AS Title 21, Chapter 42: The Insurance Contract

Article 1. The Insurance Contract. Chapter 42. The Insurance Contract. Sec. 21.42.010. Applicability. AS 21.42.010 — 21.42.599 do not apply to (1) reinsurance; (2) policies or contracts not issued for delivery in this state or delivered in this state, except as provided in AS 21.42.120 ; (3) wet marine and transportation insurance; (4) title insurance, except that AS 21.42.080 , 21.42.120, 21.42.130, 21.42.180, 21.42.190 and 21.42.230 do apply. Sec. 21.42.020. Insurable interest: life, annuity, or health. (a) A person of competent legal capacity may procure or effect an insurance contract on the life or body of the person for the benefit of any person. A person may not procure or cause to be procured an insurance contract upon the life or body of another person unless the benefits under the contract are payable to the individual insured, the personal representatives of the individual insured, or to a person having, at the time the contract was made, an insurable interest in the individual insured. (b) If the beneficiary, assignee, or other payee under a contract made in violation of this section receives from the insurer any benefits from the contract upon the death, disablement, or injury of the person insured, the person insured or the executor or administrator of the person insured may maintain an action to recover the benefits from the person receiving them. (c) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a charitable organization may obtain, by procurement, assignment, or otherwise, life or health insurance on an insured who consents to the issuance of the insurance. In this subsection, “charitable organization” means a charity that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) (Internal Revenue Code). (d) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a trustee, acting in a fiduciary capacity, may procure or cause to be procured an insurance contract that is on the life or body of an individual and under which the proceeds of the insurance contract are payable to the trustee, acting in a fiduciary capacity, if (1) the trustee, acting in a fiduciary capacity, owns the insurance contract or the trust itself owns the insurance contract; (2) on the date the contract is made, a settlor of the trust is the individual insured, has an insurable interest in the individual insured, or would have had an insurable interest in the individual insured if the settlor were living at the time the contract was made; in this paragraph, “settlor” means a person, including a person for whom a fiduciary or agent is acting, who executes the trust instrument; and (3) the proceeds of the contract are primarily for the benefit of a trust beneficiary who has an insurable interest in the individual insured, except that, if the determination of the trust beneficiary's insurable interest is based on (e)(1) of this section, the trust beneficiary's relation by blood or law must be within the third degree. (e) “Insurable interest,” with reference to life, annuity, or health insurance, includes only the following interests: (1) in the case of persons related closely by blood or by law, a substantial interest engendered by love and affection; (2) in the case of persons other than those described in (1) of this subsection, a lawful and substantial economic interest in having the life, health, or bodily safety of the person insured continue, as distinguished from an interest that would arise only by, or would be enhanced in value by, the death, disablement, or injury of the individual insured; (3) an individual party to a contract or option for the purchase or sale of an interest in a business partnership or firm, or of shares of stock of a closed corporation or of an interest in the shares, has an insurable interest in the life of each individual party to the contract for the purposes of the contract only, in addition to an insurable interest that may otherwise exist as to the life of the individual. (f) A person who has an insurable interest in the life or body of an individual may form a business firm that is substantially or solely for the purpose of purchasing, holding, or administering an insurance contract on the life or body of the individual. In this subsection, “firm” has the meaning given in AS 21.97.900 , but also includes a business trust and a joint venture. Sec. 21.42.030. Insurable interest: property. (a) A contract of insurance of property or of an interest in property or arising from property may not be enforced as to the insurance except for the benefit of persons having an insurable interest in the things insured at the time of the loss. (b) The measure of an insurable interest in property is the extent to which the insured might be indemnified by loss, injury, or impairment. (c) In this section, “insurable interest” means an actual, lawful, and substantial economic interest in the safety or preservation of the subject of the insurance free from loss, destruction, or pecuniary damage or impairment. Sec. 21.42.040. Interest of named insured. When the name of the person insured is specified in a policy insuring property the insurance can be applied only to the proper interest of the person insured. Sec. 21.42.050. Change of interest on death. A change of interest, by will or succession, on the death of the insured does not avoid an insurance of property and the insurance passes to the person taking an interest in the thing insured. Sec. 21.42.060. Transfer of interest between joint insureds. A transfer of interest by one of the several partners, joint owners, or owners in common, who are jointly insured, to the others, does not avoid an insurance of property even though it has been agreed that the insurance shall cease upon an alienation of the thing insured. Sec. 21.42.070. Insurance without interest, or of wager, is void. (a) A stipulation in a policy of insurance of property for the payment of loss without regard to absence of an insurable interest in the property on the part of the insured, or that the policy shall be received as proof of the interest, is void. (b) A policy executed by way of gaming or wagering is void. Sec. 21.42.075. Reimbursement of losses. An insurer may make a filing for approval by the director that provides for reimbursement by an insured of losses paid by the insurer under a workers' compensation insurance policy. A form that alters the obligation of the insurer to an employee under AS 23.30.025 or 23.30.030 may not be approved by the director. Filing for approval under this section is not a deviation under AS 21.39.070 . Sec. 21.42.080. Capacity to contract. (a) A person of competent legal capacity may contract for insurance. (b) [Repealed, § 25 ch 245 SLA 1970.] (c) [Repealed, § 25 ch 245 SLA 1970.] (d) [Repealed, § 25 ch 245 SLA 1970.] Sec. 21.42.090. Application required, life and health insurance. A life or health insurance contract upon an individual, except a contract of group life insurance or of group or blanket health insurance, may not be made or effectuated unless at the time of the making of the contract the individual insured, being of competent legal capacity to contract, applies for the contract or has consented to it in writing, except in the following cases: (1) a spouse may effectuate the insurance upon the other spouse; (2) a person having an insurable interest in the life of a minor or a person upon whom a minor is dependent for support and maintenance, may effectuate insurance upon the life of or pertaining to the minor; (3) family policies insuring any two or more members of a family may be issued on an application signed by either parent, a stepparent, or by a husband or wife. Sec. 21.42.100. Request for copy of application; alteration. (a) If a policy of life or health insurance delivered in this state is reinstated or renewed, and the insured or the beneficiary or assignee of the policy makes written request to the insurer for a copy of the application, if any, for the reinstatement or renewal, the insurer shall, within 30 days after receipt of the request at its home office or at one of its branch offices, deliver, or mail to the person making the request a copy of the application. In the case of a request from a beneficiary, the time within which the insurer is required to furnish a copy of the application does not begin to run until after receipt of evidence satisfactory to the insurer of the beneficiary's vested interest in the policy or contract. (b) An alteration of a written application for a life or health insurance policy may not be made by a person other than the applicant without the written consent of the applicant, except that insertions may be made by the insurer, for administrative purposes only, in a manner that indicates clearly that the insertions are not to be ascribed to the applicant. Sec. 21.42.110. Representations in applications. All statements and descriptions in an application for an insurance policy or annuity contract, or in negotiations for the policy or contract, by or in behalf of the insured or annuitant, shall be considered to be representations and not warranties. Misrepresentations, omissions, concealment of facts, and incorrect statements may not prevent a recovery under the policy or contract unless either (1) fraudulent; (2) material either to the acceptance of the risk, or to the hazard assumed by the insurer; or (3) the insurer in good faith would either not have issued the policy or contract, or would not have issued a policy or contract in as large an amount, or at the same premium or rate, or would not have provided coverage with respect to the hazard resulting in the loss, if the true facts had been made known to the insurer as required either by the application for the policy or contract or otherwise. Sec. 21.42.120. Filing, approval of forms. (a) A basic insurance policy or annuity contract form, or application form where written application is required and is to be made a part of the policy or contract, or printed rider or endorsement form or form of renewal certificate, may not be delivered, or issued for delivery in this state, unless the form has been filed with and approved by the director. This provision does not apply to surety bonds or to specially rated inland marine risks, nor to policies, riders, endorsements, or forms of unique character designed for and used with relation to insurance upon a particular subject, or that relate to the manner of distribution of benefits or to the reservation of rights and benefits under life or health insurance policies and are used at the request of the individual policyholder, contract holder, or certificate holder; or to policies of commercial insurance that the director has authorized under (d) of this section to be filed on or before the date of use and that are not subject to the prior approval of the director. The filing required by this section of forms for use in property, marine other than wet marine and transportation coverages, casualty, and surety coverages may be made by a rating organization on behalf of its members and subscribers; but this provision does not prohibit a member or subscriber from filing the forms on its own behalf. (b) Each insurer or rating organization shall submit a filing under one of the following procedures, clearly specifying the filing procedure under which the filing is being made: (1) for prior approval under AS 21.42.123 ; or (2) for file and use under AS 21.42.125 . (c) An order of the director disapproving the form or withdrawing a previous approval shall state the grounds and the particulars in such detail as reasonably to inform the insurer thereof. (d) The director may, by order, require that a form or document be filed for informational purposes or may exempt a form or document from the requirements of this section for a time determined by the director when, in the opinion of the director, this section may not practicably be applied, or the filing or approval of the form or document is, in the opinion of the director, not desirable or necessary for the protection of the public. (e) This section applies to a form used by domestic insurers for delivery in a jurisdiction outside this state, if the insurance supervisory official of that jurisdiction informs the director that the form is not subject to approval or disapproval by the official, and upon the director's order requiring the form to be submitted for review and approval under this section. The applicable same standards shall apply to these forms as apply to forms for domestic use. (f) This section does not apply to a type of insurance subject to AS 21.57 or to policies issued under AS 21.34 . (g) An insurer who has submitted an application for a certificate of authority under AS 21.09.110 may file a proposed policy form as described in this section. The director's approval of the policy form is contingent upon the issuance of a certificate of authority under AS 21.09.120 . (h) The director may adopt regulations detailing the format and content of the filing of a policy form under this section. (i) The director may by order require an insurance document, form, or type of insurance document or form as specified in the order, to be submitted for prior approval if, in the opinion of the director, the approval of the insurance document, form, or type of insurance document or form is necessary for the protection of the public. Sec. 21.42.123. Form filing subject to prior approval. (a) A prior approval filing shall be made not less than 30 days before the effective date. At the end of the 30-day period, the form filed shall be considered approved unless, before the end of the 30-day period, it has been affirmatively disapproved by the director. Approval of the form by the director before the end of the 30-day period constitutes a waiver of the unexpired portion of the waiting period. The director may extend by not more than an additional 30 days the period for approving or disapproving the form, by giving notice of the extension