(a)

Terms Used In Alabama Code 27-21A-7

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) Every enrollee residing in this state is entitled to an evidence of coverage. If the enrollee obtains such coverage through an insurance policy or a contract issued by a health care service plan, the insurer or the health care service plan shall issue the evidence of coverage. Otherwise, the health maintenance organization shall issue the evidence of coverage.
(2) No evidence of coverage, or amendment thereto, shall be issued or delivered to any person in this state until a copy of the basic form of the evidence of coverage, or amendment thereto, has been filed with the commissioner and the State Health Officer, and approved by the commissioner.
(3) An evidence of coverage shall contain:

a. No provisions or statements which encourage misrepresentation, or which are untrue, misleading, or deceptive as defined in subsection (a) of Section 27-21A-13; and
b. A clear and concise statement, if a contract, or a reasonably complete summary, if a certificate, of:

1. The health care service and the insurance or other benefits, if any, to which the enrollee is entitled;
2. Any limitations on the services, kinds of services, benefits, or kinds of benefits, to be provided, including any deductible or copayment feature;
3. Where and in what manner information is available as to how services may be obtained;
4. The total amount of payments for health care services and the indemnity or service benefits, if any, which the enrollee is obligated to pay with respect to individual contracts; and
5. A clear and understandable description of the health maintenance organization’s method for resolving enrollee complaints.

Any subsequent change may be evidenced in a separate document issued to the enrollee.

(b)

(1) No schedule of charges for enrollee coverage for health care services, or amendment thereto, may be used until a copy of such schedule, or amendment thereto, has been filed with and approved by the commissioner.
(2) Such schedule of charges shall be established in accordance with actuarial principles for various categories of enrollees, provided that the charges applicable to any enrollee shall not be individually determined based on his health status. Charges shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. A certification, by a qualified actuary or other qualified person acceptable to the commissioner as to the appropriateness of the use of the charges, based on reasonable assumptions, shall accompany the filing along with adequate supporting information.
(c) The commissioner shall within 30 days approve any form if the requirements of subsection (a) are met and the commissioner shall within 30 days approve any schedule of charges if the requirements of subsection (b) are met. It shall be unlawful to issue such form or to use such schedule of charges until approved. If the commissioner disapproves such filing, he shall notify the filer. In the notice, the commissioner shall specify the reasons for his disapproval. A hearing will be granted within 30 days after a request in writing by the person filing. If the commissioner does not approve any form or if the commissioner does not approve any schedule of charges within 30 days of the filing of such forms or schedule of charges, they shall be deemed approved.
(d) The commissioner may require the submission of whatever relevant information he deems necessary in determining whether to approve or disapprove a filing made pursuant to this section.
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