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<chapter num="11" heading="Small Employer Group Health Insurance — Disclosure Statement" title_num="31" subtitle_num="11">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>This chapter applies to all carriers that offer the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan to the small employer market.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Additional benefits” means benefits offered in addition to the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Are offered separately from the plan;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Are priced separately from the plan;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Are guarantee issued subject to the provisions of Insurance Article, §15-1213, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>Are guarantee renewed subject to the provisions of Insurance Article, §15-1212, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>Are community rated subject to the provisions of Insurance Article, §15-1205, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(f)">
          <text>Do not duplicate any of the benefits in the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Carrier” has the meaning stated in Insurance Article, §15-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan” means the health benefit plan adopted by the Maryland Health Care Commission in accordance with Insurance Article, §15-1207, and Health-General Article, Title 19, Subtitle 1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Small employer” has the meaning stated in Insurance Article, §15-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Required Notice — Initial Purchase of Coverage.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>At the time of the initial purchase of coverage, a carrier who offers benefits additional to the benefits offered in the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan shall obtain a signed disclosure statement certifying that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The small employer was offered the Standard Comprehensive Health Benefit Plan; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Additional benefits were offered and priced separately.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The disclosure statement required in §A of this regulation shall be in at least 12-point type and shall read as follows:</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The disclosure statement required by §A of this regulation may be included on the carrier's sales proposal sheet.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The carrier or insurance producer shall maintain the signed disclosure statement for not less than 5 years.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Required Notice — Renewal of Coverage.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>At the time of renewal of coverage, a carrier who offers benefits additional to the benefits offered in the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan shall provide a disclosure statement that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Indicates that, except as described in §A(4) of this regulation, the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan is the only plan required by State law;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Identifies any additional benefits offered by the carrier at renewal;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Identifies the cost of any additional benefits offered by the carrier at renewal; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Specifies that all additional benefits to the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan are not required by State law, with the exception of the additional benefit for compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 for small employers subject to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The disclosure statement required by §A of this regulation may be included on the renewal notice or another document.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Insurance Article, §§2-109 and 15-1204, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: May 10, 2004 (31:9 Md. R. 713)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03B amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 397)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04A amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 397)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>