Section 33-43-1. Definitions

   As used in this chapter, the term:

   (1) "Applicant" means:

      (A) In the case of an individual medicare supplement policy or subscriber contract, the person who seeks to contract for insurance benefits; and

      (B) In the case of a group medicare supplement policy, the proposed certificate holder.

   (1.1) "Bankruptcy" means when a Medicare+Choice organization that is not an issuer has filed, or has had filed against it, a petition for declaration of bankruptcy and has ceased doing business in the state.

   (2) "Certificate" means any certificate delivered or issued for delivery in this state under a group medicare supplement policy.

   (3) "Certificate form" means the form on which the certificate is delivered or issued for delivery by the issuer.

   (3.1) "Continuous period of creditable coverage" means the period during which an individual was covered by creditable coverage if during the period of the coverage the individual had no breaks in coverage greater than 63 days.
      (3.2)(A) "Creditable coverage" means, with respect to an individual, coverage of the individual provided under any of the following:

         (i) A group health plan;

         (ii) Health insurance coverage;

         (iii) Part A or Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (medicare);

         (iv) Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid), other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under Section 1928;

         (v) Chapter 5 of Title 10 of the United States Code (CHAMPUS);

         (vi) A medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization;

         (vii) A state health benefits risk pool;

         (viii) A health plan offered under Chapter 89 of Title 5 of the United States Code (Federal Employees Health Benefits Program);

         (ix) A public health plan as defined in federal regulation; or

         (x) A health benefit plan under Section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. Section 2504(e)).

      (B) Creditable coverage shall not include one or more, or any combination of, the following:

         (i) Coverage only for accident or disability income insurance, or any combination thereof;

         (ii) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance;

         (iii) Liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance;

         (iv) Workers' compensation or similar insurance;

         (v) Automobile medical payment insurance;

         (vi) Credit only insurance;

         (vii) Coverage for on-site medical clinics; or

         (viii) Other similar insurance coverage, specified in the Code of Federal Regulations as of July 1, 2000, under which benefits for medical care are secondary or incidental to other insurance benefits.

      (C) Creditable coverage shall not include the following benefits if they are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance or are otherwise not an integral part of the plan:

         (i) Limited scope dental or vision benefits;

         (ii) Benefits for long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, community based care, or any combination thereof; or

         (iii) Such other similar, limited benefits as are specified in the Code of Federal Regulations as of July 1, 2000.

      (D) Creditable coverage shall not include the following benefits if offered as independent, noncoordinated benefits:

         (i) Coverage only for a specified disease or illness; or

         (ii) Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance.

      (E) Creditable coverage shall not include the following if offered as a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance:

         (i) Medicare supplemental health insurance as defined under Section 1882(g)(1) of the Social Security Act;

         (ii) Coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under Chapter 55 of Title 10 of the United States Code; or

         (iii) Similar supplemental coverage provided to coverage under a group health plan.

   (3.3) "Employee welfare benefit plan" means a plan, fund, or program of employee benefits as defined in 29 U.S.C. Section 1002 (Employee Retirement Income Security Act).

   (3.4) "Insolvency" means when an issuer, licensed to transact the business of insurance in this state, has had a final order of liquidation entered against it with a finding of insolvency by a court of competent jurisdiction in the issuer's state of domicile.

   (4) "Issuer" includes insurance companies, fraternal benefit societies, health care service plans, health maintenance organizations, and any other entity delivering or issuing for delivery in this state medicare supplement policies or certificates.

   (5) "Medicare" means the "Health Insurance for the Aged Act," Title XVIII of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1965, as then constituted or later amended.

   (6) "Medicare supplement policy" means a group or individual policy of accident and sickness insurance or a subscriber contract of hospital and medical service associations or health maintenance organizations, other than a policy issued pursuant to a contract under Section 1876 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395, et seq.) or an issued policy under a demonstration project specified in 42 U.S.C. Section 1395ss(g) (1), which is advertised, marketed, or designed primarily as a supplement to reimbursements under medicare for the hospital, medical, or surgical expenses of persons eligible for medicare.

   (6.1) "Medicare+Choice plan" means a plan of coverage for health benefits under medicare Part C as defined in P.L. 105-33, and includes:

      (A) Coordinated care plans which provide health care services, including but not limited to health maintenance organization plans (with or without a point-of-service option), plans offered by provider sponsored organizations, and preferred provider organization plans;

      (B) Medical savings account plans coupled with a contribution into a Medicare+Choice medical savings account; and

      (C) Medicare+Choice private fee-for-service plans.

   (7) "Policy form" means the form on which the policy is delivered or issued for delivery by the issuer.

   (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Code 1981, § 33-43-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1395, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 91, § 33; Ga. L. 1996, p. 705, § 17; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1246, § 6.