NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF INSURANCE The Division of Insurance proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 3 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with health insurance marketed as medicare supplements to comply with the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 1395ss, as amended by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, so that the state may retain full authority to set certain standards for medicare supplemental insurance, as follows: 1) 3 AAC 28.420 is proposed to be repealed as the substance is addressed in other sections. 2) 3 AAC 28.440 is proposed to be amended to add reference to a proposed new section. 3) 3 AAC 28.450 is proposed to be amended to refer to medicare supplement plans issued before 7/1/1992 as pre-standardized and to update cost-sharing terms. 4) 3 AAC 28.453 is proposed to be repealed and readopted to address the minimum benefit standards for 1990 standardized plans issued on or after 7/1/1992 and before 6/1/2010. 5) 3 AAC 28.454 is proposed to be adopted to address the minimum benefit standards for 2010 standardized plans issued on or after 6/1/2010. 6) 3 AAC 28.455 is proposed to be repealed and readopted to address the benefits standards for 1990 standardized plans issued on or after 7/1/1992 and before 6/1/2010. 7) 3 AAC 28.456 is proposed to be adopted to address the benefits standards for 2010 standardized plans issued on or after 6/1/2010. 8) 3 AAC 28.490 is proposed to be amended to make technical changes and to update the outlines of coverage to comply with new federal law, including the addition of outlines for the new benefit plans described in 3 AAC 28.454 and 3 AAC 28.456. 9) 3 AAC 28.510 is proposed to be amended to add definitions of the pre-standardized plans, the 1990 standardized plans, and the 2010 standardized plans. You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed action, by submitting written comments to the Division of Insurance; Attention: Katie Campbell; P.O. Box 110805; Juneau, AK 99811-0805 or e-mail to katie.campbell@alaska.gov. The comments must by received no later than 5:00 p.m., Alaska Daylight Time, June 29, 2009. Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on Monday, June 22, 2009 in the Division of Insurance Conference Room, Suite 1550, at the Atwood Building, 550 West Seventh Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska and by teleconference from the DCED Conference Room C, 333 Willoughby Street, Ninth Floor, Juneau, Alaska. The hearing will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., ADT, and might be extended to accommodate those present before 10:30 a.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in the process, please contact Barbara Karl at (907) 269-7900 or TDD (907) 465-5437 no later than June 17, 2009 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact the Division of Insurance by telephoning (907) 269-7900 in Anchorage or (907) 465-2515 in Juneau, or via the Internet by going to http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/insurance/notices/notices.htm#proposed. After the public comment period ends, the Division of Insurance will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED. Statutory Authority: AS 21.06.090, AS 21.42.130, and AS 21.89.060 Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 21.42.130 and AS 21.89.060. Fiscal Information: This action is not expected to require an increased appropriation. DATE: May 19, 2009.
Linda S. Hall Director of Insurance