during the initial 30-day period. At the expiration of the extended period, and in the absence of a prior approval or disapproval, the form shall be considered approved. The director may, by order, at any time after the notice, and for cause shown, withdraw the approval. (b) The director may require the insurer or rating organization to revise the filing to comply with this title. Failure of the insurer or rating organization to provide the information within 30 days after the director's request, or an extension of the period by the director for an additional 15 days upon written request of the insurer or rating organization within the response period, is considered to be a request by the insurer or rating organization to withdraw the filing from further consideration. (c) The filing must state an effective date. In place of a specific date, the insurer or rating organization may specify a reasonable time period after approval for the filing to be effective. (d) A prior approval filing shall be open to public inspection after the filing becomes effective. Sec. 21.42.125. Form filing subject to file and use; penalties. (a) A file and use filing shall be filed with the director for a waiting period of not less than 30 days. The period may be extended by the director or the insurer or rating organization for an additional 30 days if notice is given within the initial 30-day period that additional time is needed for the consideration of the filing. The filing may become effective at the end of the waiting period unless disapproved by the director before the expiration of the waiting period. (b) The filing must state an effective date that must be after the waiting period. Upon written notice by the insurer or rating organization, the director may authorize a filing that has been reviewed to become effective before the expiration of the waiting period. (c) A file and use form filing must include a signed compliance certificate certifying that the filing complies with this title. An authorized officer or state filings manager of the insurer shall sign the compliance certificate stating that, to the best of the individual's knowledge, the filing complies with this title. The director may issue an order requiring an insurer who submits an incomplete or inaccurate compliance certificate to submit future form filings for prior approval. The order must specify the conditions under which the insurer may again submit filings under this section. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person that the director finds has submitted a materially false or misleading compliance certificate may be subject to either a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation or a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each violation if the director finds that the person knowingly violated the provisions of this title. A filing that does not include the signed compliance certificate shall be reviewed under the prior approval procedure under AS 21.42.123 . In this subsection, “knowingly” has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900 . (d) The director may require an insurer or rating organization to provide additional information to demonstrate that a file and use filing meets the requirements of this title or to revise the filing to meet the requirements of this title. If an insurer or rating organization fails to provide the information within the waiting period described in (a) of this section, the director shall consider the failure to be a request to withdraw the filing from further consideration. (e) A file and use filing shall be open to public inspection after the filing becomes effective. Sec. 21.42.130. Grounds for disapproval. The director shall disapprove a form filed under AS 21.42.120 or withdraw a previous approval of the form only if the form (1) is in any respect in violation of or does not comply with this title; (2) contains or incorporates by reference, where incorporation is permissible, an inconsistent, ambiguous, or misleading clause, or exception and condition that deceptively affects the risk purported to be assumed in the general coverage of the contract; (3) has a title, heading, or other indication of its provisions that is misleading; (4) is printed or otherwise reproduced in a manner that renders a provision of the form substantially illegible; (5) provides benefits for Medicare supplement insurance that are unreasonable in relation to the premium charged. Sec. 21.42.140. Standard provisions. (a) Insurance contracts must contain the standard or uniform provisions that are required by the applicable provisions of this title pertaining to contracts of particular kinds of insurance. The director may waive the required use of a particular provision in a particular insurance policy form on a determination that (1) the provision is unnecessary for the protection of the insured and inconsistent with the purposes of the policy; and (2) the policy is otherwise approved. (b) A policy may not contain a provision inconsistent with a standard or uniform provision used or required to be used, but the director may approve a substitute provision that the director determines is not less favorable in any particular to the insured or beneficiary than the provisions otherwise required. (c) In lieu of the provisions required by this title for contracts for particular kinds of insurance, substantially similar provisions required by the law of the domicile of a foreign or alien insurer may be used when approved by the director. (d) A provision required by this title to be contained in a policy cannot be waived by agreement between the insurer and another person. Sec. 21.42.145. Stop-loss insurance provisions. (a) An insurance company licensed under AS 21.09 , a hospital or medical service corporation licensed under AS 21.87 , a fraternal benefit society licensed under AS 21.84 , a health maintenance organization licensed under AS 21.86 , or a multiple employer welfare arrangement may not issue a stop-loss insurance policy that (1) has an annual attachment point for claims incurred for each individual that is lower than $10,000; (2) has an annual aggregate attachment point for a small employer that is lower than the greatest of (A) $4,000 times the number of individuals covered under the health benefit plan; (B) 120 percent of the expected claims for the health benefit plan for the period covered by the stop-loss insurance policy; or (C) $20,000; (3) has an annual aggregate attachment point for a large employer that is lower than 110 percent of expected claims for the health benefit plan for the period covered by the stop-loss insurance policy; or (4) provides direct coverage of health care expenses of an individual. (b) The director may, by regulation, change the dollar amounts established under (a) of this section to reflect medical costs in this state, including adjustments to reflect changes in the medical care component of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the Anchorage Metropolitan Area compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor. (c) For the purposes of this section, (1) “attachment point” means the claim amount incurred by an insured group beyond which the insurer incurs a liability for payment; (2) “expected claims” means the amount of claims that, in absence of a stop-loss insurance policy or other insurance, are projected to be incurred by an insured group through its health benefit plan; (3) “health benefit plan” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; (4) “large employer” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; (5) “small employer” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 . Sec. 21.42.150. Policy must contain entire contract. The policy, when issued, shall contain the entire contract between the parties, and neither the insurer nor its agent or representative, nor a person insured by the policy, may make an agreement as to the insurance that is not expressed in the policy. This section does not prohibit the modification of a policy, after issuance, by written rider or endorsement issued by the insurer. Sec. 21.42.160. Contents of policies in general. (a) Each policy must specify (1) the names of the parties of the contract; (2) the subject of the insurance; (3) the risks insured against; (4) the time when the insurance thereunder takes effect and the period during which the insurance is to continue; (5) the premium; (6) the conditions pertaining to the insurance. (b) If under the policy the exact amount of premium is determinable only at stated intervals or termination of the contract, a statement of the basis and rates upon which the premium is to be determined and paid shall be included. (c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to surety contracts, or to group insurance policies. (d) Each policy and annuity contract issued by an insurer, and the forms thereof filed with the director, must have printed on them an appropriate designating letter or figure, or combination of letters or figures, or terms identifying the respective forms of policies or contracts. When a change is made in the form, the designating letters, figures, or terms must be correspondingly changed. Sec. 21.42.170. Additional policy contents. A policy may contain additional provisions not inconsistent with this title that are (1) required to be inserted by the laws of the insurer's domicile; (2) necessary, on account of the manner in which the insurer is constituted or operated, in order to state the rights and obligations of the parties to the contract; or (3) desired by the insurer and neither prohibited by law nor in conflict with any provisions required to be included in it. Sec. 21.42.175. Non-English translations. (a) The director may approve an insurance policy form in a language other than English if the insurance policy form (1) is filed with a copy of the same material in English; and (2) discloses, in both English and the language other than English, that the English language version is the official version and the non-English language version is for informational purposes only. (b) The English language version of the insurance policy form or associated material shall be the official version for purposes of application and interpretation if the non-English insurance policy form or associated material (1) is provided with a copy of the same material in English; and (2) discloses, in both English and the language other than English, that the English language version is the official version and the non-English language version is for informational purposes only. (c) An insurer may not misrepresent information in an insurance policy form or associated material translated into a language other than English. For purposes of this subsection, “misrepresent information” means to include a statement or omit a statement when, taken in the context of the whole presentation, the statement or omission may tend to mislead or deceive the person or persons addressed. (d) For purposes of this section, “associated material” means advertising and marketing information including brochures, pamphlets, or electronic media used to describe or promote the insurance policy form. Sec. 21.42.180. Charter, bylaw provisions. A policy may not contain a provision purporting to make a portion of the charter, bylaws, or other constituent document of the insurer, other than the subscribers' agreement or power of attorney of a reciprocal insurer, a part of the contract unless the portion is set forth in full in the policy. A policy provision in violation of this section is invalid. Sec. 21.42.190. Execution of policies. (a) Each insurance policy shall be executed in the name of and on behalf of the insurer by its officer, attorney-in-fact, employee, or representative duly authorized by the insurer. (b) A facsimile signature of the executing individual may be used in lieu of an original signature. (c) An insurance contract that is otherwise valid is not rendered invalid by reason of the apparent execution on behalf of the insurer by the imprinted facsimile signature of an individual who is not authorized to execute as of the date of the policy. Sec. 21.42.200. Underwriters' and combination policies. (a) Two or more authorized insurers may jointly issue, and shall be jointly and severally liable on, an underwriters' policy bearing their names. Any one insurer may issue policies in the name of an underwriter's department and the policy must plainly show the true name of the insurer. (b) Two or more insurers may, with the approval of the director, issue a combination policy which shall contain provisions substantially as follows: (1) that the insurers executing the policy shall be severally liable for the full amount of loss or damage, according to the terms of the policy, or for specified percentages or amounts thereof, aggregating the full amount of insurance under the policy; and (2) that service of process, or of notice or proof of loss required by the policy, upon any of the insurers executing the policy, constitutes service upon all the insurers. (c) This section does not apply to cosurety obligations. Sec. 21.42.205. Coordination of benefits. (a) Unless prohibited by federal law, an insurer authorized under AS 21.09 to offer, issue for delivery, deliver, or renew an individual or group health insurance policy for major medical coverage on an expense incurred basis; a health maintenance organization authorized under AS 21.86 to offer a contract to provide major medical health care services on a prepaid basis; or a service corporation authorized under AS 21.87 to offer or renew an individual or group subscriber's contract for major medical coverage shall include a coordination of benefits provision in a major medical policy or contract. (b) The director may adopt regulations to implement this section. Sec. 21.42.210. Interest in reinsurance. The original insured has no interest in a contract of reinsurance. Sec. 21.42.220. Validity of noncomplying forms. An