(1) This section applies to medicare select policies and certificates.

  (2) As used in this section:

  (a) “Complaint” means any dissatisfaction expressed by an individual concerning a medicare select insurer or its network providers.

  (b) “Grievance” means a dissatisfaction expressed in writing by an individual insured under a medicare select policy or certificate with the administration, claims practices, or provision of services concerning a medicare select insurer or its network providers.

  (c) “Medicare select insurer” means an insurer offering, or seeking to offer, a medicare select policy or certificate.

  (d) “Medicare select policy” or “medicare select certificate” means a medicare supplement policy or certificate that contains restricted network provisions.

  (e) “Network provider” means a provider of health care, or a group of providers of health care, that has entered into a written agreement with the insurer to provide benefits under a medicare select policy or certificate.

  (f) “Restricted network provision” means any provision that conditions the payment of benefits, in whole or in part, on the use of network providers.

  (g) “Service area” means the geographic area approved by the commissioner within which an insurer is authorized to offer a medicare select policy or certificate.

  (3) A policy or certificate shall not be advertised as a medicare select policy or certificate unless it meets the requirements of this section.

  (4) The commissioner may authorize an insurer to offer a medicare select policy or certificate, pursuant to this section and section 1882 of part C of title XVIII of the social security act, 42 USC 1395ss, if the commissioner finds that the insurer has satisfied all necessary requirements.

  (5) A medicare select insurer shall not issue a medicare select policy or certificate in this state until its plan of operation has been approved by the commissioner.

  (6) A medicare select insurer shall file a proposed plan of operation with the commissioner in a format prescribed by the commissioner. The plan of operation shall contain at least the following information:

  (a) Evidence that all covered services that are subject to restricted network provisions are available and accessible through network providers, as follows:

  (i) That services can be provided by network providers with reasonable promptness with respect to geographic location, hours of operation, and after-hour care. The hours of operation and availability of after-hour care shall reflect usual practice in the local area. Geographic availability shall reflect the usual travel times within the community.

  (ii) That the number of network providers in the service area is sufficient, with respect to current and expected policyholders, either to deliver adequately all services that are subject to a restricted network provision or to make appropriate referrals.

  (iii) That there are written agreements with network providers describing specific responsibilities.

  (iv) That emergency care is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

  (v) That in the case of covered services that are subject to a restricted network provision and are provided on a prepaid basis, there are written agreements with network providers prohibiting such providers from billing or otherwise seeking reimbursement from or recourse against any individual insured under a medicare select policy or certificate. This subparagraph does not apply to supplemental charges or coinsurance amounts as stated in the medicare select policy or certificate.

  (b) A statement or map providing a clear description of the service area.

  (c) A description of the grievance procedure to be used.

  (d) A description of the quality assurance program, including all of the following:

  (i) The formal organizational structure.

  (ii) The written criteria for selection, retention, and removal of network providers.

  (iii) The procedures for evaluating quality of care provided by network providers and the process to initiate corrective action if warranted.

  (e) A list and description, by specialty, of the network providers.

  (f) Copies of the written information proposed to be used by the insurer to comply with subsection (10).

  (g) Any other information requested by the commissioner.

  (7) A medicare select insurer shall file any proposed changes to the plan of operation, except for changes to the list of network providers, with the commissioner prior to implementing any changes. An updated list of network providers shall be filed with the commissioner at least quarterly. Changes shall be considered approved by the commissioner after 30 days unless specifically disapproved.

  (8) A medicare select policy or certificate shall not restrict payment for covered services provided by nonnetwork providers if the services are for symptoms requiring emergency care or are immediately required for an unforeseen illness, injury, or a condition and it is not reasonable to obtain such services through a network provider.

  (9) A medicare select policy or certificate shall provide payment for full coverage under the policy or certificate for covered services that are not available through network providers.

