Part III. Contract Requirements
14VAC5-211-70. Continuation of coverage.
A. An enrollee whose eligibility for coverage terminates under the group contract shall have the opportunity to continue coverage under the existing group contract for a period of at least 12 months immediately following the date of termination of the enrollee's eligibility for coverage under the group contract. Continuation coverage shall not be applicable if the group contract holder is required by federal law to provide for continuation of coverage under its group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) (P.L. 99-272). Coverage shall be provided without additional evidence of insurability subject to the following requirements:
1. The application and payment for the continued coverage is made to the group contract holder within 31 days after issuance of the written notice required in subsection C of this section, but in no event beyond the 60-day period following the date of the termination of the person's eligibility;
2. Each premium for the continued coverage is timely paid to the group contract holder on a monthly basis during the 12-month period; and
3. The premium for continuing the group coverage shall be at the health care plan's current rate applicable to similarly situated individuals under the group contract plus any applicable administrative fee not to exceed 2.0% of the current rate.
B. A continuation of coverage shall not be required to be made available when:
1. The enrollee is covered by or is eligible for benefits under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 1395 et seq.) known as Medicare;
2. The enrollee is covered by substantially the same level of benefits under any policy, contract, or plan for individuals in a group;
3. The enrollee has not been continuously covered during the three-month period immediately preceding the enrollee's termination of coverage;
4. The enrollee was terminated by the health care plan for any of the reasons stated in 14VAC5-211-230 A 1 or 2, or coverage was rescinded; or
5. The enrollee was terminated from a plan administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services that provided benefits pursuant to Title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 1396 et seq. or § 1397aa et seq.).
C. The group contract holder shall provide each enrollee or other person covered under the group contract written notice of the procedures and timeframes for obtaining continuation of coverage under the group contract. The notice shall be provided within 14 days of the group contract holder's knowledge of the enrollee's or other covered person's loss of eligibility under the group contract.
Statutory Authority
§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 2, eff. January 1, 2011; Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. September 1, 2011; Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-80. Coordination of benefits.
A. A health care plan may include in its group or individual contract a provision that the value of any benefit or service provided by the health maintenance organization may be coordinated with other health insurance or health care benefits or services that are provided by other individual or group policies, contracts, or health care plans, including coverage provided under governmental programs, so that no more than 100% of the eligible incurred expenses is paid.
B. A health care plan shall not be relieved of its duty to provide a covered health care service to an enrollee because the enrollee is entitled to coverage under other policies, contracts, or health care plans. In the event that benefits are provided by a health care plan and another policy, contract, or health care plan, the determination of the order of benefits shall in no way restrict or impede the rendering of services required to be provided by the health care plan. The health maintenance organization shall be required to provide or arrange for the service first and then, at its option, seek coordination of benefits with any other health insurance or health care benefits or services that are provided by other policies, contracts, or plans. Until a coordination of benefits determination is made, the enrollee shall not be held liable for the cost of covered services provided.
Statutory Authority
§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-90. Cost sharing.
A. Except for preventive services required by § 38.2-3442 of the Code of Virginia, a health maintenance organization may require a copayment of enrollees as a condition for the receipt of a specific health care service. A copayment shall be shown in the evidence of coverage as either a specified dollar amount or as coinsurance.
B. If the health maintenance organization has an established out-of-pocket maximum for cost sharing, it shall keep accurate records of each enrollee's cost sharing and notify the enrollee when his out-of-pocket maximum is reached. The notification shall be given no later than 30 days after the health maintenance organization has processed sufficient claims to determine that the out-of-pocket maximum is reached. The health maintenance organization shall not charge additional cost sharing for the remainder of the contract or calendar year, as appropriate. The health maintenance organization shall also promptly refund to the enrollee all cost sharing payments charged after the out-of-pocket maximum is reached. Any maximum out-of-pocket amount shall be shown in the evidence of coverage as a specified dollar amount, and the evidence of coverage shall clearly state the health maintenance organization's procedure for meeting the requirements of this subsection.
C. A grandfathered plan that excludes a deductible from the out-of-pocket maximum may continue to do so as long as the plan remains grandfathered.
D. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) Plan (i) authorized by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pursuant to Title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 1397aa et seq.) and the state plan established pursuant to Chapter 13 (§ 32.1-351 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia and (ii) underwritten by a health maintenance organization.
Statutory Authority
§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2008; Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. September 1, 2011; Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-100. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2008; Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. September 1, 2011; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-110. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-120. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-130. Extension of benefits for total disability.
A. A group contract issued by a health maintenance organization in the large group market shall contain a reasonable extension of benefits upon discontinuance of the group contract with respect to enrollees who become totally disabled while enrolled under the contract and who continue to be totally disabled at the date of discontinuance of the contract.
B. Upon payment of premium, coverage shall remain in full force and effect for a reasonable period of time not less than 180 days, or until the enrollee is no longer totally disabled, or a succeeding carrier elects to provide replacement coverage to that enrollee without limitation as to the disabling condition.
C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to contracts entered into by any health maintenance organization that has contracted with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services to provide health care services to recipients of medical assistance services pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, as amended, or to individuals covered by the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Insurance (FAMIS) plan developed pursuant to Title XXI of the Social Security Act, as amended.
Statutory Authority
§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2015.
14VAC5-211-140. Freedom of choice.
A. At the time of enrollment an enrollee shall have the right to select a primary care health care professional from among the health maintenance organization's affiliated primary care health care professionals, subject to availability and in accordance with § 38.2-3443 of the Code of Virginia.
B. An enrollee who is dissatisfied with his primary care health care professional shall have the right to select another primary care health care professional from among the health maintenance organization's affiliated primary care health care professionals, subject to availability. The health maintenance organization may impose a reasonable waiting period for this transfer.
Statutory Authority
§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. September 1, 2011.
14VAC5-211-150. Complaint and appeals procedure.
A. A health maintenance organization shall establish and maintain a complaint system to provide reasonable procedures for the prompt and effective resolution of written complaints in accordance with Chapter 5 (§ 32.1-137.1 et seq.) of Title 32.1 and Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) of Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia. In addition, a health maintenance organization shall establish and maintain an internal appeals procedure in accordance with Chapter 5 (§ 32.1-137.1 et seq.) of Title 32.1 and Chapter 35.1 (§ 38.2-3556 et seq.) of Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia and applicable regulations. A record of all written complaints shall be maintained for the period specified in § 38.2-511 of the Code of Virginia. A record of all requests for internal appeal shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of § 32.1-137.16 of the Code of Virginia.
B. Pending the resolution of a written complaint filed by a subscriber or enrollee, coverage may not be terminated for the subscriber or enrollee for any reason that is the subject of the written complaint, except where coverage is being terminated or rescinded in accordance with 14VAC5-211-230.
Statutory Authority
§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. September 1, 2011.