§ 31–3301.01. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) “Affiliation period” means a period which, under the terms of the health insurance coverage offered by a health maintenance organization, must expire before the health insurance coverage becomes effective. The health maintenance organization is not required to provide health care services or benefits during such period and no premium shall be charged to the participant or beneficiary for any coverage during the period. Such period shall begin on the enrollment date. An affiliation period under a plan shall run concurrently with any waiting period under the plan.

(2) “Beneficiary” has the meaning given such term under section 3(8) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved September 2, 1974 (88 Stat. 834; 29 U.S.C. § 1002(8)).

(3) “Bona fide association” means, with respect to health insurance coverage offered in the District of Columbia, an association which:

(A) Has been actively in existence for at least 5 years;

(B) Has been formed and maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance;

(C) Does not condition membership in the association on any health status-related factor relating to an individual (including an employee of an employer or a dependent of an employee);

(D) Makes health insurance coverage offered through the association available to all members regardless of any health status-related factor relating to such members (or individuals eligible for coverage through a member);

(E) Does not make health insurance coverage offered through the association available other than in connection with a member of the association;

(E-i) Is domiciled and has its principal offices within the District;

(E-ii) Does not expand its membership based on geography; and

(F) Meets such additional requirements as may be imposed by the Commissioner by rule.

(4) “Certification” means a written certification of the period of creditable coverage applicable to an individual.

(5) “Church plan” has the meaning given such term under section 3(33) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved September 2, 1974 (88 Stat. 838; 29 U.S.C. § 1002(33)).

(6) “COBRA continuation provision” means any of the following:

(A) Section 3011(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved November 10, 1988 (102 Stat. 3616; 26 U.S.C. § 4980B), other than subsection (f)(1) of such section insofar as it relates to pediatric vaccines;

(B) Part 6 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved April 7, 1986 (100 Stat. 227; 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq.), other than section 609 of such Act; or

(7) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking.

(8)(A) “Creditable coverage” means, with respect to an individual, coverage of the individual under any of the following:

(i) A group health plan;

(ii) Health insurance coverage;

(iii) Part A or B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, approved July 30, 1965 (79 Stat. 291; 42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq. or 42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq., respectively);

(iv) Title XIX of the Social Security Act, approved July 30, 1965 (79 Stat. 343; 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.), other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under section 1928;

(v) Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. § 1071 et seq.);

(vi) A medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization;

(vii) A state health benefits risk pool;

(viii) A health plan offered under Chapter 89 of Title 5, United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 8901 et seq.);

(ix) A public health plan (as defined in regulations); or

(x) A health benefit plan under section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act, approved September 22, 1961 (75 Stat. 614; 22 U.S.C. § 2504(e)).

(B) “Creditable coverage” does not include coverage consisting solely of coverage of excepted benefits.

(9) “Dependent” means the spouse or child of an eligible employee, subject to the applicable terms of the policy, contract, or plan covering the eligible employee.

(9A) “Domestic partnership” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 32-701(4).

(10) “Eligible employee” means an employee who works for a small group employer on a full-time basis, has a normal work week of 30 or more hours, has satisfied applicable waiting period requirements, and is not a part-time, temporary, or substitute employee.

(11) “Eligible individual” means an individual:

(A)(i) For whom, as of the date on which the individual seeks individual coverage under this chapter, the aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage is 18 or more months, and (ii) whose most recent prior creditable coverage was under a group health plan, governmental plan, church plan, or health insurance coverage offered in connection with any such plan;

(B) Who is not eligible for coverage under (i) a group health plan, (ii) part A or part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, or (iii) a state plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act, approved July 30, 1965 (79 Stat. 343; 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.), or any successor program, and does not have other health insurance coverage;

(C) With respect to whom the most recent coverage within the coverage period described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph was not terminated based on a factor described in § 31-3302.05(b) relating to nonpayment of premiums or fraud;

(D) If the individual had been offered the option of continuation coverage under a COBRA continuation provision or under a similar state program, who elected such coverage; and

(E) Who, if the individual elected such continuation coverage, has exhausted such continuation coverage under such provision or program.

(12) “Employer” has the meaning given such term under section 3(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved September 12, 1974 (88 Stat. 834; 29 U.S.C. § 1002(5)), as such section and its implementing regulations were in effect on December 15, 2017, except that such term shall include only employers of 2 or more employees.

(13) “Enrollment date” means, with respect to an eligible individual covered under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, the date of enrollment of the eligible individual in the plan or coverage or, if earlier, the first day of the waiting period for such enrollment.

(14) “Established geographic service area” means the District of Columbia.

