A. A prepaid dental plan organization shall maintain on deposit with the state treasurer through the superintendent a surety bond guaranteeing services under the plan, or cash or securities eligible for investments of capital funds of health insurers under N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 59A, Article 9, in the following amounts depending on the number of members entitled to dental care services pursuant to contracts issued by the plan:

Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 59A-48-6

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • membership coverage: means any certificate or contract issued to a member setting out the dental coverage to which such member is entitled. See New Mexico Statutes 59A-48-2
  • prepaid dental plan: means any contractual arrangement whereby any prepaid dental plan organization undertakes to provide directly or to arrange for prepaid dental services and to pay or make reimbursement for any remaining portion of such prepaid dental services on a prepaid basis through insurance or otherwise. See New Mexico Statutes 59A-48-2
  • prepaid dental plan organization: means any person who undertakes to conduct one or more prepaid dental plans providing only dental services. See New Mexico Statutes 59A-48-2

Number of Members                                     Deposit 2,500 or less                                                 $25,000 2,501 – 5,000                                                 30,000 5,001 – 7,500                                                 40,000 7,501 – 10,000                                             50,000 10,001 – 15,000                                             75,000 15,001 – 20,000                                             100,000 20,001 – 25,000                                             125,000 25,001 – 30,000                                             150,000 30,001 – 40,000                                             175,000 40,001 and above                                         200,000 B. The deposit prescribed by Subsection A of this section shall be held by the state treasurer in trust for the benefit and protection of persons covered by a prepaid dental plan.

C. Any securities within the description of Subsection A of this section, with the approval of the superintendent may be exchanged for similar securities or cash of equal amount. Interest on securities deposited shall be payable to the prepaid dental plan organization depositing such securities.

D. An unpaid final judgment arising from a membership coverage shall be a lien on the deposit described in Subsection A of this section, subject to execution after thirty days from the entry of final judgment. If the deposit is reduced, it shall be replenished within ninety days by the prepaid dental plan organization.

E. Upon liquidation or dissolution of a prepaid dental plan organization and the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any balance remaining of the cash or securities deposit prescribed in Subsection A of this section, together with any other assets of the prepaid dental plan organization, shall be returned by the superintendent to the prepaid dental plan organization.

F. The deposit prescribed by Subsection A of this section shall not apply with respect to a prepaid dental plan organization which is funded by the federal, state or a municipal government or any political subdivision or body to the extent and for such period of time that the prepaid dental plan organization can demonstrate to the superintendent the presence of operational commitments from such sources equivalent to such deposit.