SENATE BILL No. 1384

June 27, 2002, Introduced by Senator BYRUM and referred to the Committee on Health

Policy.

A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled

"The insurance code of 1956,"

(MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding section 3940.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 SEC. 3940. (1) BY JANUARY 1, 2003 AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER,

2 THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PREPARE AND PUBLISH A CONSUMER GUIDE TO

3 LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE.

4 (2) THE CONSUMER GUIDE TO LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE UNDER

5 SUBSECTION (1) SHALL PROVIDE A COST AND BENEFIT COMPARISON OF

6 EACH LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE POLICY SOLD IN THIS STATE. THE

7 CONSUMER GUIDE SHALL BE WRITTEN IN PLAIN ENGLISH AND SHALL BE

8 PRESENTED IN A MANNER THAT FACILITATES COMPARISONS AMONG

9 LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE POLICIES.

10 (3) THE CONSUMER GUIDE TO LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE UNDER

11 SUBSECTION (1) SHALL INCLUDE A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER AT THE

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1 OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE SERVICES. THE OFFICE OF

2 FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE SERVICES SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A

3 TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE LINE THAT CONSUMERS MAY CALL TO MAKE REQUESTS

4 FOR THE CONSUMER GUIDE AND MAKE INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT

5 LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE POLICIES.

6 (4) UPON REQUEST OF THE COMMISSIONER, A LONG-TERM CARE

7 INSURER SHALL PROVIDE IN A TIMELY MANNER INFORMATION THAT THE

8 COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO PREPARE THE CONSUMER GUIDE UNDER

9 SUBSECTION (1).

10 (5) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMOTE AND PUBLICIZE TO THE GEN-

11 ERAL PUBLIC THE EXISTENCE OF THE CONSUMER GUIDE TO LONG-TERM CARE

12 INSURANCE. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE GUIDE TO MEM-

13 BERS OF THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST AND SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE

14 CONSUMER GUIDE THROUGH THE INTERNET.

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