Section 284-54-253 - Unintentional lapse The purpose of this section is to protect insureds from unintentional lapse by establishing standards for notification of a designee to receive notice of lapse for nonpayment of premiums at least thirty days prior to the termination of coverage and to provide for a limited right to reinstatement of coverage unintentionally lapsed by a person with a cognitive impairment or loss of functional capacity. These are minimum standards and do not prevent an insurer from including benefits more favorable to the insured. This section applies to every insurer providing long-term care coverage to a resident of this state, which coverage is issued for delivery or renewed on or after January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2008.
(1) Every insurer shall permit an insured to designate at least one additional person to receive notice of lapse or termination for nonpayment of premium, if the premium is not paid on or before its due date. The designation shall include the designee's full name and home address. (a) The notice shall provide that the contract or certificate will not lapse until at least thirty days after the issuer sends the notice to the insured's designee. (i) Issuers must be able to show: (A) Proof that they produced the notice;(B) Proof that they sent the notice;(C) The name and address of the person or persons to whom they sent the notice. The address may consist of either: (I) A physical mailing address; or(II) An electronic mailing address for delivery by electronic means under the requirements of RCW 48.185.005.(D) The date that they sent the notice.(ii) Upon request of the commissioner, to verify that they sent the notice, issuers must be able to provide: (A) An attestation from the person who sent the notice or supervised sending the notice; or(B) Proof of sending the notice, which regardless of delivery method, may consist of, but is not limited to a confirmation document that shows the date the issuer mailed the item, the name and address of the insured, and the lapse des-ignee if the insured has named a lapse designee for the policy. Delivery of the notice may occur using one of these or similar methods:(I) Certified mail, which may be proven by obtaining a certificate of mailing from the United States Postal Service;(II) A commercial delivery service;(III) First class United States mail, postage prepaid; or(IV) Proof of delivery by electronic means under the requirements of RCW 48.185.005.(iii) If the insured has an insurance producer of record, then the issuer must also provide notice to the insured's producer of record within seventy-two hours after the issuer sends the notice to the insured and to the lapse designee, if the insured has named a lapse designee for the policy. In sending this notice, issuers must comply with the mailing requirements in (a)(ii) of this subsection.(iv) An issuer may not give notice until thirty days after a premium is due and unpaid. Notice is deemed to have been given as of five days after the date that the issuer sent the notice.(v) Upon the request of the commissioner, issuers must be able to demonstrate that they use due diligence to attempt to locate policyholders or named lapse designees when they receive notification of nondelivery of lapse notices.(b) Where a policyholder or certificate holder pays premium through a payroll or pension deduction plan, the insurer shall permit the insured to designate a person to receive notice of lapse or termination for nonpayment of premium within sixty days after the insured is no longer on such a premium payment plan. The application or enrollment form for contracts or certificates where premium will be paid through a payroll or pension deduction plan shall clearly indicate the payment plan selected by the applicant.(c) The insurer shall offer in writing an opportunity to each insured to change the lapse designee, or update the information concerning the lapse designee, no less frequently than once a year.(i) Issuers must print this notice in not less than twelve point type either: (A) On the front side of the first page of the billing statement; or(B) On a separate document that is not printed on the billing statement.(ii) If the insured has named a lapse designee for the account, then the issuer must print on the notice the name and contact information that the issuer has on record for the lapse designee.(2) Every insurer shall provide a limited right to reinstate coverage in the event of lapse or termination for nonpayment of premium, if the insurer is provided proof of the insured's cognitive impairment or loss of functional capacity and reinstatement is requested within the five months after the policy lapsed or terminated due to nonpayment of premium. (a) The standard of proof of cognitive impairment or loss of functional capacity shall be no more restrictive than the benefit eligibility criteria for cognitive impairment or loss of functional capacity contained in the contract or certificate.(b) Current good health of the insured shall not be required for reinstatement if the request otherwise meets the requirements of this section.(3) An insurer shall permit an insured to waive the right to designate an additional person to receive notice of lapse or termination for nonpayment of premium. (a) The waiver shall be in writing, and shall be dated and signed by the applicant or insured.(b) No less frequently than once in every twenty-four months, the insured shall be permitted to revoke this waiver and to name a designee.(4) Designation by the insured to receive notice of lapse or termination for nonpayment of premium does not constitute acceptance of any liability on the part of the designee for services provided to the insured or applicant.Wash. Admin. Code § 284-54-253
Amended by WSR 17-03-089, Filed 1/13/2017, effective 7/1/2017Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.84.030 and 48.84.050. 95-19-028 (Order R 95-5), § 284-54-253, filed 9/11/95, effective 10/12/95.