(A) Except as provided in this section, a health insurance issuer that provides individual health insurance coverage to an individual shall renew or continue in force such coverage at the option of the individual.
(B) A health insurance issuer may nonrenew or discontinue health insurance coverage of an individual in the individual market based only on one or more of the following:
(1) the individual has failed to pay premiums or contributions in accordance with the terms of the health insurance coverage or the issuer has not received timely premium payments;
(2) the individual has performed an act or practice that constitutes fraud or made an intentional misrepresentation of material fact under the terms of the coverage;
(3) the issuer is ceasing to offer coverage in the individual market in accordance with subsection (C) and applicable state law;
(4) with the approval of the director or his designee, in the case of a health insurance issuer that offers health insurance coverage in the market through a network plan, the individual no longer resides, lives, or works in the service area or in an area for which the issuer is authorized to do business but only if the coverage is terminated under this item uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals;
(5) with the approval of the director or his designee, in the case of health insurance coverage that is made available in the individual market only through one or more bona fide associations, the membership of the individual in the association, on the basis of which the coverage is provided, ceases but only if the coverage is terminated under this item uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals.
(C)(1) In any case in which an issuer decides to discontinue offering a particular type of health insurance coverage offered in the individual market, coverage of such type may be discontinued by the issuer only if the issuer:
(a) provides notice to each covered individual provided coverage of this type in the market of the discontinuation at least ninety days before the date of the discontinuation of the coverage;
(b) offers to each individual in the individual market provided coverage of this type, the option to purchase any other individual health insurance coverage currently being offered by the issuer for individuals in such market; and
(c) in exercising the option to discontinue coverage of this type and in offering the option of coverage under subitem (b), the issuer acts uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of enrolled individuals or individuals who may become eligible for the coverage.
(2)(a) Subject to subitem (c), in any case in which a health insurance issuer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market in this State, health insurance coverage may be discontinued by the issuer only if:
(i) the issuer provides notice to the director and to each individual of the discontinuation at least one hundred eighty days before the date of the expiration of the coverage; and
(ii) all health insurance issued or delivered for issuance in the State in the market is discontinued and coverage under the health insurance coverage in the market is not renewed.
(b) In the case of a discontinuation under subitem (a) in the individual market, the issuer may not provide for the issuance of any health insurance coverage in the market and this State during the five-year period beginning on the date of the discontinuation of the last health insurance coverage not so renewed.
(D) At the time of coverage renewal, a health insurance issuer may modify the health insurance coverage for a policy form offered to individuals in the individual market so long as the modification is consistent with state law and effective on a uniform basis among all individuals with that policy form.
(E) In applying this section in the case of health insurance coverage that is made available by a health insurance issuer in the individual market to individuals only through one or more associations, a reference to an "individual" is deemed to include a reference to such an association of which the individual is a member.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 5, Section 2.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 71 - Accident And Health Insurance
Section 38-71-10. Coverages which may be written by licensed accident and health insurers.
Section 38-71-30. Whole contract, including application, must appear in policy; oral applications.
Section 38-71-40. Effect of false statement in application.
Section 38-71-46. Diabetes Mellitus coverage in health insurance policies; diabetes education.
Section 38-71-50. Alteration of application.
Section 38-71-60. Certain acts do not constitute a waiver by insurer.
Section 38-71-70. Certain policies may conform to laws of other states.
Section 38-71-80. Construction of policy issued in violation of chapter.
Section 38-71-90. Penalty for violation of chapter.
Section 38-71-100. Policies exempt from chapter.
Section 38-71-125. Mastectomies; hospitalization requirements; early release provisions.
Section 38-71-140. Coverage of newborn children.
Section 38-71-143. Health plans must provide same coverage for children placed for adoption.
Section 38-71-160. When policy sold on direct response basis considered to be returned.
Section 38-71-170. Required provision in policies for conversion privileges for former spouses.
Section 38-71-190. Subrogation of insurer to insured's rights against third party.
Section 38-71-210. Health insurance policies to include chiropractic services.
Section 38-71-215. Dermatology referrals.
Section 38-71-238. Abortion coverage prohibitions; exceptions.
Section 38-71-240. Coverage required for cleft lip and palate; certain policies exempt.
Section 38-71-242. Specified disease insurance policies; payment of claims and benefits.
Section 38-71-243. Continuation of care; definitions; applicability; requirements.
Section 38-71-245. Prohibited grounds for denial of enrollment to child of health plan participant.
Section 38-71-246. Continuation of care; provider contract requirements.
Section 38-71-247. Continuation of care; plain language description requirement.
Section 38-71-255. Health insurer may not impose different requirements on state agency.
Section 38-71-260. Duties of health insurer of child to custodial parent.
Section 38-71-275. Insurance coverage for certain drugs not to be excluded from policy definitions.
Section 38-71-280. Autism spectrum disorder; coverage; eligibility for benefits.
Section 38-71-290. Mental health coverage; definitions; treatment requirements; exceptions
Section 38-71-315. Decrease of premium charges.
