Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §2808-B, sub-§2, ¶G is enacted to read:

G.__A group health carrier shall file with the superintendent every rate, rating formula, classification of risks and every modification of any formula or classification that it proposes to use.

(1)__Every such filing must state the effective date of the filing.__Every such filing must be made not less than 60 days in advance of the stated effective date, unless the 60-day requirement is waived by the superintendent, and the effective date may be suspended by the superintendent for a period of time not to exceed 30 days.__If a rate filing is made that requires a public hearing, the superintendent may suspend the effective date for a period of time not to exceed 30 days from the date the carrier satisfactorily responds to any reasonable discovery requests.

(2)__A rate filing and all supporting information are public records within the meaning of Title 1, section 402, subsection 3 and become part of the official record of any hearing held on the rate filing.

(3)__When a rate filing under this paragraph is not accompanied by the information upon which the insurer supports the filing, the superintendent shall require the insurer to furnish the information upon which it supports the filing.

Notwithstanding this paragraph, rates for group Medicare supplement, nursing home care or long-term care insurance contracts must be filed in accordance with section 2736.

SUMMARY

Under current law, rate filings for nongroup health insurance are public records without exception. This law extends that requirement to small group health plans and establishes that the rate filings are public records without exception in order to better inform policyholders and the public about the health insurance rates.