(15) “Excepted benefits” means benefits under one or more of the following:

(A) Benefits not subject to the requirements of this chapter include:

(i) Coverage only for accident, or disability income insurance, or any combination thereof;

(ii) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance;

(iii) Liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance;

(iv) Workers’ compensation or similar insurance;

(v) Medical expense and loss of income benefits;

(vi) Credit-only insurance;

(vii) Coverage for on-site medical clinics; and

(viii) Other similar insurance coverage, as specified in regulations, under which benefits for medical care are secondary or incidental to other insurance benefits;

(B) Benefits not subject to the requirements of this chapter if offered separately include:

(i) Limited scope dental or vision benefits so long as the benefits are offered in a manner not inconsistent with applicable federal law;

(ii) Benefits for long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination thereof; and

(iii) Other similar, limited benefit plans as specified in regulations;

(C) Benefits not subject to the requirements of this chapter if offered as independent, non-coordinated benefits, supplemental to minimum essential coverage include:

(i) Coverage only for a specified disease or illness; and

(ii) Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance; and

(D) Benefits not subject to the requirements of this chapter if offered as a separate insurance policy include:

(i) Medicare supplemental health insurance (as defined under section 1882(g)(1) of the Social Security Act, approved June 9, 1980 (72 Stat. 1445; 42 U.S.C. § 1395ss(g)(1));

(ii) Coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. § 1071et seq.); and

et seq.

(iii) Similar supplemental coverage provided under a group health plan.

(E) The term “excepted benefits” does not include any combination of benefits described in subparagraphs (A)(i), B(i), (C)(i) or (C)(ii) of this paragraph.

(16) “Federal governmental plan” means a governmental plan established or maintained for its employees by the government of the United States or by an agency or instrumentality of such government.

(17) “Governmental plan” has the meaning given such term under section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved September 2, 1974 (88 Stat. 837; 29 U.S.C. § 1002(32)) and any federal governmental plan.

(18) “Group health insurance coverage” means health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan.

(19) “Group health plan” means an employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. § 1002(1)), as such section and its implementing regulations were in effect on December 15, 2017, to the extent that the plan provides medical care and includes items and services paid for as medical care to employees or their dependents (as defined under the terms of the plan) directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise.

(19A) “Health Benefit Exchange Authority Establishment Act” means Chapter 31D of this title [§ 31-3171.01 et seq.].

(20) “Health benefit plan” means any accident and health insurance policy or certificate, hospital and medical services corporation contract, health maintenance organization subscriber contract, plan provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement, or plan provided by another benefit arrangement. The term “health benefit plan” does not mean accident only, credit, or disability insurance; coverage of Medicare services or federal employee health plans, pursuant to contracts with the United States government; Medicare supplement or long-term care insurance; dental only or vision only insurance; specified disease insurance; hospital confinement indemnity coverage; limited benefit health coverage; coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance; insurance arising out of a workers’ compensation or similar law; automobile medical payment insurance; medical expense and loss of income benefits; or insurance under which benefits are payable with or without regard to fault and that is statutorily required to be contained in any liability insurance policy or equivalent self-insurance.

(21) “Health insurance coverage” means benefits consisting of medical care (provided directly, through insurance or reimbursement, or otherwise and includes items and services paid for as medical care) under any hospital or medical service policy or certificate, hospital, or medical service plan contract, or health maintenance organization contract offered by a health insurer.

(22) “Health insurer” means any person that provides one or more health benefit plans or insurance in the District of Columbia, including an insurer, a hospital and medical services corporation, a fraternal benefit society, a health maintenance organization, a multiple employer welfare arrangement, or any other person providing a plan of health insurance subject to the authority of the Commissioner.

(23) “Health maintenance organization” means:

(A) A federally qualified health maintenance organization;

(B) An organization recognized under the laws of the District of Columbia as a health maintenance organization; or

(C) A similar organization regulated under the laws of the District of Columbia for solvency in the same manner and to the same extent as such a health maintenance organization.

(24) “Health status-related factor” means the following in relation to the individual or a dependent eligible for coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurer:

(A) Health status;

(B) Medical condition (including both physical and mental illnesses);

(D) Receipt of health care;

(E) Medical history;

(F) Genetic information;

(G) Evidence of insurability (including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence); or

(H) Disability.

(25) “High level policy form” means a policy or plan under which the actuarial value of the benefit under the coverage is:

(A) At least 15% greater than the actuarial value of the low level policy form coverage offered by the carrier in the District of Columbia; and

(B) At least 100%, but not greater than 120%, of the weighted average.

