1999 Minnesota Statutes

     62L.055 Small employer alternative benefit plans; pilot 
  project. 

    (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other 
 law to the contrary, the commissioner of commerce shall develop 
 a pilot project by January 1, 2000, to authorize health carriers 
 to offer alternative health benefit plans to small employers if 
 the following requirements are satisfied: 

    (1) the health carrier is assessed less than three percent 
 of the total amount assessed by the Minnesota comprehensive 
 health association; 

    (2) the health plans must be offered in compliance with 
 this chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this section; 

    (3) the health plans to be offered must be designed to 
 enable employers and covered persons to better manage costs and 
 coverage options through the use of copays, deductibles, and 
 other cost-sharing arrangements; 

    (4) the health plans must be issued and administered in 
 compliance with sections 62E.141; 62L.03, subdivision 6; and 
 62L.12, subdivisions 3 and 4, relating to prohibitions against 
 enrolling in the Minnesota comprehensive health association 
 persons eligible for employer group coverage; 

    (5) the health plans must meet a 71 percent loss ratio for 
 small employers with fewer than ten employees, and a 75 percent 
 loss ratio for all other plans; 

    (6) the health plans may alter or eliminate coverages that 
 would otherwise be required by law, other than the requirement 
 that care provided for covered services by osteopaths, 
 optometrists, and chiropractors, or registered nurses meeting 
 the requirements of section 62A.15, subdivision 3a, be 
 reimbursed on a nondiscriminatory basis; and 

    (7) each health plan must be approved by the commissioner 
 of commerce. 

    (b) The definitions in section 62L.02 apply to this section 
 as modified by this section. 

    (c) This section expires August 1, 2003. 

    HIST: 1999 c 181 s 4