insurance policy, rider, or endorsement issued and otherwise valid that contains a condition or provision not in compliance with the requirements of this title, is not thereby rendered invalid but shall be construed and applied in accordance with the conditions and provisions as would have applied had the policy, rider, or endorsement been in full compliance with this title. Sec. 21.42.230. Construction of policies. Each insurance contract shall be construed according to the entirety of its terms and conditions as set out in the policy and as amplified, extended, or modified by a rider, endorsement, or application that is a part of the policy. Sec. 21.42.240. Binders. (a) A binder or other contract for temporary insurance may be made orally or in writing and shall be considered to include all the usual terms of the policy as to which the binder was given together with the applicable endorsements designated in the binder, except as superseded by the clear and express terms of the binder. (b) A binder is not valid after the issuance of the policy with respect to which it was given, or after 90 days from its effective date, whichever period is the shortest. (c) If the policy has not been issued a binder may be extended or renewed after the 90 days with the written approval of the insurer. (d) This section does not apply to life or health insurances. Sec. 21.42.250. Delivery or posting of policy; notifications. (a) An insurer shall provide a policy or endorsement to the insured or to the person entitled to it by mail or delivery or by posting on the insurer's Internet website under (c) of this section within a reasonable period of time after its issuance. The insurer is not required to mail, deliver, or post the policy or endorsement until all conditions required by the insurer have been met by the insured. (b) If the original policy is delivered or is required to be delivered to or for deposit with a vendor, mortgagee, or pledgee of a motor vehicle or aircraft, and in which policy an interest of the vendee, mortgagor, or pledgor in or with reference to the vehicle or aircraft is insured, a duplicate of the policy setting out the name and address of the insurer, insurance classification of vehicle or aircraft, type of coverage, limits of liability, premiums for the respective coverages, and duration of the policy or memorandum thereof containing the same information, shall be delivered by the vendor, mortgagee, or pledgee to each vendee, mortgagor, or pledgor named in the policy or coming within the group of persons designated in the policy to be included. If the policy does not provide coverage of legal liability for injury to persons or damage to the property of third parties, a statement of the facts shall be printed, written, or stamped conspicuously on the face of the duplicate policy or memorandum. (c) An insurer may provide an insurance policy or endorsement by posting the policy or endorsement on the insurer's Internet website and clearly identifying the posted policy or endorsement purchased by the insured in the declaration page provided to the insured. An insurance policy or endorsement posted under this subsection (1) must contain the standard or uniform provisions required by AS 21.42.140 ; (2) must be in a form approved by the director under AS 21.42.120 ; (3) must be posted in a manner that reasonably allows the insured to retrieve and print or save the policy or endorsement from the website without paying a fee; (4) must remain posted on the insurer's Internet website during the time that the policy or endorsement is in effect, be retained by the insurer for not less than three years after the policy or endorsement is no longer in effect, and be made available to the insured on request; and (5) may not include personally identifiable information. (d) The insurer shall notify the insured at the time of issuance or renewal of the method by which the insured may request and the insurer shall provide a paper or electronic copy of the insured's policy or endorsement without the insured paying a fee. (e) If the policy or endorsement change or the means of obtaining policy information from the insurer's Internet website changes, the insurer shall notify the insured in the manner the insurer customarily communicates with an insured. Sec. 21.42.260. Renewal by certificate. An insurance policy terminating by its terms at a specified expiration date and not otherwise renewable, may be renewed or extended at the option of the insurer upon a currently authorized policy form and at the premium rate then required for the policy, for a specific additional period or periods by certificate or by endorsement of the policy, without requiring the issuance of a new policy. Sec. 21.42.265. Effective date of coverage. Unless otherwise provided by law, the effective date of a change relating to coverage under an insurance contract as a result of a change to this title is the issue date for a new policy or the renewal date for a renewal policy. Sec. 21.42.270. Assignment of policies. A policy may be assignable or nonassignable, depending upon its terms. Subject to its terms relating to its assignability, a life, group life, or health insurance policy, whether issued before or after July 1, 1966, under the terms of which the beneficiary may be changed upon the sole request of the insured, may be assigned either by pledge or transfer of title by an assignment executed by the insured alone and delivered to the insurer, whether or not the pledgee or assignee is the insurer. The assignment entitles the insurer to deal with the assignee as the owner or pledgee of the policy in accordance with the terms of the assignment until the insurer has received at its home office written notice of termination of the assignment or pledge, or written notice by or on behalf of some other person claiming an interest in the policy that is in conflict with the assignment. Sec. 21.42.280. Payment discharges insurer. When the proceeds of or payments under a life or health insurance policy or annuity contract, whether issued before or after July 1, 1966, become payable in accordance with the terms of the policy or contract, or the exercise of a right or privilege under the policy or contract and the insurer makes payment in accordance with the terms of the policy or contract or in accordance with a written assignment, the person then designated under the policy as being entitled to the proceeds or payments shall be entitled to receive the proceeds or payments and to give full acquittance for them. The payments shall fully discharge the insurer from all claims under the policy or contract unless, before payment is made, the insurer has received at its home office written notice by or on behalf of another person that the other person claims to be entitled to the payment or some interest in the policy or contract. Sec. 21.42.290. Minor may give acquittance. (a) A minor domiciled in this state who has attained the age of 16 years shall be considered competent to receive and to give full acquittance and discharge for a payment or payments in aggregate amount not exceeding $3,000 in any one year made by a life insurer under the maturity, death, or settlement agreement provisions in effect or elected by the minor under a life insurance policy or annuity contract, if the policy, contract, or agreement provides for the payment or payments to the minor, and if before the payment the insurer has not received written notice of the appointment of a duly qualified guardian of the property of the minor. A minor is not competent to alienate to the right to or to anticipate the payments. (b) This section does not require an insurer to determine whether another insurer is effecting a similar payment to the same minor. Sec. 21.42.300. Forms for proof of loss to be furnished. An insurer shall furnish, upon written request of the person claiming to have a loss under an insurance contract issued by the insurer, forms of proof of loss for completion by the person, but the insurer is not, by reason of the requirement to furnish forms, responsible for or with reference to the completion of the proof or the manner of the completion or attempted completion. Sec. 21.42.310. Claims administration not waiver. Without limitation of a right or defense of an insurer otherwise, none of the following acts by or on behalf of an insurer constitute a waiver of a provision of a policy or of a defense of the insurer thereunder: (1) acknowledgment of the receipt of notice of loss or claim under the policy; (2) furnishing forms for reporting a loss or claim, for giving information relative to it, or for making proof of loss, or receiving or acknowledging receipt of forms or proofs completed or uncompleted; (3) investigating a loss or claim under a policy or engaging in negotiations for a possible settlement of the loss or claim. Sec. 21.42.315. Separate accounts. (a) A domestic life insurance company may establish one or more separate accounts, and may allocate to an account amounts, including proceeds applied under optional methods of settlement or under divided options, to provide for life insurance or annuities and benefits incidental to the account, payable in fixed or variable amounts or both. (b) The income, gains, and losses, realized or unrealized, from assets allocated to a separate account shall be credited to or charged against the account, without regard to other income, gains, or losses of the company. (c) Except as may be provided for reserves for guaranteed benefits and funds referred to in (d) of this section, amounts allocated to a separate account and accumulations to it may be invested and reinvested in securities eligible for investment for life insurance companies without regard to quantitative investment limitations prescribed by law for life insurance companies. The investments from separate accounts may not be considered in applying the investment limitations otherwise applicable to the investments of the company. (d) Reserves for benefits guaranteed as to dollar amount and duration and for funds guaranteed as to principal amount or stated rate of interest may not be maintained in a separate account, unless approved by the director and in accordance with conditions as to investments and other matters prescribed by the director. In imposing conditions, the director shall take into consideration the guaranteed nature of the benefits provided. (e) Unless otherwise approved by the director, (1) assets allocated to a separate account shall be valued at their market value on the date of valuation, or if there is no readily available market, then as provided under the terms of the contract or the rules or other written agreement applicable to a separate account; and (2) the portion of the assets of a separate account equal to the company's reserve liability for the guaranteed benefits and funds referred to in (d) of this section shall be valued under the rules applicable to the valuation of the company's other assets. (f) Amounts allocated to a separate account as provided in this section shall be owned by the company, and the company may not be, nor hold itself out to be, a trustee for those amounts. If the applicable contracts so provide, that portion of the assets of a separate account equal to the reserves and other contract liabilities of that account may not be chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business the company may conduct. (g) A sale, exchange, or other transfer of assets may not be made by a company among its separate accounts or between other investment accounts and one or more of its separate accounts, unless, in the case of a transfer into a separate account, the transfer is made solely to establish the account or to support the operation of the contracts of the separate account to which the transfer is made, and unless the transfer, whether into or from a separate account, is made (1) by a transfer of cash, or (2) by a transfer of securities having a readily determinable market value, unless the transfer of securities is approved by the director. The director may approve other transfers among these accounts if the transfers would be equitable. (h) To the extent the company considers it necessary in order to comply with applicable federal or state laws, the company may give persons having an interest in a separate account, including a separate account that is a management investment company or a unit investment trust, appropriate voting and other rights and may adopt special procedures for the conduct of the business of the account which include special rights and procedures relating to investment policy, investment advisory services, selection of independent public accountants, and the selection of a committee, the members of which need not be otherwise affiliated with the company, to manage the business of the account. (i) A contract providing benefits payable in variable amounts delivered or issued for delivery in this state must contain a statement of the essential features of the procedures to be followed by the insurance company in determining the dollar amount of the variable benefits. A contract under which the benefits vary to reflect investment experience, including a group contract and certificate in evidence of variable benefits issued under it, must state that the dollar benefit amount will vary and must contain on its first page a statement that the benefits under it are on a variable basis. (j) A company may not deliver or issue for delivery in this state variable contracts unless it is licensed or organized to undertake a life insurance or annuity business in this state. The director may review the company's financial condition or method of operation for the issuance of contracts payable in variable amounts to determine whether the company's operation is hazardous to the public or its policyholders in this state. During the review the director shall consider (1) the history and financial condition of the company; (2) the