S.B. 843

VETOES

(C)     (1) A CARRIER MAY ELECT TO REDUCE THE PERIOD OF ANY
PREEXISTING CONDITION PROVISION BASED ON COVERAGE OF BENEFITS WITHIN
ANY CLASS OR CATEGORY OF BENEFITS SPECIFIED BY THE SECRETARY BY
REGULATION.

(2)      ANY ELECTION MADE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE ON A
UNIFORM BASIS FOR ALL COVERED INDIVIDUALS.

(3)      A CARRIER THAT MAKES AN ELECTION UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL
COUNT A PERIOD OF CREDITABLE COVERAGE WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLASS OR
CATEGORY OF BENEFITS IF ANY LEVEL OF BENEFITS IS COVERED WITHIN THAT
CLASS OR CATEGORY.

(D)     A CARRIER THAT MAKES AN ELECTION UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS

SECTION SHALL:

(1)      PROMINENTLY STATE IN ANY DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
CONCERNING THE COVERAGE, AND TO EACH EMPLOYER AT THE TIME OF THE
OFFER OR SALE OF THE COVERAGE, THAT THE CARRIER HAS MADE THIS ELECTION;
AND

(2)      INCLUDE IN THE STATEMENT A DESCRIPTION OF THE EFFECT OF
THE ELECTION ON THE MEMBER OR SUBSCRIBER.

15-1405.

AN INDIVIDUAL SHALL ESTABLISH THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERIOD OF CREDITABLE
COVERAGE BY PRESENTING THE CERTIFICATE DESCRIBED IN § 15-1403 OF THIS

SUBTITLE.

15-1406.

(A)     A CARRIER MAY NOT ESTABLISH RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY OF AN
INDIVIDUAL TO ENROLL UNDER A GROUP HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN BASED ON ANY
HEALTH STATUS-RELATED FACTOR.

(B)     SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT:

(1)      REQUIRE A CARRIER TO PROVIDE PARTICULAR BENEFITS OTHER
THAN THOSE PROVIDED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PARTICULAR HEALTH BENEFIT
PLAN; OR

(2)      PREVENT A CARRIER FROM ESTABLISHING LIMITATIONS OR
RESTRICTIONS ON THE AMOUNT, LEVEL, EXTENT, OR NATURE OF THE BENEFITS OR
COVERAGE FOR SIMILARLY SITUATED INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN THE HEALTH
BENEFIT PLAN.

(C)     RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY TO ENROLL UNDER A PLAN INCLUDES RULES
DEFINING ANY APPLICABLE WAITING PERIODS FOR ENROLLMENT.

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