33-22-107. Premium increase restriction -- exception -- notice of rate increase and policy changes. - Montana Statutes

     33-22-107. Premium increase restriction -- exception -- notice of rate increase and policy changes. (1) An insurer or a health service corporation that issues or renews a policy, certificate, or membership contract covering a resident of this state may not increase a premium in an individual's or an individual's group disability insurance policy more frequently than once during a 12-month period unless failure to increase the premium more frequently than once during the 12-month period would:
     (a) place the insurer in violation of the laws of this state; or
     (b) cause the financial impairment of the insurer to the extent that further transaction of insurance by the insurer injures or is hazardous to its policyholders or to the public.
     (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a premium increase necessitated by a state or federal law, court decision, or rule adopted by an agency of competent jurisdiction of the state or federal government.
     (3) (a) Every health insurance issuer delivering or issuing for delivery group or individual health insurance coverage shall give a group policyholder at least 60 days' advance notice and an individual policyholder at least 45 days' advance notice of a change in rates or a change in terms or benefits.
     (b) A notice given under this subsection (3) must be delivered in the following manner:
     (i) it must be mailed to the policyholder's last-known address as shown by the records of the insurer; and
     (ii) if a health insurance issuer bills any certificate holder directly at the certificate holder's home address for premiums, the notice must be mailed by the health insurer directly to each certificate holder's last-known home address.
     (c) If the health insurance issuer fails to provide the notice required by this subsection (3), the coverage must remain in effect at the existing rate with the existing benefits until the full notice period has expired or until the effective date of the replacement coverage obtained by the insured, whichever occurs first.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 699, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 531, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 38, Ch. 380, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 384, L. 2003.