character, responsibility, and fitness of the officers and directors of the company; and (3) the laws and regulations under which the company is authorized in the state of domicile to issue variable contracts. If the company is a subsidiary of an admitted life insurance company, or affiliated with an admitted company through common management or ownership, the director may consider that the company meets the provisions of this subsection if either it or the parent or the affiliated company meets the requirements of this subsection. If the company fails to meet the requirements contained in this subsection, the director may suspend the certificate of authority of the company until the requirements are met or may prohibit the further issuance of variable contracts. (k) The director has sole authority to regulate the issuance and sale of variable contracts, to examine and license agents to sell variable contracts, and to adopt regulations considered appropriate to carry out the purposes and provisions of this section. (l) Except for AS 21.45.030 , 21.45.080, 21.45.110, 21.45.180, 21.45.230, 21.45.240, 21.45.290, 21.45.300, and AS 21.48.110 , and except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of this title apply to separate accounts and contracts relating to them. An individual variable life insurance contract delivered or issued for delivery in the state must contain grace reinstatement and nonforfeiture provisions appropriate to that contract. An individual variable annuity contract delivered or issued for delivery in the state must contain grace and reinstatement provisions appropriate for that contract. A group variable life insurance contract delivered or issued for delivery in the state must contain a grace provision appropriate for that contract. The reserve liability for variable contracts shall be established in accordance with actuarial procedures, acceptable to the director, that recognize the variable nature of the benefits provided and any mortality guarantees. Secs. 21.42.320 — 21.42.340. Exemption of life insurance, group life insurance, and disability insurance proceeds. [Repealed, § 14 ch 62 SLA 1982. For current law see AS 09.38.025 (a), 09.38.030(e), and 09.38.050.] Article 2. Specific Coverage Provisions. Sec. 21.42.345. Required provision for coverage of dependents. (a) A health care insurance plan providing coverage for a dependent of a covered individual shall, as to the dependent's coverage, also provide that the health care insurance benefits applicable for dependents shall be payable with respect to (1) a newly born child of a covered individual from the moment of birth; (2) a child adopted by a covered individual from the date of adoption; (3) a child placed with a covered individual for adoption from the date of placement for adoption; and (4) a spouse from not later than the first day of the first month beginning after the date the request for enrollment is received, but the insurer may require that a request for enrollment be received within 31 days of the date of marriage. (b) The coverage for a newly born child under this section shall consist of coverage of injury or sickness, including the necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities. (c) If payment of a specific charge is required to provide coverage for a child under this section, the policy or contract may require that notification of birth of a newly born child, adopted child, or child placed for adoption and payment of the required premium or fees may be required to be furnished to the health care insurer within 31 days after the date of birth, adoption, or placement for adoption in order to have the coverage continue beyond the 31-day period. (d) Under (a) — (c) of this section, a health care insurer shall offer coverage for a family member, including a newly born child, adopted child, or child placed for adoption, regardless of the marital status of the covered individual. Sec. 21.42.347. Coverage for costs of birth. (a) A health care insurer who provides coverage for the costs of childbirth shall also provide coverage for the costs of hospitalization or medical care following childbirth for a period of not less than (1) 48 hours after a vaginal birth; and (2) 96 hours after a caesarean birth. (b) Except as otherwise required to provide coverage specified under (a) of this section, this section does not affect a payment arrangement entered into between a hospital or health care provider and a health care insurer. (c) This section may not be construed to require hospitalization or medical care as described under (a)(1) or (2) of this section if the mother giving birth and the mother's health care provider agree that the mother and any newborn child of the mother should be discharged earlier than required under (a)(1) or (2) of this section. (d) In this section, (1) “health care insurer” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; “health care insurer” includes the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association as described in AS 21.55.010 ; (2) “health care provider” means a person licensed in this state to provide health care services. Sec. 21.42.349. Coverage for newborn and infant hearing screening. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage for newborn and infant hearing screening under the schedule described in (b) of this section if the plan covers services provided to women during pregnancy and childbirth and the dependents of a covered individual. (b) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section includes (1) a newborn or infant hearing screening to be performed within 30 days after the child's birth;

and (2) if the initial screening under (1) of this subsection determines that the child may have a hearing impairment, a confirmatory hearing diagnostic evaluation. (c) The coverage required by this section may be subject to standard policy provisions that are applicable to other benefits, such as deductible or copayment provisions. Sec. 21.42.350. Exemption of proceeds, annuity contracts. [Repealed, § 14 ch 62 SLA 1982. For current law see AS 09.38.025 (a).] Sec. 21.42.351. Coverage for well-baby exams. (a) A health care insurer that offers health care insurance that covers a dependent of a covered individual shall, initially and at each renewal, offer coverage for the cost of well-baby exams. The coverage required to be offered by this section is subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, including deductible or copayment provisions. (b) In this section, (1) “health care insurer” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; (2) “health care professional” means a health aide, physician, nurse, and physician assistant, but does not include a practitioner of religious healing; (3) “well-baby exam” means (A) a periodic physical examination by a qualified health care professional of a baby during the first 24 months of life in which information is collected on matters including normal development, growth rate, hearing, vision, language skills, motor development, diet, general care, preventative health care, immunizations, and infectious diseases; and (B) consultation between the health care professional and a parent. Sec. 21.42.353. Coverage for the costs of acupuncture treatment. Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan may offer coverage for services of an acupuncturist licensed under AS 08.06 if the plan covers acupuncture treatment by a health care provider who is subject to other provisions of AS 08 . Sec. 21.42.355. Coverage for cost of services provided by certified nurse midwives. (a) If a health care insurance plan or an excepted benefits policy or contract provides indemnity for the cost of services of a physician provided to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period after childbirth, indemnity in a reasonable amount shall also be provided for the cost of an advanced practice registered nurse who provides the same services. Indemnity may be provided under this subsection only if the advanced practice registered nurse is practicing as a certified nurse midwife in accordance with regulations adopted under AS 08.68.100 (a), and the services provided are within the scope of practice of that certification. (b) If a health care insurance plan or an excepted benefits policy or contract provides for furnishing those services required of a physician in the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period after childbirth, the contract shall also provide that an advanced practice registered nurse may furnish those same services instead of a physician. Services may be provided under this subsection only if the advanced practice registered nurse is practicing as a certified nurse midwife in accordance with regulations adopted under AS 08.68.100 (a), and the services provided are within the scope of practice of that certification. Sec. 21.42.360. Definitions. [Repealed, § 11 ch 163 SLA 1976. For current law see AS 21.97 .] Sec. 21.42.363. Eye care under health insurance. A policy, contract, or prepaid plan for individual or group health insurance issued or delivered in the state that provides reimbursement for a service within the lawful scope of practice of an optometrist licensed under AS 08.72 must provide for reimbursement to a person covered under the policy, contract, or plan who had the service performed by an optometrist. Sec. 21.42.365. Coverage for treatment of alcoholism or drug abuse. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan providing coverage for five or more employees of an employer in the group market shall offer a covered employee or the employee's dependent coverage for the treatment of alcoholism or drug abuse. (b) In this section, “alcoholism or drug abuse” means an illness characterized by (1) a physiological or psychological dependency, or both, on alcoholic beverages or controlled substances as defined in AS 11.71.900 ; or (2) habitual lack of self-control in using alcoholic beverages or controlled substances to the extent that the person's health is substantially impaired or the person's social or economic function is substantially disrupted. Sec. 21.42.370. [Renumbered as AS 21.42.315 .] Sec. 21.42.375. Coverage for mammograms. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage for low-dose mammography screening under the schedule described in (b) of this section if the plan covers mastectomies and prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery incident to mastectomies. (b) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section includes (1) a baseline mammogram for a covered individual who is at least 35 years of age but less than 40 years of age; (2) one mammogram every two years for a covered individual who is at least 40 years of age but less than 50 years of age; (3) an annual mammogram for a covered individual who is at least 50 years of age; (4) a mammogram at any age for a covered individual with a history of breast cancer or whose parent or sibling has a history of breast cancer, upon referral by a physician. (c) The coverage required by this section (1) must be included in the health care insurance plan on a basis that is not less favorable than for other radiological examinations; (2) may be subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, such as deductible or copayment provisions. (d) [Repealed, § 115 ch 81 SLA 1997.] (e) In this section, (1) “diagnostic breast examination” means an examination of the breast using contrast-enhanced mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, breast ultrasound, or other equipment dedicated specifically for mammography conducted to evaluate an abnormality (A) detected or suspected in a screening examination for breast cancer; or (B) detected by another means of examination; (2) “low-dose mammography screening” and “mammogram” mean the X-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the X-ray tube, filter, compression device, screens, films, and cassettes, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad mid-breast, with two views for each breast; (3) “supplemental breast examination” means an examination of the breast using contrast-enhanced mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, breast ultrasound, or other equipment dedicated specifically for mammography conducted based on (A) the insured's personal or family medical history of breast cancer; or (B) other factors that may increase the insured's risk of breast cancer. (f) Except as necessary to qualify a plan as a high deductible health plan eligible for a health savings account tax deduction under 26 U.S.C. 223 (Internal Revenue Code), a health care insurer that offers, issues, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in the individual or group market in the state that provides coverage for mammography screening, diagnostic breast examinations, and supplemental breast examinations may not impose cost sharing, a deductible, coinsurance, a copayment obligation, or another similar out-of-pocket expense on an insured for coverage of a low-dose mammography screening, diagnostic breast examination, or supplemental breast examination. Sec. 21.42.377. Coverage for colorectal cancer screening. