(a)        In General. – Except as provided in this section, a health insurer that provides individual health insurance coverage to an individual shall renew or continue in force the coverage at the option of the individual.

(b)        General Exceptions. – A health insurer may nonrenew or discontinue health insurance coverage of an individual in the individual market based only on one or more of the following:

(1)        Nonpayment of premiums. – The individual has failed to pay premiums or contributions in accordance with the terms of the health insurance coverage or the health insurer has not received timely premium payments.

(2)        Fraud. – The individual has performed an act or practice that constitutes fraud or made an intentional misrepresentation of material fact under the terms of the coverage.

(3)        Termination of plan. – The health insurer is ceasing to offer coverage in the individual market in accordance with subsection (c) of this section and this Chapter.

(4)        Movement outside service area. – In the case of a health insurer that offers health insurance coverage in the market through a network plan, the individual no longer resides, lives, or works in the service area (or in an area for which the health insurer is authorized to do business) but only if the coverage is terminated under this subdivision uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals.

(5)        Association membership ceases. – In the case of health insurance coverage that is made available in the individual market only through one or more bona fide associations, the membership of the individual in the association (on the basis of which the coverage is provided) ceases but only if the coverage is terminated under this subdivision uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals.

(c)        Requirements for Uniform Termination of Coverage. –

(1)        Particular type of coverage not offered. – In any case in which a health insurer decides to discontinue offering a particular type of health insurance coverage offered in the individual market, coverage of the type may be discontinued by the health insurer only if:

a.         The health insurer provides notice, notwithstanding N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-51-20 or N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-65-60(c)(3)b., to each covered individual provided coverage of this type in the market of the discontinuation at least 90 days before the date of the discontinuation of the coverage;

b.         The health insurer offers to each individual in the individual market provided coverage of this type, the option to purchase any other individual health insurance coverage currently being offered by the health insurer for individuals in the market; and

c.         In exercising the option to discontinue coverage of this type and in offering the option of coverage under sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision, the health insurer acts uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of enrolled individuals or individuals who may become eligible for the coverage.

(2)        Discontinuance of all coverage. –

a.         In general. – Subject to sub-subdivision c. of this subdivision, in any case in which a health insurer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market in this State, health insurance coverage may be discontinued by the health insurer only if: (i) the health insurer provides notice to the Commissioner and to each individual of the discontinuation at least 180 days before the date of the expiration of the coverage, and (ii) all health insurance coverage issued or delivered for issuance in this State in the market is discontinued and the health insurance coverage in the market is not renewed.

b.         Prohibition on market reentry. – In the case of a discontinuation under sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision in the individual market, the health insurer shall not provide for the issuance of any health insurance coverage in the market and this State during the five-year period beginning on the date of the discontinuation of the last health insurance coverage not so renewed.

(d)       Exception for Uniform Modification of Coverage. – At the time of coverage renewal, a health insurer may modify the health insurance coverage for a policy form offered to individuals in the individual market as long as the modification is consistent with State law and effective on a uniform basis among all individuals with that policy form.

(e)        Application to Coverage Offered Only Through Associations. – In applying this section in the case of health insurance coverage that is made available by a health insurer in the individual market to individuals only through one or more associations, a reference to an “individual” is deemed to include a reference to the association of which the individual is a member. (1997-259, s. 1(c).)