Wisconsin Administrative Code
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Chapter Ins 3 - Casualty Insurance
Section Ins 3.31 - Eligibility for and solicitation, underwriting and claims practices in group, blanket and group type accident and sickness insurance
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง Ins 3.31
Current through August 26, 2024
(1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this rule is to promote the fair and equitable treatment of Wisconsin residents in the solicitation, underwriting and administration of accident and sickness insurance and coverage issued by a plan subject to s. 185.981, Stats., or ch. 613, Stats. Sections of Statutes interpreted or implemented by this rule include but are not limited to ss. 601.04(3), 601.01(2), 611.20, 618.12(1) and 632.76, Stats.
(2)SCOPE. This rule applies to the solicitation, underwriting and administration of insurance issued by an insurer under s. 600.03(4) or (23), Stats., except credit accident and sickness insurance under s. Ins 6.75(1) (c) 1. or (2) (c) 1., and coverage issued on a group basis or group type basis as defined in s. Ins 6.51(3) by a plan subject to s. 185.981, Stats., or ch. 613, Stats. For the purposes of this rule, references to insurer, certificate, insurance agent or representative, enrollment form and enrollee also apply to organizations or associations operating non-profit plans, contracts, summaries of coverage, persons within the scope of the rule, individual applications and applicants, respectively.
(3)GROUP AND GROUP TYPE INSURANCE. An insurer issuing insurance under s. 600.03(23), Stats., or group or group type coverage under s. 185.981 or ch. 613, Stats., shall,
(a) Where the
enrollment form contains questions relating to the medical history of the
person or persons to be covered, be subject to the following:
1. `Enrollment form.' An enrollment form
shall provide to the effect that statements made by the enrollee in the
enrollment form regarding the general medical history or general health of the
proposed insured person which require an opinion or the exercise of judgment
are representations or are to the best of the enrollee's knowledge and/or
belief. Such form need not so provide with respect to statements regarding
specifically named diseases, physical conditions, or types of medical
consultation or treatment. Such forms shall not require the enrollee to state
that he or she has not withheld any information or concealed any facts in
completing the enrollment form; however, the enrollee may be required to state
that his or her answers are true and complete.
2. `Solicitation.' An insurance agent or
representative shall review carefully with the enrollee all questions contained
in each enrollment form which he or she prepares and shall set down in each
such form all material information disclosed to him or her by the enrollee in
response to the questions in such form. This does not require that an insurance
agent or representative prepare or assist in the preparation of each enrollment
form.
3. `Underwriting.'
a. An insurer shall make provision for
adequate underwriting personnel and procedures so as to process without undue
delay each enrollment form for insurance received by it.
b. An insurer shall give due consideration to
all statements in each enrollment form for insurance submitted to it and shall
duly evaluate the proposed insured person before issuing evidence of coverage
for such person.
c. An insurer
which issues evidence of coverage for a person shall not use the statements,
information or material set out in subds. 1., 2. and 3. to void the coverage on
the basis of misrepresentation in the enrollment form, or deny a claim on the
basis of a pre-existing condition defense, unless the insurer has resolved
patently conflicting or incomplete statements in the enrollment form for the
coverage, duly considered information furnished to it in connection with the
processing of such enrollment form, or duly considered the material which it
would have obtained through reasonable inquiry following due consideration of
such statements or information.
d.
An insurer shall furnish to the certificate holder or subscriber a notice
printed prominently in contrasting color on the first page of the certificate
or amendment, or in the form of a sticker or other form to be attached to the
first page of the certificate or amendment, or furnish to the group
policyholder or other such entity within 10 days after the issuance or
amendment of coverage for delivery to the certificate holder or subscriber, a
notice in the form of a letter or other form, such notice to contain
substantially the following:
IMPORTANT NOTICE CONCERNING STATEMENTS IN THE ENROLLMENT FORM FOR YOUR INSURANCE
Please read the copy of the enrollment form attached to this notice or to your certificate or which has been otherwise previously delivered to you by the insurer or group policyholder. Omissions or misstatements in the enrollment form could cause an otherwise valid claim to be denied. Carefully check the enrollment form and write to the insurer within 10 days if any information shown on the form is not correct and complete or if any requested medical history has not been included. The insurance coverage was issued on the basis that the answers to all questions and any other material information shown on the enrollment form are correct and complete.
e. An insurer shall file with the
commissioner a description of the procedure it will follow and the form or
forms it will use to meet the requirements of subd. 3. d.
f. An insurer which, after evidence of
coverage for a person has been issued, receives information regarding such
person which would reasonably be considered a sufficient basis to void or
reform such person's coverage, shall effect such voiding or reformation, as
provided in s.
631.11(4),
Stats., or the insurer shall be held to have waived its rights to such
action.
g. An insurer may use
statements in an enrollment form as a defense to the claim or to void or reform
coverage only if it has complied with the requirements of subd. 3. d.
4. `Claims administration.'
a. If the existence of a disease or physical
condition was duly disclosed in the enrollment form for coverage in response to
the questions therein, the insurer shall not use the pre-existence defense,
under coverage providing such a defense, to deny benefits for such disease or
condition unless such disease or condition is excluded from coverage by name or
specific description effective on the date of loss. This paragraph does not
apply to a preexisting condition exclusion permitted under s.