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage for the costs of colorectal cancer screening examinations and laboratory tests under the schedule described in (b) of this section. The coverage required by this section is subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, including deductible or copayment provisions. (b) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section for colorectal cancer screening includes coverage for colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests specified in American Cancer Society guidelines for colorectal cancer screening of asymptomatic individuals. Coverage shall be provided for all colorectal screening examinations and tests that are administered at a frequency identified in the American Cancer Society guidelines for colorectal cancer. (c) Coverage provided under this section applies to a covered individual who is (1) at least 50 years of age; or (2) less than 50 years of age and at high risk for colorectal cancer. (d) All screening options identified in (b) of this section shall be covered by the insurer, with the choice of option determined by the covered individual in consultation with a health care provider. (e) For individuals considered at average risk for colorectal cancer, coverage or benefits shall be provided for the choice of screening, so long as it is conducted in accordance with the specified frequency. For individuals considered at high risk for colorectal cancer, screening shall be provided at a frequency determined necessary by a health care provider. (f) An employer that provides a health care insurance plan under this section shall notify each covered individual of the coverage for colorectal cancer screenings unless coverage for colorectal cancer screening previously exists. The notice shall be included in the health benefit handbook or be provided by written or electronic communication between an employer or health plan administrator and a covered individual. However, if the covered individual purchases the health care insurance plan from the insurer issuing the policy, the insurer is responsible for notifying the covered individual of the coverage for colorectal cancer screening under this section. (g) In this section, “individual considered at high risk for colorectal cancer” means an individual who faces a high risk for colorectal cancer because of (1) family history; (2) prior experience of cancer or precursor neoplastic polyps; (3) a history of a chronic digestive disease condition, including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's Disease, or ulcerative colitis; (4) the presence of any appropriate recognized gene markers for colorectal cancer; or (5) other predisposing factors. Sec. 21.42.380. Coverage for treatment of phenylketonuria. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage under the plan for the formulas necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria. This subsection does not apply to a health care insurance plan that the director has determined by order should be excluded from this subsection. (b) A health care insurer providing coverage under this section may impose reasonable contract limitations but may not refuse coverage based on a preexisting condition of phenylketonuria or require that an individual covered under the plan pay a higher deductible or copayment for the cost of treating phenylketonuria than for the cost of treating another condition or illness. (c) In this section, “cost” means the lowest of the following: (1) the actual charge for the treatment received for phenylketonuria; (2) the usual, customary, and reasonable charge for the treatment as determined by the contract of coverage; or (3) the charge agreed to by contract between the treatment provider and the health care insurer. Sec. 21.42.385. Dental, vision, and hearing coverage. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan, including a Medicare supplement policy to the extent not prohibited by 42 U.S.C. 1395 (Social Security Act), shall offer to each plan sponsor or individual minimum dental, vision, and hearing coverage described in (b) of this section. Coverage required under this subsection may be offered as a rider or in a separate policy. (b) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section (1) may be provided under contract with another health care insurer; (2) may not be less than the dental, vision, and hearing coverage provided on July 1, 2009, to an individual entitled to medical benefits under AS 39.35.535 (public employees' retirement system of Alaska); and (3) shall be adjusted by the director on July 1, 2012, and every three years thereafter to correspond to changes in coverage provided to individuals entitled to medical benefits under AS 39.35.535 . (c) This section does not apply to a health care insurer that has written less than $300,000 in premiums in the previous calendar year. A health care insurer exempt under this subsection shall disclose the exemption when offering, issuing for delivery, delivering, or renewing a health care insurance plan or an excepted benefits contract, and shall advise the individual covered under the plan that health care insurers that have written more than $300,000 in premiums in the previous calendar year are required to offer coverage under (a) and (b) of this section. (d) This section does not require an insurer who offers only group insurance coverage under AS 21.54 to offer dental, vision, and hearing coverage to an individual. Sec. 21.42.390. Coverage for treatment of diabetes. (a) A health care insurer that offers in this state a health care insurance plan that includes coverage for pharmacy services shall initially and at each renewal provide coverage for the cost of treating diabetes, including medication, equipment, and supplies. All health care insurance plans must include coverage for outpatient self-management training or education, and medical nutrition therapy, if diabetes treatment is prescribed by a health care provider. The coverage required by this section is subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, including deductible or copayment provisions. Coverage for the cost of diabetes outpatient self-management training or education and for the cost of medical nutrition therapy is only required if provided by a health care provider with training in the treatment of diabetes. (b) [Repealed, § 2 ch 23 SLA 2000.] (c) In this section, (1) “diabetes” includes insulin-dependent diabetes, insulin-using diabetes, gestational diabetes, and non-insulin-using diabetes; (2) “health care provider” means a person licensed to provide health care services as required by the state. Sec. 21.42.392. Requirements relating to dental care coverage provisions. (a) A health care insurer who provides coverage for dental care may not include in the health care insurance plan or contract a provision that (1) prohibits a covered person from obtaining dental care services from a dentist of the person's choice, including a specialist; (2) restricts a covered person's right to receive full information from the person's dentist regarding the care or treatment options that the dentist believes are in the best interests of the person. (b) A health care insurance plan or contract that provides coverage for dental services that allows the health care insurer to review a treatment plan or conduct a utilization review must contain a provision that a treatment plan review or utilization review relating to dental care for a covered person receiving treatment in this state must be conducted by a dentist if the claim for reimbursement or payment is denied. (c) A health care insurer that provides coverage for dental care (1) may reimburse a covered person at a different rate because of the person's choice of a dentist if the dentist is not a part of the covered person's dental network or preferred provider organization agreement; the covered expense for non-network providers may not be less than that allowed to a network provider, although the covered expense may be reimbursed at a lower percentage or with higher deductibles than if the service had been provided within the network; (2) may not limit a fee set by a dentist for a service unless the service is covered under the insurer's plan or contract; and (3) may offer a dentist the option of entering into a preferred provider contract with the insurer that provides a fee schedule for covered services only or a fee schedule for both covered and uncovered services; under this paragraph, (A) the health care insurer may not (i) take an action against the dentist based on the dentist's refusal to enter into a contract with an insurer; (ii) fail to list a dentist who does not enter into a contract with an insurer in the insurer's marketing materials; or (iii) take action against the dentist during the management or administration of a contract based on the dentist's choice of contract; (B) the terms or provisions of the contract (i) may not violate AS 45.50.562 — 45.50.566; and (ii) may authorize the insurer to provide information to the insured describing the dentist's choice of contract and fee schedules; (C) “covered service” means a health care service for which a health care insurer pays a benefit for all or part of the service, including a benefit that is available but limited by deductible, coinsurance, or frequency terms under the contract between the insurer and the insured. (d) A health care insurer may not deny (1) dental coverage, cancel a health care insurance plan or contract, or otherwise take action against a covered person or a dentist because the person has asserted a right described in this section; (2) dental coverage or eligibility for dental coverage because the covered person chooses a dentist outside of a preferred provider organization agreement. (e) A covered person may bring a civil action against a health care insurer to enforce the person's rights under this section if the covered person has exhausted the administrative appeal process. (f) A dentist who treats a covered person may not waive uncovered dental expenses for which the covered person has liability because a covered person chose the dentist outside of a dental network or a preferred provider organization agreement. (g) In this section, (1) “covered expense” means charges that are payable under plan provisions; (2) “dentist” means a person licensed to practice dentistry; (3) “preferred provider” means a dental provider who has signed an agreement with a dental care plan to provide services to plan participants at a specific rate. Sec. 21.42.395. Coverage for prostate and cervical cancer detection. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage for the costs of prostate cancer screening tests as required under the schedule described in (b) of this section and shall provide coverage for the costs of cervical cancer screening tests as required under (c) of this section. The coverage required by this section is subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, including deductible or copayment provisions. If a physician recommends that a covered individual undergo prostate cancer screening by taking a prostate antigen blood test, coverage may not be denied because the covered individual has already had a digital rectal examination and the examination results were negative. (b) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section includes an annual prostate cancer screening test for a person who is (1) at least 35 years of age but less than 40 years of age and the person is in a high risk group; in this paragraph, “high risk” means a person who is an African-American or who has a family history of prostate cancer; or (2) 40 or more years of age. (c) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section for cervical cancer screening is an annual pap smear cancer screening test for a person who is 18 or more years of age. (d) [Repealed, § 115 ch 81 SLA 1997.] (e) In this section, “prostate cancer screening tests” includes a prostate antigen blood test or another test that is equivalent or better in cancer detection. Sec. 21.42.397. Coverage for autism spectrum disorders. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in this state shall provide coverage for the costs of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Coverage required by this subsection must include treatment prescribed by a licensed physician, psychologist, or advanced practice registered nurse, provided by or supervised by an autism service provider, and as identified in a treatment plan developed following a comprehensive evaluation. Covered treatment includes medically necessary pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, habilitative or rehabilitative care, and therapeutic care. In this subsection, (1) “habilitative or rehabilitative care” means professional counseling, guidance services, and treatment programs necessary to develop, restore, or maintain the functioning of an individual to the maximum extent practicable, including applied behavior analysis or other structured behavioral therapies; in this paragraph, “applied behavior analysis” means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, including direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relationship between environment and behavior, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior or to prevent the loss of an attained skill or function; (2) “therapeutic care” means services provided by or under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist licensed under AS 08.11 or an occupational therapist or physical therapist licensed under AS 08.84 . (b) Coverage under this section (1) is required to be provided only to individuals under 21 years of age; (2) may not limit the number of visits to an autism service provider for treatment; (3) is subject to copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions, and other general exclusions or limitations included in a health insurance policy to the same extent as other health care services covered by the policy; and (4) must cover medically necessary treatment that is coordinated with an education program, but may not be contingent on the coordination of treatment with an education program. (c) An insurer providing health care insurance to a small employer in the group market with 20 or fewer employees is not required to provide insurance coverage to the small employer that includes the coverage required under (a) of this section. (d) The director may waive the coverage required in this section for an insurer providing health care insurance to a small employer in the group market with 21 — 25 employees if the small employer demonstrates to the director by actual claims experience over any consecutive 12-month period that compliance with this section has increased