SECTION 365:10-5-150. Statement of purpose

(a)   This Part is intended to implement the provisions of the Small Employer Health Insurance Reform Act. The general purposes of the Act and this Part are to provide for the availability of health insurance coverage to small employers, regardless of their health status or claims experience; to regulate insurer rating practices and establish limits on differences in rates between health benefit plans; to ensure renewability of coverage; to establish limitations on underwriting practices, eligibility requirements and the use of preexisting condition exclusions; to provide for development of "basic" and "standard" health insurance plans to be offered to all small employers; to direct the basis of market competition away from risk selection and toward the efficient management of health care; and to improve the overall fairness and efficiency of the small group health insurance market.

(b)   The Act and this Part are intended to promote broader spreading of risk in the small employer marketplace. The Act and Part are intended to regulate all health benefit plans sold to small employers, whether sold directly or through associations or other groupings of small employers. Carriers that provide health benefit plans to small employers are intended to be subject to all of the provisions of the Act and this Part.

[Source: Added at 12 Ok Reg 3137, eff 7-31-95; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1254, eff 7-14-12]