§ 58-54-25.  Disclosure standards.

(a) In order to provide for full and fair disclosure in the sale of policies, no policy or certificate shall be delivered in this State unless an outline of coverage is delivered to the applicant at the time application is made.

(b) The Commissioner shall prescribe the format and content of the outline of coverage required by subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this section, "format" means style, arrangement, and overall appearance, including such items as the size, color, and prominence of type and arrangement of text and captions. Such outline of coverage shall include:

(1) A description of the principal benefits and coverage provided in the policy;

(2) A statement of the exceptions, reductions, and limitations contained in the policy;

(3) A statement of the renewal provisions, including any reservation by the insurer of a right to change premiums; and

(4) A statement that the outline of coverage is a summary of the policy issued or applied for and that the policy should be consulted to determine governing contractual provisions.

(c) The Commissioner may prescribe by rule a standard form and the contents of an informational brochure for persons eligible for Medicare, which is intended to improve the buyer's ability to select the most appropriate coverage and improve the buyer's understanding of Medicare. Except in the case of direct response insurance policies, the Commissioner may require by rule that the information brochure be provided to any prospective insured eligible for Medicare concurrently with delivery of the outline of coverage. With respect to direct response insurance policies, the Commissioner may require by rule that the prescribed brochure be provided upon request to any prospective insured eligible for Medicare, but in no event later than the time of policy delivery.

(d) The Commissioner may adopt rules for captions or notice requirements, determined to be in the public interest and designed to inform prospective insureds that particular insurance coverages are not Medicare supplement coverages, for all accident and health insurance policies sold to persons eligible for Medicare, other than: Medicare supplement policies; disability income policies; basic, catastrophic, or major medical expense policies; or single premium, nonrenewable policies.

(e) The Commissioner may further adopt rules to govern the full and fair disclosure of the information in connection with the replacement of accident and health insurance policies, subscriber contracts, or certificates by persons eligible for Medicare.

(f) No insurer shall use attained age as a structure or methodology for its Medicare supplement insurance rates unless the structure or methodology is fully disclosed to the applicant at the time of application or to the insured at the time of delivery if the purchase is by mail order. All types of solicitation materials shall clearly indicate that the premiums are based on attained age, which means that those premiums will increase each year. The Commissioner shall prescribe by rule the format and content of the attained age rating disclosure notice. The notice shall include:

(1) A statement that attained age rating means that rates increase as the insured ages or by the age group in which the insured is.

(2) An illustration based on actual attained age that states the dollar amount of premium increase for the insured over a period of not less than 10 policy years and that displays the life expectancy of the insured at the beginning of the period.

(3) A statement that premiums for other Medicare supplement policies that are on issue age bases do not increase as the insured ages.

(4) A statement that other Medicare supplement policies that are on issue age bases should be compared to policies on attained age bases. (1989, c. 729, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 815, s. 2; 1998-211, s. 12.)