the premium cost of the small employer's health insurance policy by three percent or more during the consecutive 12-month period. (e) This section does not limit benefits that are otherwise available to an individual under a health care insurance plan. (f) A health care insurer may not refuse to deliver, execute, issue, amend, or renew coverage to an individual or terminate coverage because the individual is diagnosed with or has received treatment for autism spectrum disorders. (g) In this section, (1) “autism service provider” means an individual who is licensed, certified, or registered by the applicable state licensing board or by a nationally recognized certifying organization and who provides direct services to an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; (2) “autism spectrum disorders” means pervasive developmental disorders, or a group of conditions having substantially the same characteristics as pervasive developmental disorders, as defined in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR, as amended or reissued from time to time; (3) “health care insurance plan” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; (4) “health care insurer” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; (5) “medically necessary” means any care, treatment, intervention, service, or item prescribed by a licensed physician, psychologist, or advanced practice registered nurse in accordance with accepted standards of practice that will, or is reasonably expected to, (A) prevent the onset of an illness, condition, injury, or disability; (B) reduce or ameliorate the physical, mental, or developmental effects of an illness, condition, injury, or disability; (C) assist to achieve or maintain maximum functional capacity in performing daily activities, taking into account both the functional capacity of the individual and the functional capacity of other persons of the individual's age. Sec. 21.42.400. Coverage for reconstructive surgery following mastectomy. A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan providing medical and surgical benefits for mastectomies shall comply with 42 U.S.C. 300gg-6 and 42 U.S.C. 300gg-52 regarding coverage for reconstructive surgery following mastectomies. Sec. 21.42.405. High deductible health plan. (a) A health care insurer that offers, issues, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in this state may apply deductible or copayment requirements to health care benefits and services that qualify the health care insurance plan as a high deductible health plan. (b) In this section, “high deductible health plan” has the meaning given in 26 U.S.C. 223 (Internal Revenue Code). Sec. 21.42.410. Coverage of dependent students on medically necessary leaves of absence. A health care insurer that offers a health care insurance plan in the individual or group market shall comply with the coverage requirements for dependent students on medically necessary leaves of absence under 42 U.S.C. 300gg-54. Sec. 21.42.415. Coverage for clinical trials related to cancer. (a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in the state shall cover routine patient care costs incurred by a patient enrolled in an approved clinical trial related to cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow stem cell disorders. (b) The health care insurer is required to provide coverage under this section only if the patient's treating physician determines that (1) there is no clearly superior noninvestigational treatment alternative; and (2) available clinical or preclinical data provide a reasonable expectation that the treatment provided in the clinical trial will be at least as efficacious as any noninvestigational alternative. (c) The coverage to be provided under (a) of this section must include payment for the costs of (1) prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care of cancer; (2) medical care for an approved clinical trial related to cancer that would otherwise be covered under a health care insurance plan if the medical care were not in connection with an approved clinical trial related to cancer; (3) items or services necessary to provide an investigational item or service; (4) the diagnosis or treatment of complications; (5) a drug or device approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration without regard to whether the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the drug or device for use in treating a patient's particular condition, but only to the extent that the drug or device is not paid for by the manufacturer, distributor, or provider of the drug or device; (6) services necessary to administer a drug or device under evaluation in the clinical trial; and (7) transportation for the patient that is primarily for and essential to the medical care. (d) The coverage to be provided under (a) of this section may not include the cost of (1) a drug or device that is associated with the clinical trial that has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; (2) housing, companion expenses, or other nonclinical expenses associated with the clinical trial; (3) an item or service provided solely to satisfy data collection and analysis and not used in the clinical management of the patient; (4) an item or service excluded from coverage under the patient's health care insurance plan; and (5) an item or service paid for or customarily paid for through grants or other funding. (e) The coverage required by this section is subject to the standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, including deductible, coinsurance, or copayment provisions. (f) This section does not apply to a fraternal benefit society. (g) In this section, “approved clinical trial” means a scientific study using human subjects designed to test and improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or palliative care of cancer, or the safety and effectiveness of a drug, device, or procedure used in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or palliative care of a subject, if the study is approved by (1) an institutional review board that complies with 45 C.F.R. Part 46; and (2) one or more of the following: (A) the United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, or its institutes or centers; (B) the United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Food and Drug Administration; (C) the United States Department of Defense; (D) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or (E) a nongovernmental research entity abiding by current National Institutes of Health guidelines. Sec. 21.42.420. Coverage for prescription drugs; specialty drug tiers prohibited. A health care insurer that offers, issues, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in the individual or group market in the state that provides coverage for prescription drugs for which cost sharing, deductibles, or copayment obligations are determined by unique categories or specialty tiers may impose cost sharing, deductibles, or copayment obligations for a unique category or specialty tier prescription drug that exceed the dollar amount of cost sharing, deductibles, or copayment obligations, as applicable, for a nonpreferred brand drug or the drug's equivalent, but only if the insurer notifies the insured of the cost sharing, deductible, or copayment terms applicable to unique categories or specialty tiers at least 90 days before the terms apply. Sec. 21.42.422. Coverage for telehealth. (a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, or renews in the state a health care insurance plan in the group or individual market shall provide coverage for benefits provided through telehealth by a health care provider licensed in this state and may not require that prior in-person contact occur between a health care provider and a patient before payment is made for covered services. (b) In this section, (1) “health care insurer” means a person transacting the business of health care insurance, including an insurance company licensed under AS 21.09 , a hospital or medical service corporation licensed under AS 21.87 , a fraternal benefit society licensed under AS 21.84 , a health maintenance organization licensed under AS 21.86 , the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association described in AS 21.55.010 , a multiple employer welfare arrangement, a church plan, and a governmental plan, except for a nonfederal governmental plan that elects to be excluded under 42 U.S.C. 300gg-21(a)(2) (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996); (2) “telehealth” has the meaning given in AS 47.05.270 (e). Sec. 21.42.425. Coverage for prescription topical eye medication. (a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in the group or individual market in the state that provides coverage for prescription topical eye medication shall allow the early refill of a prescription for a topical eye medication to treat a chronic condition before the last day of the prescribed dosage period, without regard to a coverage restriction. (b) A covered person may request an early refill under this section (1) not earlier than 23 days after a prescription for a 30-day supply is dispensed; (2) not earlier than 45 days after a prescription for a 60-day supply is dispensed; (3) not earlier than 68 days after a prescription for a 90-day supply is dispensed; (4) if the prescriber has indicated the number of refills needed; and (5) if the prescription topical eye medication being refilled is covered under the covered person's policy. (c) A covered person may receive an early refill under this section not more than once during the approved dosage period. (d) A covered person may only receive an early refill under this section if the refill does not exceed the number of refills prescribed. Sec. 21.42.430. Coverage for anti-cancer medication. (a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan that provides coverage for anti- cancer medications that are injected or intravenously administered by a health care provider and patient-administered anti-cancer medications, including those orally administered or self-injected, may not require a higher copayment, deductible, or coinsurance amount for a patient-administered medication than it requires for an anti- cancer medication injected or intravenously administered by a health care provider, regardless of the formulation or benefit category determination by the policy or plan. (b) A health care insurer may not offset the costs of compliance with (a) of this section by (1) increasing the copayment, deductible, or coinsurance amount required for anti-cancer medications injected or intravenously administered by a health care provider that are covered under the health insurance plan; or (2) reclassifying benefits with respect to anti-cancer medications. (c) Nothing in this section prohibits a health care insurance plan from requiring different cost-sharing rates for in-network and out-of-network providers or pharmacies. (d) In this section, “anti-cancer medication” means a drug or biologic used to kill cancerous cells, to slow or prevent the growth of cancerous cells, or to treat related side effects. Sec. 21.42.440. Coverage for costs of services provided by pharmacists. A policy, contract, or prepaid plan for individual or group health insurance issued or delivered in the state that provides coverage for services within the scope of practice of a pharmacist licensed under AS 08.80 must provide for coverage of and reimbursement for the services if performed by a pharmacist for a person covered under the policy, contract, or plan. Sec. 21.42.500. [Renumbered as AS 21.42.599 .] Sec. 21.42.599. Definitions. In AS 21.42.345 — 21.42.599, (1) “copayment” means the portion of medical care expenses in excess of the deductible to be paid by a covered individual; (2) “deductible” means the portion of medical care expenses for which a covered individual must pay before benefits become payable; (3) “excepted benefits” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.160 ; (4) “fraternal benefit society” has the meaning given in AS 21.84.900 ; (5) “health care insurance plan” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; “health care insurance plan” does not include short-term limited-duration insurance offered to individuals in the individual market; (6) “health care insurer” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ; (7) “individual market” has the meaning given in AS 21.51.500 ; (8) “placed for adoption” has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 . Article 3. Compact Concerning Annuity, Life, Disability, and Long-term Care Insurance. Sec. 21.42.700. Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact. The Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact contained in this section is enacted into law and entered into on behalf of the state with other states joining in it in a form substantially as set out in this section. The director of the division of insurance is designated as the representative of this state to the commission created by the compact. The purposes of this Compact are, through means of joint and cooperative action among the Compacting States: (1) To promote and protect the interest of consumers of individual and group annuity, life insurance, disability income and long-term care insurance products; (2) To develop uniform standards for insurance products covered under the Compact; (3) To establish a central clearinghouse to receive and provide prompt review of insurance products covered under the Compact and, in certain cases, advertisements related thereto, submitted by insurers authorized to do business in one or more Compacting States; (4) To give appropriate regulatory approval to those product filings and advertisements satisfying the applicable uniform standard; (5) To improve coordination of regulatory resources and expertise between state insurance departments regarding the setting of uniform standards and review of insurance products covered under the Compact; (6) To create the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission; and (7) To perform these and such other related functions as may be consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance. For purposes of this Compact: (1) “Advertisement” means any material designed to create public interest in a Product, or induce the public to purchase, increase, modify, reinstate, borrow on, surrender, replace or retain a policy, as more specifically defined in the Rules and Operating Procedures of the Commission. (2) “Bylaws” mean those bylaws established by the Commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling the Commission's actions or conduct. (3) “Compacting State” means any State which has enacted this Compact legislation and which has not withdrawn pursuant to Article XIV, Section 1, or been terminated pursuant to Article XIV, Section 2. (4) “Commission” means the “Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission” established by this Compact. (5) “Commissioner” means the chief insurance regulatory official of a State including, but not limited to commissioner, superintendent, director or administrator. (6) “Domiciliary State” means the state in which an Insurer is incorporated or organized; or, in the case of an alien Insurer, its state of entry. (7) “Insurer” means any entity licensed by a State to issue contracts of insurance for any of the lines of insurance covered by this Act. (8) “Member” means the person chosen by a Compacting State as its representative to the Commission, or his or her designee. (9) “Non-compacting State” means any State which is not at the time a Compacting State. (10) “Operating Procedures” mean procedures promulgated by the Commission implementing a Rule, Uniform Standard or a provision of this Compact. (11) “Product” means the form of a policy or contract, including any application, endorsement, or related form which is attached to and made a part of the policy or contract, and any evidence of coverage or certificate, for an individual or group annuity, life insurance, disability income or long-term care insurance product that an Insurer is authorized to issue. (12) “Rule” means a statement of general or particular applicability and future effect promulgated by the Commission, including a Uniform Standard developed pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of the Commission, which shall have the force and effect of law in the Compacting States. (13) “State” means any state, district or territory of the United States of America. (14) “Third-Party Filer” means an entity that submits a Product filing to the Commission on behalf of an Insurer. (15) “Uniform Standard” means a standard adopted by the Commission for a Product line, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, and shall include all of the Product requirements in aggregate; provided, that each Uniform Standard shall be construed, whether express or implied, to prohibit the use of any inconsistent, misleading or ambiguous provisions in a Product and the form of the Product made available to the public shall not be unfair, inequitable or against public policy as determined by the Commission. (1) The Compacting States hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the “Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.” Pursuant to Article IV, the Commission will have the power to develop Uniform Standards for Product lines, receive and provide prompt review of Products filed therewith, and give approval to those Product filings satisfying applicable Uniform Standards; provided, it is not intended for the Commission to be the exclusive entity for receipt and review of insurance product filings. Nothing herein shall prohibit any Insurer from filing its product in any State wherein the Insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance; and any such filing shall be subject to the laws of the State where filed. (2) The Commission is a body corporate and politic, and an instrumentality of the Compacting States. (3) The Commission is solely responsible for its liabilities except as otherwise specifically provided in this Compact. (4) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a Court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission shall have the following powers: (1) To promulgate Rules, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in this Compact; (2) To exercise its rule-making authority and establish reasonable Uniform Standards for Products covered under the Compact, and Advertisement related thereto, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the Compacting States, but only for those Products filed with the Commission, provided, that a Compacting State shall have the right to opt out of such Uniform Standard pursuant to Article VII, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Compact, and, provided further, that any Uniform Standard established by the Commission for long-term care insurance products may provide the same or greater protections for consumers as, but shall not provide less than, those protections set forth in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act and Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation, respectively, adopted as of 2001. The Commission shall consider whether any subsequent amendments to the NAIC Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act or Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation adopted by the NAIC require amending of the Uniform Standards established by the Commission for long-term care insurance products; (3) To receive and review in an expeditious manner Products filed with the Commission, and rate filings for disability income and long-term care insurance Products, and give approval of those Products and rate filings that satisfy the applicable Uniform Standard, where such approval shall have the force and effect of law and be binding on the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in the Compact; (4) To receive and review in an expeditious manner Advertisement relating to long-term care insurance products for which Uniform Standards have been adopted by the Commission, and give approval to all Advertisement that satisfies the applicable Uniform Standard. For any product covered under this Compact, other than longterm care insurance products, the Commission shall have the authority to require an insurer to submit all or any part of its Advertisement with respect to that product for review or approval prior to use, if the Commission determines that the nature of the product is such that an Advertisement of the product could have the capacity or tendency to mislead the public. The actions of the Commission as provided in this section shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in the Compact; (5) To exercise its rule-making authority and designate Products and Advertisement that may be subject to a self-certification process without the need for prior approval by the Commission. (6) To promulgate Operating Procedures, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, which shall be binding in the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in this Compact; (7) To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in its name as the Commission; provided, that the standing of any state insurance department to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected; (8) To issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence; (9) To establish and maintain offices; (10) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds; (11) To borrow, accept or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a Compacting State; (12) To hire employees, professionals or specialists, and elect or appoint officers, and to fix their compensation, define their duties and give them appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and determine their qualifications; and to establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to, among other things, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation and qualifications of personnel; (13) To accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety; (14) To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety; (15) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed; (16) To remit filing fees to Compacting States as may be set forth in the Bylaws, Rules or Operating Procedures; (17) To enforce compliance by Compacting States with Rules, Uniform Standards, Operating Procedures and Bylaws; (18) To provide for dispute resolution among Compacting States; (19) To advise Compacting States on issues relating to Insurers domiciled or doing business in Non-compacting jurisdictions, consistent with the purposes of this Compact; (20) To provide advice and training to those personnel in state insurance departments responsible for product review, and to be a resource for state insurance departments; (21) To establish a budget and make expenditures; (22) To borrow money; (23) To appoint committees, including advisory committees comprising Members, state insurance regulators, state legislators or their representatives, insurance industry and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in the Bylaws;

(24) To provide and receive information from, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies; (25) To adopt and use a corporate seal; and (26) To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance. (1) Membership, Voting and Bylaws (a) Each Compacting State shall have and be limited to one Member. Each Member shall be qualified to serve in that capacity pursuant to applicable law of the Compacting State. Any Member may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the State from which he or she shall be appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the Commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the Compacting State wherein the vacancy exists. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the manner in which a Compacting State determines the election or appointment and qualification of its own Commissioner. (b) Each Member shall be entitled to one vote and shall have an opportunity to participate in the governance of the Commission in accordance with the Bylaws. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no action of the Commission with respect to the promulgation of a Uniform Standard shall be effective unless two-thirds (2/3) of the Members vote in favor thereof. (c) The Commission shall, by a majority of the Members, prescribe Bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes, and exercise the powers, of the Compact, including, but not limited to: (i) Establishing the fiscal year of the Commission; (ii) Providing reasonable procedures for appointing and electing members, as well as holding meetings, of the Management Committee; (iii) Providing reasonable standards and procedures: (i) for the establishment and meetings of other committees, and (ii) governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the Commission; (iv) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Commission that consists of a majority of Commission members, ensuring reasonable advance notice of each such meeting and providing for the right of citizens to attend each such meeting with enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's interest, the privacy of individuals, and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets. The Commission may meet in camera only after a majority of the entire membership votes to close a meeting en toto or in part. As soon as practicable, the Commission must make public (i) a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each Member with no proxy votes allowed, and (ii) votes taken during such meeting; (v) Establishing the titles, duties and authority and reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the Commission; (vi) Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the Commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar laws of any Compacting State, the Bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the Commission; (vii) Promulgating a code of ethics to address permissible and prohibited activities of commission members and employees; and (viii) Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of the Commission and the equitable disposition of any surplus funds that may exist after the termination of the Compact after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and obligations. (d) The Commission shall publish its bylaws in a convenient form and file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the Compacting States. (2) Management Committee, Officers and Personnel (a) A Management Committee comprising no more than fourteen (14) members shall be established as follows: (i) One (1) member from each of the six (6) Compacting States with the largest premium volume for individual and group annuities, life, disability income and long-term care insurance products, determined from the records of the NAIC for the prior year; (ii) Four (4) members from those Compacting States with at least two percent (2%) of the market based on the premium volume described above, other than the six (6) Compacting States with the largest premium volume, selected on a rotating basis as provided in the Bylaws; and (iii) Four (4) members from those Compacting States with less than two percent (2%) of the market, based on the premium volume described above, with one (1) selected from each of the four (4) zone regions of the NAIC as provided in the Bylaws. (b) The Management Committee shall have such authority and duties as may be set forth in the Bylaws, including but not limited to: (i) managing the affairs of the Commission in a manner consistent with the Bylaws and purposes of the Commission; (ii) establishing and overseeing an organizational structure within, and appropriate procedures for, the Commission to provide for the creation of Uniform Standards and other Rules, receipt and review of product filings, administrative