Section 38-71-320. Policies issued for delivery in another state.
Section 38-71-330. Form of policies.
Section 38-71-340. Required provisions.
Section 38-71-355. Dependent child; medically necessary leave of absence.
Section 38-71-360. Continuation of coverage for nonhandicapped dependent children.
Section 38-71-370. Optional provisions.
Section 38-71-410. Omission or modification of required or optional provisions.
Section 38-71-420. Placement of required and optional provisions in policy.
Section 38-71-430. Additional provisions may not make policy less favorable.
Section 38-71-510. Declaration of purpose.
Section 38-71-520. Definitions.
Section 38-71-540. Regulations establishing minimum standards for benefits.
Section 38-71-550. Outline of coverage required.
Section 38-71-560. Effect of use of simplified application form.
Section 38-71-610. Notice of premiums due required.
Section 38-71-620. Advance notice required for increase in premium.
Section 38-71-630. Acceptance of premium for period beyond expiration date of policy.
Section 38-71-640. Person with insurable interest may take out policy on insured.
Section 38-71-650. Right to transfer to policy of equal or lesser benefits with same insurer.
Section 38-71-670. Definitions.
Section 38-71-680. Application of Section 38-71-850(D).
Section 38-71-710. Definitions.
Section 38-71-735. Required provisions.
Section 38-71-740. Restrictions on mass-marketed insurance.
Section 38-71-770. Mandatory continuation privileges.
Section 38-71-785. Dependent child; medically necessary leave of absence.
Section 38-71-790. Payment of benefits.
Section 38-71-800. Hospital and medical expenses.
Section 38-71-810. Readjustment of rates or refunds or dividends.
Section 38-71-840. Definitions.
Section 38-71-910. Legislative intent.
Section 38-71-920. Definitions.
Section 38-71-930. Application of this subarticle.
Section 38-71-970. Insurer rating and renewal records; filing of certification; confidentiality.
Section 38-71-980. Suspension of premium rate restrictions upon request of certain insurers.
Section 38-71-990. Effective date of this subarticle.
Section 38-71-1010. "Blanket accident and health insurance" defined.
Section 38-71-1020. Requirements as to policies.
Section 38-71-1030. Individual applications and certificates not required.
Section 38-71-1040. Payment of benefits.
Section 38-71-1050. Legal liability of policyholders not affected.
Section 38-71-1110. "Franchise accident and health insurance" defined.
Section 38-71-1310. Short title.
Section 38-71-1320. Purpose and intent.
Section 38-71-1330. Definitions.
Section 38-71-1340. Application of article; group size for health group cooperative.
Section 38-71-1350. Premium rates; requirements.
Section 38-71-1355. Health group cooperative; powers and duties.
Section 38-71-1370. Applicability of certain code sections; late enrollees.
Section 38-71-1400. Election to become reinsuring insurer.
Section 38-71-1410. South Carolina Small Employer Insurer Reinsurance Program.
Section 38-71-1420. Advisory committee.
Section 38-71-1430. Annual public report.
Section 38-71-1440. Requirements upon small employer insurers.
Section 38-71-1445. Report on effectiveness of health group cooperatives.
Section 38-71-1450. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 38-71-1510. Short title.
Section 38-71-1520. Definitions.
Section 38-71-1540. Practice of discouraging use of 911 telephone system prohibited.
Section 38-71-1545. Exclusion of certain insurance policies.
Section 38-71-1550. Severability.
Section 38-71-1710. Short title.
Section 38-71-1720. Definitions.
Section 38-71-1750. Disclosures required of network plans.
Section 38-71-1760. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 38-71-1810. Pharmacy audit rights.
Section 38-71-1820. Appeals process; dismissal; copy of audit findings.
Section 38-71-1830. Recoupment.
Section 38-71-1840. Exemptions.
Section 38-71-1910. Short title.
Section 38-71-1920. Definitions.
Section 38-71-1930. Application of this article.
Section 38-71-1940. Notice of right to request a review; notice of adverse determination.
Section 38-71-1950. Requests for external review.
Section 38-71-1960. Exhaustion of internal appeal process.
Section 38-71-1970. Requests for external review.
Section 38-71-1980. Expedited external review.
Section 38-71-1990. External review decisions final; exceptions.
Section 38-71-2000. Approval of independent review organizations.
Section 38-71-2010. Standards for approval of independent review organizations.
Section 38-71-2020. Liability of independent review organizations and personnel.
Section 38-71-2030. External review; written records; reports.
Section 38-71-2040. Health carrier to pay for external review.
Section 38-71-2050. Health carrier to inform covered persons of rights related to external review.
Section 38-71-2060. Regulations.
Section 38-71-2110 to 38-71-2150. Repealed.
Section 38-71-2200. Definitions.
Section 38-71-2210. License requirement for pharmacy benefits managers.
Section 38-71-2230. Pharmacy benefits manager prohibited from taking certain actions.
Section 38-71-2240. Placement of drug on Maximum Allowable Cost List.