632.746(1),
Stats.
b. If an enrollment form
contains no question concerning the proposed insured person's health history or
medical treatment history and regardless of whether it contains a question
concerning the proposed insured person's general health at the time of
enrollment, the insurer may use the pre-existence defense, under coverage
providing such a defense, only with respect to losses incurred or disability
commencing within 12 months from the effective date of the person's coverage,
unless the disease or physical condition causing the loss or disability is
excluded from coverage by name or specific description effective on the date of
loss or the date the disability commenced. If after 12 months from the
effective date of coverage, there is a reoccurrence of the disease or condition
causing the loss or disability, then the pre-existence defense may not be used.
Under a disability income policy a disease or condition shall be deemed to have
not reoccurred if the insured performs all important duties of a comparable
occupation on the same basis as before the disability, for at least 6 months.
Under a policy other than disability income a disease or condition shall be
deemed to have not reoccurred if a period of 6 months elapses during which no
expenses are incurred for the same or a related disease or condition.
c. An insurer shall not void coverage or deny
a claim on the ground that the enrollment form for such coverage did not
disclose certain information considered material to the risk if the form did
not clearly require the disclosure of such information.
(b) Be subject to the following:
1. A claim shall not be reduced or denied on
the grounds that the disease or physical condition resulting in the loss or
disability had existed prior to the effective date of coverage, under coverage
providing such a defense, unless the insurer has evidence that such disease or
physical condition, as distinguished from the cause of such disease or physical
condition, had manifested itself prior to such date. Such manifestation may be
established by evidence of:
a. Medical
diagnosis or treatment of such disease or physical condition prior to the
effective date, or
b. The existence
of symptoms of such disease or physical condition prior to the effective date
which would cause an ordinarily prudent person to seek diagnosis, care, or
treatment and for which such diagnosis, care or treatment was not sought prior
to such date.
2.
Coverage which contains wording which requires the cause of the disease or
physical condition, as distinguished from the disease or physical condition
itself, to originate after the effective date of coverage shall be administered
in accordance with subd. 1.
3. An
insurer shall not exclude or limit benefits for a particular condition where
the claimant's medical records indicate a reasonable basis for, and the policy
language permits, distinguishing between the eligible condition or conditions
which necessitated the hospital confinement or medical or surgical treatment
for which claim is made, or which resulted in the disability for which the
claim is made, and a concurrently non-eligible existing condition or conditions
which did not contribute to the need for the confinement or treatment, or
contribute to the disability. The exclusion or limitation of benefits includes
the use of:
a. A pre-existence
defense;
b. A waiting period, such
as for pregnancy, surgery or other stated condition or procedure;
c. A benefit maximum; or
d. Other policy limitation.
(c) Where the group or
group type plan is issued to trustees of a fund, use the plan's provisions
regarding individual eligibility for coverage and individual termination of
coverage to deny liability for or to defend against a claim only if the
certificate issued pursuant to the plan, under an appropriate caption or
captions, includes the applicable requirements regarding an individual's
eligibility for coverage and the conditions under which an individual's
coverage terminates under the plan.
(4)BLANKET INSURANCE. An insurer issuing insurance under s. 600.03(4), Stats., shall
(a) Include in an enrollment
form used in connection with such insurance no question relating to the medical
history or other matter concerning the insurability of the person or persons to
be insured and
(b) Be subject to
the following:
1. A claim shall not be
reduced or denied on the grounds that the disease or physical condition
resulting in the loss or disability had existed prior to the effective date of
coverage, under coverage providing such a defense, unless the insurer has
evidence that such disease or physical condition had manifested itself prior to
such date. Such manifestation may be established by evidence of:
a. Medical diagnosis or treatment of such
disease or physical condition prior to the effective date, or
b. The existence of symptoms of such disease
or physical condition prior to the effective date which would cause an
ordinarily prudent person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment and for which
such diagnosis, care or treatment was not sought prior to such date.
2. Coverage which contains wording
which requires the cause of the disease or physical condition, as distinguished
from the disease or physical condition itself, to originate after the effective
date of coverage shall be administered in accordance with subd. 1. b.
3. An insurer shall not exclude or limit
benefits for a particular condition where the claimant's medical records
indicate a reasonable basis for, and the policy language permits,
distinguishing between the eligible condition or conditions which necessitated
the hospital confinement or medical or surgical treatment for which claim is
made, or which resulted in the disability for which the claim is made, and a
concurrently non-eligible existing condition or conditions which did not
contribute to the need for the confinement or treatment, or contribute to the
disability. The exclusion or limitation of benefits includes the use of:
a. A pre-existence defense;
b. A waiting period, such as for pregnancy,
surgery or other stated condition or procedure;
c. A benefit maximum; or
d. Other policy limitation.
(5)EFFECTIVE DATE. This rule shall apply to all solicitation, underwriting, and claims activities relating to Wisconsin residents after December 1, 1974, except that sub. (3) (a) 4. a. and b. shall apply to coverage issued after said date and sub. (3) (a) 3. d., e. and g. shall apply to such activities after February 1, 1975.
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