§ 36-1162. Reinstatement into individual health plan coverage - Right to request - Time - Written notice.

A.  No Oklahoma resident activated for military service, and no spouse or any dependents of such a resident who become eligible for a federal government-sponsored health insurance program as a result of such activation, shall be denied reinstatement into the same individual coverage with the same health plan that such resident lapsed as a result of activation or becoming covered by the federal government-sponsored health insurance program.  Such resident will have the right to reinstatement in the same individual coverage without medical underwriting and in the same rating tier that the resident held prior to activation or becoming covered under the federal government-sponsored health insurance program, subject to payment of the current premium charged to other persons of the same age and gender that are covered under the same individual coverage.  Except in the case of birth or adoptions that occur during the period of activation, reinstatement must be into the same membership type, or a membership type covering fewer persons, as such resident held prior to lapsing the individual coverage, and at the same or higher deductible level.  The reinstatement rights shall not be available to an insured or dependents if the activated person is discharged from the military under other than honorable conditions.

B.  The health plan with which the reinstatement is being requested must receive a request for such reinstatement no later than thirty (30) days following the later of deactivation or loss of coverage under the federal government-sponsored health insurance program.  The health plan may request proof of loss and the timing of the loss of such government-funded coverage in order to determine eligibility for reinstatement into the individual coverage.  The effective date of the individual coverage will be the first of the month following receipt of the notice requesting reinstatement.

C.  All health plans must provide written notice to the policyholder of individual coverage of the rights described in subsection A of this section and amendments thereto.  In lieu of the inclusion of such notice in the individual coverage policy, an insurance company will satisfy the notification requirement by providing a single written notice either:

1.  To a policyholder enrolling into the individual coverage initially after the effective date of this act, in conjunction with the enrollment process; or

2.  By mailing written notice to policyholders whose coverage was effective prior to the effective date of this act no later than ninety (90) days following the effective date of this act.

Added by Laws 2006, c. 264, § 40, eff. July 1, 2006.