33-22-1813. Standards to ensure fair marketing. - Montana Statutes

     33-22-1813. Standards to ensure fair marketing. (1) Each small employer carrier shall actively market health benefit plan coverage, including the basic and standard health benefit plans, to eligible small employers in the state.
     (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), a small employer carrier or producer may not directly or indirectly engage in the following activities:
     (i) encouraging or directing small employers to refrain from filing an application for coverage with the small employer carrier because of the health status of the employer's employees or the claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location of the small employer;
     (ii) encouraging or directing small employers to seek coverage from another carrier because of the health status of the employer's employees or the claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location of the small employer.
     (b) The provisions of subsection (2)(a) do not apply with respect to information provided by a small employer carrier or producer to a small employer regarding the established geographic service area or a restricted network provision of a small employer carrier.
     (3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), a small employer carrier may not, directly or indirectly, enter into any contract, agreement, or arrangement with a producer that provides for or results in the compensation paid to a producer for the sale of a health benefit plan to be varied because of the health status of the employer's employees or the claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location of the small employer.
     (b) Subsection (3)(a) does not apply with respect to a compensation arrangement that provides compensation to a producer on the basis of the percentage of a premium, provided that the percentage may not vary because of the health status of the employer's employees or the claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic area of the small employer.
     (4) A small employer carrier shall provide reasonable compensation, as provided under the plan of operation of the program, to a producer, if any, for the sale of a basic or standard health benefit plan.
     (5) A small employer carrier may not terminate, fail to renew, or limit its contract or agreement of representation with a producer for any reason related to the health status of the employer's employees or the claims experience, industry, occupation, or geographic location of the small employers placed by the producer with the small employer carrier.
     (6) A small employer carrier or producer may not induce or otherwise encourage a small employer to separate or otherwise exclude an employee from health coverage or benefits provided in connection with the employee's employment.
     (7) Denial by a small employer carrier of health insurance coverage for a small employer must be in writing and must state the reason or reasons for the denial.
     (8) The commissioner may adopt rules setting forth additional standards to provide for the fair marketing and broad availability of health benefit plans to small employers in this state.
     (9) (a) A violation of this section by a small employer carrier or a producer is an unfair trade practice under 33-18-102.
     (b) If a small employer carrier enters into a contract, agreement, or other arrangement with an administrator who holds a certificate of registration pursuant to 33-17-603 to provide administrative, marketing, or other services related to the offering of health benefit plans to small employers in this state, the administrator is subject to this section as if the administrator were a small employer carrier.

     History: En. Sec. 35, Ch. 606, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 50, Ch. 472, L. 1999.