“Carrier” means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State.

“Health benefits plan” means: a health benefits plan that is delivered or issued for delivery in this State by or through a carrier; a plan provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement; or a plan provided by another benefit arrangement, to the extent permitted by the “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,” Pub.L.93-406 (29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.), or by any waiver of or other exception to that act provided under federal law or regulation. “Health benefits plan” shall not include accident-only insurance; credit accident and health insurance; Medicare supplement insurance; Medicaid fee-for-service; disability income insurance; long-term care insurance; specified disease insurance; dental or vision care plan; hospital indemnity insurance; coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance; medical payments under automobile or homeowners insurance; or insurance under which benefits are payable without regard to fault and that are statutorily required to be included in a liability policy or equivalent self-insurance program.

L.2001,c.200,s.1.