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The Florida Senate

2014 Florida Statutes

Title XXXVII INSURANCE
Chapter 627 INSURANCE RATES AND CONTRACTS Entire Chapter
SECTION 657
Provisions of group health insurance policies.
F.S. 627.657
627.657 Provisions of group health insurance policies.—
(1) Each group health insurance policy shall contain in substance the following provisions:
(a) A provision that, in the absence of fraud, all statements made by applicants or the policyholder or by an insured person shall be deemed representations and not warranties and that no statement made for the purpose of effecting insurance shall avoid such insurance or reduce benefits unless contained in a written instrument signed by the policyholder or the insured person, a copy of which has been furnished to such policyholder or to such person or his or her beneficiary.
(b) A provision that the insurer will furnish to the policyholder, for delivery to each employee or member of the insured group, a certificate containing the group number and setting forth the essential features of the insurance coverage of such employee or member and those to whom benefits are payable. If dependents are included in the coverage, only one certificate need be issued for each family unit.
(c) A provision that eligible new employees or members or dependents may be added to the group, in accordance with the terms of the policy.
(2) The medical policy as specified in s. 627.6699(3)(l) must be accompanied by an identification card that contains, at a minimum:
(a) The name of the organization issuing the policy or name of the organization administering the policy, whichever applies.
(b) The name of the certificateholder.
(c) The type of plan only if the plan is filed in the state, an indication that the plan is self-funded, or the name of the network.
(d) The member identification number, contract number, and policy or group number, if applicable.
(e) A contact phone number or electronic address for authorizations and admission certifications.
(f) A phone number or electronic address whereby the covered person or hospital, physician, or other person rendering services covered by the policy may obtain benefits verification and information in order to estimate patient financial responsibility, in compliance with privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
(g) The national plan identifier, in accordance with the compliance date set forth by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

The identification card must present the information in a readily identifiable manner or, alternatively, the information may be embedded on the card and available through magnetic stripe or smart card. The information may also be provided through other electronic technology.

(3) Unless stated otherwise in this part, the provisions of part VI of this chapter do not apply to group health insurance policies, but no such policy shall contain any provision relative to notice or proof of loss, to the time for paying benefits, or to the time within which suit may be brought on the policy, which provision is less favorable to the individuals insured than would be permitted by the comparable provision required for individual health insurance policies.
History.—s. 589, ch. 59-205; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 504, 523, 809(2nd), ch. 82-243; s. 79, ch. 82-386; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 349, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 2008-119; s. 154, ch. 2014-17.