Montana Code 33-22-1802. Purpose

33-22-1802. Purpose. (1) This part must be interpreted and construed to effectuate the following express legislative purposes:

Health insurance coverage: means benefits consisting of medical care, including items and services paid for as medical care, that are provided directly, through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise, under a policy, certificate, membership contract, or health care services agreement offered by a health insurance issuer. See Montana Code 33-22-140
Small employer: means a person, firm, corporation, partnership, or bona fide association that is actively engaged in business and that, with respect to a calendar year and a plan year, employed at least two but not more than 50 eligible employees during the preceding calendar year and employed at least two employees on the first day of the plan year. See Montana Code 33-22-1803

(a)to promote the availability of health insurance coverage to small employers regardless of health status or claims experience;

(b)to prevent abusive rating practices;

(c)to require disclosure of rating practices to purchasers;

(d)to establish rules regarding renewability of coverage;

(e)to establish limitations on the use of preexisting condition exclusions;

(f)to provide for the development of basic and standard health benefit plans to be offered to all small employers;

(g)to provide for the establishment of a reinsurance program; and

(h)to improve the overall fairness and efficiency of the small employer health insurance market.

(2)This part is not intended to provide a comprehensive solution to the problem of affordability of health care or health insurance.