(215 ILCS 97/50)

Sec. 50. Guaranteed renewability of individual health insurance coverage.

(A) In general. Except as provided in this Section, a health insurance issuer that provides individual health insurance coverage to an individual shall renew or continue in force such coverage at the option of the individual.

(B) General exceptions. A health insurance issuer may nonrenew or discontinue health insurance coverage of an individual in the individual market based only on one or more of the following:

(1) Nonpayment of premiums. The individual has failed to pay premiums or contributions in accordance with the terms of the health insurance coverage or the issuer has not received timely premium payments.

(2) Fraud. The individual has performed an act or practice that constitutes fraud or made an intentional misrepresentation of material fact under the terms of the coverage.

(3) Termination of plan. The issuer is ceasing to offer coverage in the individual market in accordance with subsection (C) of this Section and applicable Illinois law.

(4) Movement outside the service area. In the case of a health insurance issuer that offers health insurance coverage in the market through a network plan, the individual no longer resides, lives, or works in the service area (or in an area for which the issuer is authorized to do business), but only if such coverage is terminated under this paragraph uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals.

(5) Association membership ceases. In the case of health insurance coverage that is made available in the individual market only through one or more bona fide associations, the membership of the individual in the association (on the basis of which the coverage is provided) ceases, but only if such coverage is terminated under this paragraph uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of covered individuals.

(C) Requirements for uniform termination of coverage.

(1) Particular type of coverage not offered. In any case in which an issuer decides to discontinue offering a particular type of health insurance coverage offered in the individual market, coverage of such type may be discontinued by the issuer only if:

(a) the issuer provides notice to each covered individual provided coverage of this type in such market of such discontinuation at least 90 days prior to the date of the discontinuation of such coverage;

(b) the issuer offers, to each individual in the individual market provided coverage of this type, the option to purchase any other individual health insurance coverage currently being offered by the issuer for individuals in such market; and

(c) in exercising the option to discontinue coverage of that type and in offering the option of coverage under subparagraph (b), the issuer acts uniformly without regard to any health status-related factor of enrolled individuals or individuals who may become eligible for such coverage.

(2) Discontinuance of all coverage.

(a) In general. Subject to subparagraph (c), in any case in which a health insurance issuer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market in Illinois, health insurance coverage may be discontinued by the issuer only if:

(i) the issuer provides notice to the Director and to each individual of the discontinuation at least 180 days prior to the date of the expiration of such coverage;

(ii) all health insurance issued or delivered for issuance in Illinois in such market is discontinued and coverage under such health insurance coverage in such market is not renewed; and

(iii) in the case where the issuer has affiliates in the individual market, the issuer gives notice to each affected individual at least 180 days prior to the date of the expiration of the coverage of the individual's option to purchase all other individual health benefit plans currently offered by any affiliate of the carrier.

(b) Prohibition on market reentry. In the case of a discontinuation under subparagraph (a) in the individual market, the issuer may not provide for the issuance of any health insurance coverage in Illinois involved during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the discontinuation of the last health insurance coverage not so renewed.

(c) If an issuer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market under subparagraph (a), its affiliates that offer health insurance coverage in the individual market in Illinois shall offer individual health insurance coverage to all individuals who were covered by the discontinued health insurance coverage on the date of the notice provided to affected individuals under subdivision (iii) of subparagraph (a) of this item (2) if the individual applies for coverage no later than 63 days after the discontinuation of coverage.

(d) Subject to subparagraph (e) of this item (2), an affiliate that issues coverage under subparagraph (c) shall waive the preexisting condition exclusion period to the extent that the individual has satisfied the preexisting condition exclusion period under the individual's prior contract or policy.

(e) An affiliate that issues coverage under subparagraph (c) may require the individual to satisfy the remaining part of the preexisting condition exclusion period, if any, under the individual's prior contract or policy that has not been satisfied, unless the coverage has a shorter preexisting condition exclusion period, and may include in any coverage issued under subparagraph (c) any waivers or limitations of coverage that were included in the individual's prior contract or policy.

(D) Exception for uniform modification of coverage. At the time of coverage renewal, a health insurance issuer may modify the health insurance coverage for a policy form offered to individuals in the individual market so long as the modification is consistent with Illinois law and effective on a uniform basis among all individuals with that policy form.

(E) Application to coverage offered only through associations. In applying this Section in the case of health insurance coverage that is made available by a health insurance issuer in the individual market to individuals only through one or more associations, a reference to an "individual" is deemed to include a reference to such an association (of which the individual is a member).

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly apply only to discontinuances of coverage occurring on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 94-502, eff. 8-8-05.)