House Bill 669

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 83-9-217, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS ON INSURERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE RISK POOL ASSOCIATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 83-9-217, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

83-9-217. (1) For the purpose of providing the funds necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the association, the board of directors shall assess the member insurers at such time and for such amounts as the board finds necessary. Assessments shall be due not less than thirty (30) days after prior written notice to the member insurers and shall accrue interest at twelve percent (12%) per annum on and after the due date.

(2) Each insurer shall be assessed an amount not to exceed Three Dollars ($3.00) per covered person insured or reinsured by each insurer per month. There shall not be such assessment on any insurer on policies or contracts insuring federal or state employees.

(3) The board shall make reasonable efforts designed to ensure that each covered person is counted only once with respect to any assessment. For that purpose, the board shall require each insurer that obtains excess or stoploss insurance to include in its count of covered persons all individuals whose coverage is insured (including by way of excess or stoploss coverage) in whole or part. The board shall allow a reinsurer to exclude from its number of covered persons those who have been counted by the primary insurer or by the primary reinsurer or primary excess or stoploss insurer for the purpose of determining its assessment under this subsection.

(4) Each insurer's assessment may be verified by the board based on annual statements and other reports deemed to be necessary by the board. The board may use any reasonable method of estimating the number of covered persons of an insurer if the specific number is unknown.

(5) If assessments and other receipts by the association, board or administering insurer exceed the actual losses and administrative expenses of the plan, the excess shall be held at interest and used by the board to offset future losses or to reduce plan premiums.

As used in this subsection, the term "future losses" includes reserves for claims incurred but not reported.

(6) The commissioner may suspend or revoke, after notice and hearing, the certificate of authority to transact insurance in this state of any member insurer which fails to pay an assessment. As an alternative, the commissioner may levy a forfeiture on any member insurer which fails to pay an assessment when due. Such forfeiture shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the unpaid assessment per month, but no forfeiture shall be less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.