WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                           Ch. 258

(2)     To be covered under a health benefit plan offered by a carrier, a small
employer shall:

(i) Elect to be covered under the plan;

(ii) Agree to make the required premium payments; and

(iii) Satisfy the other reasonable provisions of the plan as approved by
the Commissioner.

(3)     Any requirement used by a carrier in determining whether to provide
coverage to a small employer group, including requirements for minimum participation of
eligible employees, shall be applied uniformly among all small employers with the same
number of eligible employees applying for coverage or receiving coverage from the
carrier.

(4)     A carrier may only vary application of minimum participation of eligible
employees by the size of the small employer group.

(5)     A carrier may not require minimum employer contributions.

(6)      ANY BENEFITS ADDED TO THE STANDARD BENEFIT PLAN BY A
RIDER SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE STANDARD
BENEFIT PLAN ITSELF CONCERNING:

(I) GUARANTEED ISSUANCE;

(II) GUARANTEED RENEWAL;

(III) ADJUSTED COMMUNITY RATING;

(IV) THE PROHIBITION ON PRE EXISTING CONDITION

LIMITATIONS; AND

(V) ANY OTHER PROVISIONS THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES
ARE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(6) (I) ANY BENEFIT ADDED OFFERED IN ADDITION TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN THAT INCREASES ACCESS TO
CARE CHOICES OR LOWERS THE COST-SHARING ARRANGEMENT IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE
SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN,
INCLUDING:

1.        GUARANTEED ISSUANCE;

2.        GUARANTEED RENEWAL:

3.        ADJUSTED COMMUNITY RATING; AND

4.        THE PROHIBITION ON PREEXISTING CONDITION
LIMITATIONS.

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