An insurer shall offer, on a onetime basis, in writing, to all existing policyholders that were issued a long-term care policy on or after February 8, 2006, the option to exchange their existing long-term care coverage for coverage that is intended to qualify under North Carolina’s Long-Term Care Partnership Program. The insurer shall provide notification of this onetime offer within 180 days from the date on which the company begins to offer partnership coverage in the State. The mandatory offer of an exchange shall only apply to products issued by the insurer that are comparable to the type of policy form, such as group policies and individual policies, and on the policy series that the company has certified as partnership qualified. This exchange may be subject to underwriting and premium adjustment. A policy received in an exchange after the effective date of North Carolina’s Long-Term Care Partnership Program is treated as newly issued and is eligible for qualified policy status. For purposes of applying the Medicaid rules relating to qualified long-term care partnership policies, the addition of a rider, endorsement, or change in schedule page for a policy may be treated as giving rise to an exchange. The effective date of the long-term care partnership policy shall be the date the policy was exchanged. (2010-68, s. 4.)