuals
insured or eligible to be insured.
(6) An insured ceases membership in an
association through which health insurance coverage is issued, provided that
the insurer was still issuing coverage through that association, or the
association was still making such coverage available, and the coverage
cancellation or non-renewal is uniform without regard to any health status
related factor relating to any insured. If the association ceases to make
coverage available under any health insurance policy or contract, or ceases to
exist, individuals insured under such association policies shall be guaranteed
renewability by the insurer.
(c) Insurers may modify individual policies
at the time of renewal, provided that:
(1)
such modifications to that policy are effective on a uniform basis among all
individuals with that policy form; and
(2) such modifications are accepted and
signed by the insured.
(d) The term "accident and sickness
insurance" as used in O.C.G.A. §
33-29-21shall have the same
meaning as the term "health insurance" used in this Regulation
Chapter.
O.C.G.A. Sec.
33-2-9,
33-29-21,
33-30-15.