(26) “Individual health insurance coverage” means health insurance coverage offered to individuals in the individual market, which includes a health benefit plan provided to individuals through a trust arrangement, association, or other discretionary group that is not an employer plan, but does not include coverage defined as excepted benefits. The term “individual health insurance coverage” does not include short-term limited duration coverage.

(27) “Individual market” means the market for health insurance coverage offered to individuals other than in connection with a group health plan.

(28) “Initial enrollment period” means a period of at least 30 days.

(29)(A)(i) Except as provided in sub-subparagraph (ii) of this subparagraph, “large employer” means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a calendar year and a plan year, a single employer that employed an average of at least 51 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and at least 2 employees on the first day of the plan year.

(ii) Beginning in calendar year 2016 and for each succeeding year, “large employer” means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a calendar year and a plan year, a single employer that employed an average of at least 101 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and at least 2 employees on the first day of the plan year.

(B) For the purposes of this paragraph:

(i) All persons treated as a single employer under section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved October 22, 1986 (100 Stat. 2085; 26 U.S.C. § 414(b), (c), (m), or (o)), shall be treated as a single employer;

(ii) An employer and any predecessor employer shall be treated as a single employer;

(iii) All employees shall be counted, including part-time employees and employees who are not eligible for health benefit coverage through the employer; and

(iv) If an employer was not in existence throughout the preceding calendar year, the determination of whether that employer is a large employer shall be based on the average number of employees that the employer is reasonably expected to employ in the current calendar year.

(30) “Large group market” means the health insurance market under which individuals obtain health insurance coverage (directly or through any arrangement) on behalf of themselves (and their dependents) through a group health plan maintained by a large employer or through a health insurer.

(31) “Late enrollee” means an eligible employee or dependent who requests enrollment in a group health benefit plan after the initial enrollment period provided under the terms of the group health benefit plan, or a participant or beneficiary who enrolls under the plan other than during (i) the first period in which the individual is eligible to enroll under the plan, or (ii) a special enrollment period as required pursuant to this statute. An eligible employee or dependent shall not be considered a late enrollee if all of the conditions set forth below in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of this paragraph are met, or one of the conditions set forth below in subparagraphs (E) or (F) of this paragraph is met:

(A) The individual was covered under a public or private health benefit plan at the time the individual was eligible to enroll;

(B) The individual certified at the time of initial enrollment that coverage under another health benefit plan was the reason for declining enrollment;

(C) The individual has lost coverage under a public or private health benefit plan as a result of termination of employment or employment status eligibility, the termination of the other plan’s entire group coverage, death of a spouse, or divorce;

(D) The individual requests enrollment within 30 days after termination of coverage provided under a public or private health benefit plan;

(E) The individual is employed by a small employer that offers multiple health benefit plans and the individual elects a different plan offered by that small employer during an open enrollment period; or

(F) A court has ordered that coverage be provided for a spouse or minor child under a covered employee’s health benefit plan, the minor is eligible for coverage and is a dependent, and the request for enrollment is made within 30 days after issuance of such court order. However, such individual may be considered a late enrollee for benefit riders or enhanced coverage levels not covered under the enrollee’s prior plan.

(32) “Low level policy form” means a policy or plan under which the actuarial value of the benefit under the coverage is at least 85%, but not greater than 100%, of the weighted average.

(33) “Medical care” means amounts paid for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or amounts paid for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body.

(34) “Network plan” means health insurance coverage of a health insurer under which the financing and delivery of medical care (including items and services paid for as medical care) are provided, in whole or in part, through a defined set of providers under contract with the health insurer.

(35) “Nonfederal governmental plan” means a governmental plan that is not a federal governmental plan.

(36) “Participant” has the meaning given such term under section 3(7) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved September 2, 1974 (88 Stat. 834; 29 U.S.C. § 1002(7)).

(37) “Placed for adoption”, “placement”, or “being placed for adoption”, in connection with any placement for adoption of a child with any person, means the assumption and retention by such person of a legal obligation for total or partial support of such child in anticipation of adoption of such child. The child’s placement with such person terminates upon the termination of such legal obligation.

(38) “Plan sponsor” has the meaning given such term under section 3(16)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, approved September 2, 1974 (88 Stat. 835; 29 U.S.C. § 1002(16)(B)).

(39) “Preexisting condition exclusion” means, with respect to coverage, a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the first day of coverage, whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before that day. Genetic information shall not be treated as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such information.

(40) “Preexisting conditions provision” means a provision in a health benefit plan that limits, denies, or excludes benefits for an enrollee for expenses or services related to a preexisting condition.

