Title 27
Insurance

Chapter 18.2
Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies

R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-18.2-6

§ 27-18.2-6. Disclosure standards.

(a) In order to provide for full and fair disclosure in the sale of Medicare supplement policies, no Medicare supplement 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 director shall prescribe the format and content of the outline of coverage required by subsection (a) of this section. For the purposes of this section, “format” means style, arrangements, and overall appearance, including such items as the size, color, and prominence of type and arrangement of text and captions. The outline of coverage shall include:

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

(2) A statement of the renewal provisions, including any reservation by the issuer of a right to change premiums, and a disclosure of the existence of any automatic renewal premium increase based on the policyholder’s age; and

(3) 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 director may prescribe by regulation 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 director may require by regulation that the information brochure be provided to any prospective insureds eligible for Medicare concurrently with delivery of the outline of coverage. With respect to direct response insurance policies, the director may require by regulation that the prescribed brochure be provided upon request to any prospective insureds eligible for Medicare, but in no event later than the time of policy delivery.

(d) The director may adopt regulations for captions or notice requirements, determined to be in the public interest and designed to inform prospective insured that particular insurance coverage is not Medicare supplement coverage, for all accident and sickness insurance policies sold to persons eligible for Medicare other than:

(1) Medicare supplement policies; or

(2) Disability income policies.

(e) The director may adopt reasonable regulations to govern the full and fair disclosure of the information in connection with the replacement of accident and sickness policies, subscriber contracts or certificates by persons eligible for Medicare.

History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 631, § 2; P.L. 1989, ch. 428, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 445, § 4; P.L. 1993, ch. 180, § 12. P.L. 1996, ch. 190, § 1.