00 SENATE BILL NO. 313 01 "An Act relating to the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association and to 02 health insurance provided to residents of the state who are high risks; and 03 providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. AS 21.55.010 is amended to read: 06  Sec. 21.55.010. CREATION; MEMBERSHIP. There is established a nonprofit 07 incorporated legal entity to be known as the Comprehensive Health Insurance 08 Association. Membership consists of all licensed hospital or medical service 09 corporations in the state that offer subscriber contracts for major medical coverage, all 10 health maintenance organizations or other managed care arrangements approved 11 by the director, and all insurers licensed to transact health insurance in the state that 12 offer policies for major medical coverage on an expense incurred basis. All members 13 shall maintain membership in the association as a condition of doing health insurance 14 business, or being able to offer subscriber contracts or enrollment in a health 01 maintenance organization or managed care arrangement, in the state. 02 * Sec. 2. AS 21.55.100 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 03  (d) The association may make available to residents who are high risks 04 coverage through a health maintenance organization or other managed care 05 arrangement as approved by the director. 06 * Sec. 3. AS 21.55.120(c) is amended to read: 07  (c) Except as provided in (e) of this section, the [THE] sum of the 08 deductible and copayments required in any calendar year under a plan may not exceed 09 a maximum limit of $2,000 per covered individual. Covered expenses incurred after 10 the applicable maximum limit has been reached shall be paid at the rate of 100 percent 11 of usual, customary, reasonable, or prevailing charges, except that expenses incurred 12 for treatment of mental and nervous conditions shall be paid at the rate of 50 percent. 13 The $2,000 maximum shall be adjusted yearly to correspond with the change in the 14 medical care component of the Consumer Price Index as adjusted by the director. 15 * Sec. 4. AS 21.55.120 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 16  (e) In addition to the deductible, copayment, and applicable maximums 17 described in this section, other deductible, copayment, or maximum limits may be 18 offered if approved by the director. 19 * Sec. 5. AS 21.55.150(b) is amended to read: 20  (b) The association shall use separate scales of premium rates based on age 21 and geographic location of the insured. The association may use separate scales of 22 premium rates based on other factors, including use or nonuse of tobacco, if 23 approved by the director. 24 * Sec. 6. AS 21.55.300 is repealed and reenacted to read: 25  Sec. 21.55.300. ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE HEALTH INSURANCE. (a) 26 Except as provided in this section, a state resident who is a high risk is eligible to 27 enroll in a state plan described in AS 21.55.100. 28  (b) A person may not be covered by the state plan 29  (1) while covered by another health insurance policy or subscriber 30 contract; or 31  (2) if the person is eligible to be covered by a plan subject to the 01 requirements of AS 21.56.110 - 21.56.250. 02  (c) Upon ceasing to be a resident, a person is not eligible to purchase or renew 03 coverage under a state plan, but previously purchased coverage remains in effect for 04 the period covered by payments made while a resident. 05  (d) Additional eligibility requirements for enrollment in a state plan may be 06 imposed if approved by the director. 07 * Sec. 7. AS 21.55.310 is amended to read: 08  Sec. 21.55.310. ENROLLMENT BY AN ELIGIBLE PERSON. A person may 09 enroll in a state plan by applying to the writing carrier. The application must include 10 the following: 11  (1) name, address, age, and length of residency of the applicant; 12  (2) a designation of the plan desired, including deductible option 13 chosen; 14  (3) information relevant to whether the person is a high risk; and 15  (4) payment of the first premium. 16 * Sec. 8. AS 21.55.320 is amended to read: 17  Sec. 21.55.320. WRITING CARRIER'S RESPONSE. Within 30 days after 18 receiving the certificate described in AS 21.55.310, the writing carrier shall either 19 reject the application for failing to comply with the requirements of AS 21.55.300 and 20 21.55.310 or forward the eligible person a notice of acceptance [AND BILLING 21 INFORMATION]. 22 * Sec. 9. AS 21.55.400 is amended to read: 23  Sec. 21.55.400. DUTIES OF DIRECTOR. The director may 24  (1) approve the selection of the writing carrier by the association and 25 approve the association's contract with the writing carrier, including the coverages and 26 premiums to be charged; 27  (2) contract with the federal government or another unit of government 28 to ensure coordination of the state plans with other governmental assistance programs; 29  (3) undertake directly or through contracts with other persons studies 30 or demonstration programs to develop awareness of the benefits of this chapter; and 31  (4) formulate general policy, adopt regulations that are reasonably 01 necessary to administer this chapter. 02 * Sec. 10. AS 21.55 is amended by adding a new section to read: 03  Sec. 21.55.420. BOARD MEMBER CIVIL AND CRIMINAL IMMUNITY. 04 A member of the board of directors of the association may not be held civilly or 05 criminally liable for an act or omission if the act or omission was in good faith and 06 within the scope of the director's duties under this chapter. 07 * Sec. 11. AS 21.55.500(10) is amended to read: 08  (10) "residents who are high risks" means residents who 09  (A) have been rejected for medical reasons after applying for 10 a subscriber contract, a policy of health insurance, or a Medicare supplement 11 policy by at least two association members within the six months immediately 12 preceding the date of application for a state plan; medical reasons may include 13 preexisting medical conditions, a family history that predicts future medical 14 conditions, or an occupation that generates a frequency or severity of injury or 15 disease that results in coverage not being generally available; [OR] 16  (B) have had a restrictive rider placed on a subscriber contract, 17 a health insurance policy, or a Medicare supplement policy that substantially 18 reduces coverage; or 19  (C) meet other requirements adopted by regulation by the 20 director that are consistent with this chapter and that indicate that a 21 person is unable to obtain coverage substantially similar to that which may 22 be obtained by a person who is considered a standard risk; 23 * Sec. 12. This Act takes effect July 1, 1994.