Ch. 258

1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(II) ANY BENEFIT ADDED OFFERED IN ADDITION TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN THAT INCREASES THE
NUMBER TYPE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE OR THE FREQUENCY OF SERVICES SHALL
BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE. COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD
HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN INCLUDING:

1.        GUARANTEED RENEWAL;                                       

2.        ADJUSTED COMMUNITY RATING; AND

3. THE PROHIBITION ON PREEXISTING CONDITION

LIMITATIONS.

(III)    1. FOR ANY BENEFIT ADDED OFFERED IN ADDITION TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I) (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH A CARRIER SHALL ACCEPT OR
REJECT THE ENTIRE GROUP'S APPLICATION FOR THE BENEFIT.

2. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROHIBIT A CARRIER FROM
OFFERING ANY BENEFIT ADDED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD. BENEFIT
PLAN SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH(II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH IF
THE COMMISSIONER FINDS THAT THE ADDED BENEFIT WILL BE SOLD BY A CARRIER
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD BENEFIT PLAN IN A
MANNER DESIGNED TO PROMOTE RISK SELECTION OR UNDERWRITING PRACTICES
OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY THIS SUBTITLE.

(IV)    THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY SUPPLEMENTAL
INSURANCE POLICIES IDENTIFIED IN § 698(H)(2)(I) THROUGH (X) OF THIS ARTICLE.

(e) (1) To sell health benefit plans to small employers in the State, a carrier
shall file its proposed small employer health benefit plans with the Commissioner on or
before [May 1, 1994] THE DATE DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSIONER.

(2) Unless the Commissioner has previously disapproved its use, the
carrier's health benefit plans for small employers will be deemed approved 60 days after
filing with the Commissioner.

706.

(a) (1) A carrier shall elect to become a risk-assuming carrier or a reinsuring

carrier.

(2)      An election [to become a reinsuring carrier] under this subsection shall
be submitted to the Commissioner on a form and in a manner required by the
Commissioner by [September 1, 1994] JULY 1, 1994.

(3)      The notification of a risk-assuming carrier shall include an. appropriate
opinion by an independent qualified actuary that the risk assuming carrier is able to
assume and manage the risk of enrolling small employer groups without the protection of
the Pool.

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