Section 284-83-045 - Prohibition against post-claims underwriting(1) All applications for long-term care insurance policies or certificates except those that are guaranteed issue must contain clear and unambiguous questions designed to ascertain the health condition of the applicant.(2)(a) If an application for long-term care insurance includes a question that asks whether the applicant has had medication prescribed by a physician, it must also ask the applicant to list the prescribed medications.(b) If the medications listed in the application were known by the issuer, or should have been known by the issuer at the time of application, to be directly related to a medical condition for which coverage would otherwise be denied, then the policy or certificate cannot be rescinded based on that condition.(3) Except for policies or certificates which are guaranteed issue: (a) The following language must be set out conspicuously and in close conjunction with the applicant's signature block on the application for a long-term care insurance policy or certificate: "Caution: If your answers on this application are incorrect or untrue, [company] has the right to deny benefits or rescind your policy."
(b) The following language, or language substantially similar to the following, must be set out conspicuously on every long-term care insurance policy or certificate at the time of delivery: "Caution: The issuance of this long-term care insurance [policy] [certificate] is based upon your responses to the questions on your application. A copy of your [application] [enrollment form] [is enclosed] [was retained by you when you applied]. If your answers are incorrect or untrue, the company has the right to deny benefits or rescind your policy. The best time to clear up any questions is now, before a claim arises! If, for any reason, any of your answers are incorrect, contact the company at this address: [Insert address]"
(c) Prior to issuance of a long-term care policy or certificate to an applicant age eighty or older, the issuer must obtain one of the following: (i) A report of a physical examination;(ii) An assessment of functional capacity;(iii) An attending physician's statement; or(iv) Copies of the applicant's medical records.(4) A copy of the completed application or enrollment form (whichever is applicable) must be delivered to the insured no later than at the time of delivery of the policy or certificate unless it was retained by the applicant at the time of application.(5) Every issuer or other entity selling or issuing long-term care insurance benefits must maintain a record of all policy or certificate rescissions, both state and countrywide, except those that the insured voluntarily requested, and must annually furnish this information to the commissioner. The format is prescribed by the National Association Of Insurance Commissioners, and is set forth in WAC 284-83-165.Wash. Admin. Code § 284-83-045
Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.83.070, 48.83.110, 48.83.120, 48.83.130(1), and 48.83.140(4)(a). 08-24-019 (Matter No. R 2008-09), § 284-83-045, filed 11/24/08, effective 12/25/08.
Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency.