Md. Code Regs. 31.14.01.12

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 31.14.01.12 - Requirement To Offer Inflation Protection

A. An insurer issuing a long-term care insurance policy shall offer the applicant for the policy the option to purchase a policy that provides for benefit levels to increase at a rate not less than 5 percent compounded annually.

B. Instead of the requirement of §A of this regulation, the insurer may offer a policy that guarantees the policyholder the right to increase periodically benefit levels without providing evidence of insurability of health status as long as the option for the preceding period has not been declined, with the amount of the additional benefit being not less than the difference between the existing policy benefit and the amount of the benefit which would have been payable if the policy provided the option described in §A of this regulation.

C. Instead of the requirement of §A of this regulation, the insurer may offer a policy that provides a specified percentage, not less than 50 percent, of actual and reasonable charges and does not include a maximum specified indemnity amount or limit.

D. In a policy issued to an employer-employee group, the offer required in §A, B, or C of this regulation shall be made to the group policyholder. In a policy issued to any other group, the offer shall be made to each proposed certificate holder.

E. The offer in §A of this regulation may not be required of life insurance policies or riders on life insurance policies containing accelerated death benefits for long-term care.

F. In connection with the offer to provide inflation protection, the insurer shall provide the applicant with:

(1) A graphic comparison and a table illustrating for at least the first 20 policy years the benefits or the reasonably anticipated benefits which would be available if the inflation protection is purchased, in comparison with a policy which does not provide inflation protection; and

(2) Any expected premium increases or additional premiums to pay for automatic or optional benefit increases.

G. The initial premium for including the inflation protection provision in the policy shall be calculated on the basis of a level premium for the duration of the policy.

H. Inflation protection benefit increases under a policy that contains inflation protection benefits shall continue without regard to an insured's age, claim status, or claim history, or the length of time the individual has been insured under the policy.

I. Disclosure of Premium in Offer of Inflation Protection.

(1) An offer of inflation protection that provides for automatic benefit increases shall include an offer of a premium which the insurer expects to remain constant.

(2) The offer described in §I(1) of this regulation shall disclose in a conspicuous manner that the premium may change in the future unless the premium is guaranteed to remain constant.

J. Rejection of Inflation Protection.

(1) Inflation protection as provided in §A of this regulation shall be included in a long-term care insurance policy unless an insurer obtains a rejection of inflation protection signed by the policyholder as required in this section.

(2) The rejection described in §J(1) of this regulation may be either in the application or on a separate form.

(3) The rejection required by this section shall be considered a part of the application and shall state:

"I have reviewed the outline of coverage and the graphs that compare the benefits and premiums of this policy with and without inflation protection. Specifically, I have reviewed Plans (insert names or descriptions of plans), and I reject inflation protection."

Md. Code Regs. 31.14.01.12