23-98-107. Disclosure requirements for minimum basic benefit policies.

23-98-107. Disclosure requirements for minimum basic benefit policies. (a) Before any insurer issues a minimum basic benefit policy, it shall obtain from the prospective insured a signed, written statement in a form approved by the Insurance Commissioner in which the prospective insured: (1) Certifies as to eligibility for coverage under the minimum basic benefit policy; (2) Acknowledges the limited nature of the coverage provided and an understanding of the managed care and cost control features of the minimum basic benefit policy; (3) Acknowledges that if misrepresentations are made regarding the insured's eligibility for coverage under a minimum basic benefit policy, then the person making the misrepresentations shall forfeit coverage provided by the minimum basic benefit policy; and (4) Acknowledges that the prospective insured, at the time of application for the minimum basic benefit policy, was offered the opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage which would have included all mandated or mandated optional benefits required by Arkansas law and that the prospective insured rejected such coverage. (b) A copy of the written statement shall be provided to the prospective insured no later than at the time of minimum basic benefit policy delivery, and the original of the written statement shall be retained by the insurer for the longer of either the period of time in which the minimum basic benefit policy remains in effect or five (5) years. (c) At the time coverage under a minimum basic benefit policy shall take effect for an insured, the insurer shall provide the insured with a written disclosure statement containing such information as the commissioner shall require and in a form approved by the commissioner. The disclosure statement shall be separate from the insurance policy or evidence of coverage provided to the insured. The disclosure statement shall contain at least the following information: (1) An explanation of those mandated or mandated optional benefits not covered by the minimum basic benefit policy but which would otherwise be required to be provided under Arkansas law; (2) An explanation of the managed care and cost control features of the minimum basic benefit policy, along with all appropriate mailing addresses and telephone numbers to be utilized by the insured in seeking information or authorization, as well as a list of any preferred providers then contracting with the insurer, and an explanation of the obligations of the providers and the insured with regard to services determined not to be medically necessary; and (3) An explanation of the primary and preventive care features of the minimum basic benefit policy. (d) Any material statement made by an applicant for coverage under a minimum basic benefit policy which falsely certifies as to the applicant's eligibility for coverage under a minimum basic benefit policy shall serve as the basis for termination of coverage under any minimum basic benefit policy issued to the applicant.