(41) “Premium” means all moneys paid by a small employer and eligible employees as a condition of coverage from a health insurer, including fees and other contributions associated with the health benefit plan.

(42)(A)(i) Except as provided in sub-subparagraph (ii) of this subparagraph, “small employer” means a single employer that employed an average of not more than 50 employees during the preceding calendar year.

(ii) Beginning in calendar year 2016 and for each succeeding year, “small employer” means a single employer that employed an average of not more than 100 employees during the preceding calendar year.

(B) For the purposes of this paragraph:

(ii) An employer and any predecessor employer shall be treated as a single employer;

(iii) All employees shall be counted, including part-time employees and employees who are not eligible for health benefit coverage through the employer; and

(iv) If an employer was not in existence throughout the preceding calendar year, the determination of whether that employer is a small employer shall be based on the average number of employees that the employer is reasonably expected to employ in the current calendar year.

(43) “State” means each of the several states, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

(44) “Waiting period” means, with respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage provided by a health insurer and an individual who is a potential participant or beneficiary in the plan, the period that must pass with respect to the individual before the individual is eligible to be covered for benefits under the terms of the plan.

(45)(A) “Weighted average” means the average actuarial value of the benefits provided by:

(i) All the health insurance coverages issued (as elected by the health insurer) either by that health insurer or by all health insurers in the District of Columbia in the individual market during the previous calendar year (not including coverage issued under this section), weighted by enrollment for the different coverages; or

(ii) All the health insurance coverages issued by all health insurers in the District of Columbia in the individual market, if the data are available, during the previous calendar year, weighted by enrollment for the different coverages.

(B) The term “weighted average” does not include coverages issued pursuant to § 31-3302.01(d)(1).

(C) The health insurer shall elect biennially, as provided in § 31-3302.01(d)(3), whether to calculate the weighted average using the methodology in subparagraph (A)(i) or (ii) of this paragraph.

(Apr. 13, 1999, D.C. Law 12-209, § 101, 45 DCR 8433; June 11, 2004, D.C. Law 15-166, § 4(s)(1), 51 DCR 2817; Sept. 12, 2008, D.C. Law 17-231, § 27(a), 55 DCR 6758; May 2, 2015, D.C. Law 20-265, § 103, 62 DCR 1529; Mar. 22, 2019, D.C. Law 22-266, § 2(a), 66 DCR 1423.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 35-1021.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 7-851 and § 31-3302.01.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 15-166, in par. (7), substituted “Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking” for “Commissioner of the Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation”.

D.C. Law 17-231 added par. (9A).

The 2015 amendment by D.C. Law 20-265 rewrote (15), (26), (29), and (42); and added (19A).

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-526, Dec. 10, 2018, 65 DCR 13424).

For temporary addition of chapter, see §§ 101-314 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Federal Law Conformity Emergency Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-96, July 2, 1997, 44 DCR 4000), §§ 101-314 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Federal Law Conformity Congressional Recess Emergency Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-151, September 29, 1997, 44 DCR 5769), and §§ 101-314 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Federal Law Conformity Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-339, May 4, 1998, 45 DCR 2947).

For temporary addition of chapter, see §§ 101-314 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Federal Law Conformity, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Regulatory Reform, and Consumer Law Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-429, August 6, 1998, 45 DCR 5890).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 4(s)(1) of Consolidation of Financial Services Emergency Amendment Act of 2004 (D.C. Act 15-381, February 27, 2004, 51 DCR 2653).

For temporary (90 day) workers’ compensation and health insurance and portability and accountability approval requirement, see § 1122 of Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2004 (D.C. Act 15-486, August 2, 2004, 51 DCR 8236).

For temporary (90 day) workers’ compensation and health insurance and portability and accountability approval requirement, see § 1122 of Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2004 (D.C. Act 15-594, October 26, 2004, 51 DCR 11725.

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Temporary Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-251, Mar. 15, 2019, 66 DCR 975).

Sections 101 through 314 of D.C. Law 12-27 and D.C. Law 12-154 enacted §§ 35-1021 through 35-1044, comprising Chapter 10A of Title 35 (1981 Ed.).

Short Title

Short title of subtitle L of title I of Law 15-205: Section 1121 of D.C. Law 15-205 provided that subtitle L of title I of the act may be cited as the Workers’ Compensation and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Approval Requirement Act of 2004.

Editor's Notes

Section 1122 of D.C. Law 15-205 provided: “No funds shall be expended relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, approved August 21, 1996 (104 Pub. L. No. 191; 110 Stat. 1936), and the District's Workers' Compensation administration without affirmative approval of the expenditure by the Council.”