  (10) A medicare select insurer shall make full and fair disclosure in writing of the provisions, restrictions, and limitations of the medicare select policy or certificate to each applicant. This disclosure shall include at least all of the following:

  (a) An outline of coverage sufficient to permit the applicant to compare the coverage and premiums of the medicare select policy or certificate with other medicare supplement policies or certificates offered by the insurer or offered by other insurers.

  (b) A description, including address, phone number, and hours of operation, of the network providers, including primary care physicians, specialty physicians, hospitals, and other providers.

  (c) A description of the restricted network provisions, including payments for coinsurance and deductibles if providers other than network providers are utilized. Except to the extent specified in the policy or certificate, expenses incurred when using out-of-network providers do not count toward the out-of-pocket annual limit contained in plans K and L.

  (d) A description of coverage for emergency and urgently needed care and other out-of-service area coverage.

  (e) A description of limitations on referrals to restricted network providers and to other providers.

  (f) A description of the policyholder’s rights to purchase any other medicare supplement policy or certificate otherwise offered by the insurer.

  (g) A description of the medicare select insurer’s quality assurance program and grievance procedure.

  (11) Prior to the sale of a medicare select policy or certificate, a medicare select insurer shall obtain from the applicant a signed and dated form stating that the applicant has received the information provided pursuant to subsection (10) and that the applicant understands the restrictions of the medicare select policy or certificate.

  (12) A medicare select insurer shall have and use procedures for hearing complaints and resolving written grievances from subscribers. The procedures shall be aimed at mutual agreement for settlement and may include arbitration procedures. The grievance procedure shall be described in the policy and certificate and in the outline of coverage. At the time the policy or certificate is issued, the insurer shall provide detailed information to the policyholder describing how a grievance may be registered with the insurer. Grievances shall be considered in a timely manner and shall be transmitted to appropriate decision-makers who have authority to fully investigate the issue and take corrective action. If a grievance is found to be valid, corrective action shall be taken promptly. All concerned parties shall be notified about the results of a grievance. The insurer shall report no later than each March 31 to the commissioner regarding its grievance procedure. The report shall be in a format prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain the number of grievances filed in the past year and a summary of the subject, nature, and resolution of those grievances.

  (13) At the time of initial purchase, a medicare select insurer shall make available to each applicant for a medicare select policy or certificate the opportunity to purchase any medicare supplement policy or certificate otherwise offered by the insurer.

  (14) At the request of an individual insured under a medicare select policy or certificate, a medicare select insurer shall make available to the individual insured the opportunity to purchase a medicare supplement policy or certificate offered by the insurer that has comparable or lesser benefits and that does not contain a restricted network provision. The insurer shall make the policies or certificates available without requiring evidence of insurability after the medicare supplement policy or certificate has been in force for 6 months. For the purposes of this subsection, a medicare supplement policy or certificate shall be considered to have comparable or lesser benefits unless it contains 1 or more significant benefits not included in the medicare select policy or certificate being replaced. For the purposes of this subsection, a significant benefit means coverage for the medicare part A deductible, coverage for at-home recovery services, or coverage for part B excess charges.

  (15) Medicare select policies and certificates shall provide for continuation of coverage if the secretary of health and human services determines that medicare select policies and certificates issued pursuant to this section should be discontinued due to either the failure of the medicare select program to be reauthorized under law or its substantial amendment. Each medicare select insurer shall make available to each individual insured under a medicare select policy or certificate the opportunity to purchase any medicare supplement policy or certificate offered by the insurer that has comparable or lesser benefits and that does not contain a restricted network provision. The issuer shall make the policies and certificates available without requiring evidence of insurability. For the purposes of this subsection, a medicare supplement policy or certificate will be considered to have comparable or lesser benefits unless it contains 1 or more significant benefits not included in the medicare select policy or certificate being replaced. For the purposes of this subsection, a significant benefit means coverage for the medicare part A deductible, coverage for at-home recovery service, or coverage for part B excess charges.

  (16) A medicare select insurer shall comply with reasonable requests for data made by state or federal agencies, including the United States department of health and human services, for the purposes of evaluating the medicare select program.