Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 3571I – No lifetime or annual limits
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, may not establish any lifetime limit on the dollar amount of benefits for any individual.
(2) a. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2)b., subsections (b) and (d) of this section, a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, may not establish any annual limit on the dollar amount of benefits for any individual.
b. A health flexible spending arrangement (as defined in § 106(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code) [26 U.S.C. § 106(c)(2)] is not subject to the requirement in paragraph (a)(2)a. of this section.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 3571I
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Year: means a calendar year, and is equivalent to the words "year of our Lord. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
(b) (1) The rules of this section do not prevent a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, from placing annual or lifetime dollar limits with respect to any individual on specific covered benefits that are not essential health benefits to the extent that such limits are otherwise permitted under applicable federal or state law.
(2) The rules of this section do not prevent a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, from excluding all benefits for a condition. However, if any benefits are provided for a condition, then the requirements of this section apply. Other requirements of federal or state law may require coverage of certain benefits.
(c) The term “essential health benefits” as used in this section means essential health benefits under § 1302(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [42 U.S.C. § 18022(b)], as the law and its implementing regulations were in effect on January 1, 2018; Delaware law; and applicable state regulations.
(d) (1) With respect to plan years beginning prior to January 1, 2014, a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, may establish, for any individual, an annual limit on the dollar amount of benefits that are essential health benefits, provided the limit is no less than the following amounts:
a. For a plan year beginning on or after September 23, 2010, but before September 23, 2011, $750,000.
b. For a plan year beginning on or after September 23, 2011, but before September 23, 2012, $1,250,000.
c. For plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2012, but before January 1, 2014, $2,000,000.
(2) In determining whether an individual has received benefits that meet or exceed the applicable amount described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, a plan or issuer must take into account only essential health benefits.