West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 114 - Insurance Commission
Title 114 - LEGISLATIVE RULE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Series 114-39 - Group Accident And Sickness Insurance Minimum Policy Coverage Standards
Section 114-39-6 - Required Disclosure Provisions

6.1. Each policy subject to this rule shall include a renewal, continuation or nonrenewal provision. The language or specifications of such provision shall be consistent with the type of policy to be issued. The provision shall be appropriately captioned, and shall clearly state the duration, where limited, of renewability and the duration of the term of coverage for which the policy is issued and for which it may be renewed.

6.2. Except for riders or endorsements by which the health insurer effectuates a request made in writing by the policyholder or certificate holder, or exercises a specifically reserved right under the policy, all riders or endorsements added to a policy after date of issue or at reinstatement or renewal which reduce or eliminate benefits or coverage in the policy require signed acceptance by the policyholder or certificate holder, as appropriate. After the date of policy issue, any rider or endorsement which increases benefits or coverage with a concomitant increase in premium during the policy term shall be agreed to in writing signed by the policyholder or certificate holder, as appropriate, except if the increased coverage or benefits are required by law.

6.3. Where a separate additional premium is paid for benefits provided in connection with riders or endorsements, the premium charge shall be set forth in the policy.

6.4. A policy which provides for the payment of benefits based on standards described as "usual and customary," "reasonable and customary," or words of similar import shall include a definition of those terms within the policy.

6.5. Any provisions limiting or excluding coverage of preexisting conditions shall appear in a separate paragraph of the policy and shall be labeled as "Preexisting Condition Limitations."

6.6. All accident-only policies shall contain on the first page of the policy or attached thereto in either contrasting color or in boldface type at least equal to the size of type used for policy captions, a prominent statement as follows: "This is an accident-only policy, and it does not pay benefits for loss from sickness."

6.7. Any accident-only policy providing benefits which vary according to the type of accidental cause shall prominently set forth the circumstances under which benefits are payable which are less than the maximum amount payable under the policy.

6.8. All specified disease policies shall contain on the first page of the policy or attached thereto, in either contrasting color or in boldface type at least equal to the size of type used for policy captions, a prominent statement as follows: "Caution: This is a limited benefits policy. Read it carefully."

6.9. All policies shall have a notice prominently printed on the first page of the policy or attached thereto, stating in substance that the group policyholder shall have the right to return the policy within ten (10) days of its delivery and to have the premium refunded if, after examination of the policy, the group policyholder is not satisfied for any reason. The notice shall also state that in the event the policyholder exercises this right, the health insurer shall not be obligated to pay any benefits under the policy for claims submitted to the health insurer during such ten (10) day period.

6.10. If age is to be used as a determining factor for reducing the maximum aggregate benefits made available in the policy as originally issued, that fact shall be prominently set forth in the policy and certificate.

6.11. If a policy contains a conversion privilege, it shall comply, in substance, with the following: The caption of the provision shall be "Conversion Privilege," or words of similar import. The provision shall indicate the persons eligible for conversion; the circumstances applicable to the conversion privilege, including any limitations on the conversion; and the person by whom the conversion privilege may be exercised. The provision shall specify the benefits to be provided on conversion, or may state that the converted coverage will be as provided on a policy form then being used by the health insurer for that purpose.