and technical support functions, review of decisions regarding the disapproval of a product filing, and the review of elections made by a Compacting State to opt out of a Uniform Standard; provided that a Uniform Standard shall not be submitted to the Compacting States for adoption unless approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Management Committee; (iii) overseeing the offices of the Commission; and (iv) planning, implementing, and coordinating communications and activities with other state, federal and local government organizations in order to advance the goals of the Commission. (c) The Commission shall elect annually officers from the Management Committee, with each having such authority and duties, as may be specified in the Bylaws. (d) The Management Committee may, subject to the approval of the Commission, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the Commission may deem appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the Commission, but shall not be a Member of the Commission. The executive director shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Commission. (3) Legislative and Advisory Committees (a) A legislative committee comprising state legislators or their designees shall be established to monitor the operations of, and make recommendations to, the Commission, including the Management Committee; provided that the manner of selection and term of any legislative committee member shall be as set forth in the Bylaws. Prior to the adoption by the Commission of any Uniform Standard, revision to the Bylaws, annual budget or other significant matter as may be provided in the Bylaws, the Management Committee shall consult with and report to the legislative committee. (b) The Commission shall establish two (2) advisory committees, one of which shall comprise consumer representatives independent of the insurance industry, and the other comprising insurance industry representatives. (c) The Commission may establish additional advisory committees as its Bylaws may provide for the carrying out of its functions. (4) Corporate Records of the Commission. The Commission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the Bylaws. (5) Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification (a) The Members, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person. (b) The Commission shall defend any Member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful and wanton misconduct. (c) The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any Member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person. (1) The Commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this Compact and the Bylaws. (2) Each Member of the Commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that Compacting State is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. A Member shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the Bylaws. The Bylaws may provide for Members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication. (3) The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the Bylaws. (1) Rulemaking Authority. The Commission shall promulgate reasonable Rules, including Uniform Standards, and Operating Procedures in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this Compact. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this Act, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect. (2) Rulemaking Procedure. Rules and Operating Procedures shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking process that conforms to the Model State Administrative Procedure Act of 1981 as amended, as may be appropriate to the operations of the Commission. Before the Commission adopts a Uniform Standard, the Commission shall give written notice to the relevant state legislative committee(s) in each Compacting State responsible for insurance issues of its intention to adopt the Uniform Standard. The Commission in adopting a Uniform Standard shall consider fully all submitted materials and issue a concise explanation of its decision. (3) Effective Date and Opt Out of a Uniform Standard. A Uniform Standard shall become effective ninety (90) days after its promulgation by the Commission or such later date as the Commission may determine; provided, however, that a Compacting State may opt out of a Uniform Standard as provided in this Article. “Opt out” shall be defined as any action by a Compacting State to decline to adopt or participate in a promulgated Uniform Standard. All other Rules and Operating Procedures, and amendments thereto, shall become effective as of the date specified in each Rule, Operating Procedure or amendment. (4) Opt Out Procedure. A Compacting State may opt out of a Uniform Standard, either by legislation or regulation duly promulgated by the Insurance Department under the Compacting State's Administrative Procedure Act. If a Compacting State elects to opt out of a Uniform Standard by regulation, it must (a) give written notice to the Commission no later than ten (10) business days after the Uniform Standard is promulgated, or at the time the State becomes a Compacting State and (b) find that the Uniform Standard does not provide reasonable protections to the citizens of the State, given the conditions in the State. The Commissioner shall make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law, based on a preponderance of the evidence, detailing the conditions in the State which warrant a departure from the Uniform Standard and determining that the Uniform Standard would not reasonably protect the citizens of the State. The Commissioner must consider and balance the following factors and find that the conditions in the State and needs of the citizens of the State outweigh: (i) the intent of the legislature to participate in, and the benefits of, an interstate agreement to establish national uniform consumer protections for the Products subject to this Act; and (ii) the presumption that a Uniform Standard adopted by the Commission provides reasonable protections to consumers of the relevant Product. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Compacting State may, at the time of its enactment of this Compact, prospectively opt out of all Uniform Standards involving long-term care insurance products by expressly providing for such opt out in the enacted Compact, and such an opt out shall not be treated as a material variance in the offer or acceptance of any State to participate in this Compact. Such an opt out shall be effective at the time of enactment of this Compact by the Compacting State and shall apply to all existing Uniform Standards involving long-term care insurance products and those subsequently promulgated. (5) Effect of Opt Out. If a Compacting State elects to opt out of a Uniform Standard, the Uniform Standard shall remain applicable in the Compacting State electing to opt out until such time the opt out legislation is enacted into law or the regulation opting out becomes effective. Once the opt out of a Uniform Standard by a Compacting State becomes effective as provided under the laws of that State, the Uniform Standard shall have no further force and effect in that State unless and until the legislation or regulation implementing the opt out is repealed or otherwise becomes ineffective under the laws of the State. If a Compacting State opts out of a Uniform Standard after the Uniform Standard has been made effective in that State, the opt out shall have the same prospective effect as provided under Article XIV for withdrawals. (6) Stay of Uniform Standard. If a Compacting State has formally initiated the process of opting out of a Uniform Standard by regulation, and while the regulatory opt out is pending, the Compacting State may petition the Commission, at least fifteen (15) days before the effective date of the Uniform Standard, to stay the effectiveness of the Uniform Standard in that State. The Commission may grant a stay if it determines the regulatory opt out is being pursued in a reasonable manner and there is a likelihood of success. If a stay is granted or extended by the Commission, the stay or extension thereof may postpone the effective date by up to ninety (90) days, unless affirmatively extended by the Commission; provided, a stay may not be permitted to remain in effect for more than one (1) year unless the Compacting State can show extraordinary circumstances which warrant a continuance of the stay, including, but not limited to, the existence of a legal challenge which prevents the Compacting State from opting out. A stay may be terminated by the Commission upon notice that the rulemaking process has been terminated. (7) Not later than thirty (30) days after a Rule or Operating Procedure is promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review of the Rule or Operating Procedure; provided, that the filing of such a petition shall not stay or otherwise prevent the Rule or Operating Procedure from becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success. The court shall give deference to the actions of the Commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find the Rule or Operating Procedure to be unlawful if the Rule or Operating Procedure represents a reasonable exercise of the Commission's authority. (1) The Commission shall promulgate Rules establishing conditions and procedures for public inspection and copying of its information and official records, except such information and records involving the privacy of individuals and insurers' trade secrets. The Commission may promulgate additional Rules under which it may make available to federal and state agencies, including law enforcement agencies, records and information otherwise exempt from disclosure, and may enter into agreements with such agencies to receive or exchange information or records subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions. (2) Except as to privileged records, data and information, the laws of any Compacting State pertaining to confidentiality or nondisclosure shall not relieve any Compacting State Commissioner of the duty to disclose any relevant records, data or information to the Commission; provided, that disclosure to the Commission shall not be deemed to waive or otherwise affect any confidentiality requirement; and further provided, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the Commission shall not be subject to the Compacting State's laws pertaining to confidentiality and nondisclosure with respect to records, data and information in its possession. Confidential information of the Commission shall remain confidential after such information is provided to any Commissioner. (3) The Commission shall monitor Compacting States for compliance with duly adopted Bylaws, Rules, including Uniform Standards, and Operating Procedures. The Commission shall notify any non-complying Compacting State in writing of its noncompliance with Commission Bylaws, Rules or Operating Procedures. If a noncomplying Compacting State fails to remedy its noncompliance within the time specified in the notice of noncompliance, the Compacting State shall be deemed to be in default as set forth in Article XIV. (4) The Commissioner of any State in which an Insurer is authorized to do business, or is conducting the business of insurance, shall continue to exercise his or her authority to oversee the market regulation of the activities of the Insurer in accordance with the provisions of the State's law. The Commissioner's enforcement of compliance with the Compact is governed by the following provisions: (a) With respect to the Commissioner's market regulation of a Product or Advertisement that is approved or certified to the Commission, the content of the Product or Advertisement shall not constitute a violation of the provisions, standards or requirements of the Compact except upon a final order of the Commission, issued at the request of a Commissioner after prior notice to the Insurer and an opportunity for hearing before the Commission. (b) Before a Commissioner may bring an action for violation of any provision, standard or requirement of the Compact relating to the content of an Advertisement not approved or certified to the Commission, the Commission, or an authorized Commission officer or employee, must authorize the action. However, authorization pursuant to this paragraph does not require notice to the Insurer, opportunity for hearing or disclosure of requests for authorization or records of the Commission's action on such requests. The Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a Member, to resolve any disputes or other issues that are subject to this Compact and which may arise between two or more Compacting States, or between Compacting States and Non-compacting States, and the Commission shall promulgate an Operating Procedure providing for resolution of such disputes. (1) Insurers and Third-Party Filers seeking to have a Product approved by the Commission shall file the Product with, and pay applicable filing fees to, the Commission. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict or otherwise prevent an insurer from filing its Product with the insurance department in any State wherein the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance, and such filing shall be subject to the laws of the States where filed. (2) The Commission shall establish appropriate filing and review processes and procedures pursuant to Commission Rules and Operating Procedures. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Commission shall promulgate Rules to establish conditions and procedures under which the Commission will provide public access to Product filing information. In establishing such Rules, the Commission shall consider the interests of the public in having access to such information, as well as protection of personal medical and financial information and trade secrets, that may be contained in a Product filing or supporting information. (3) Any Product approved by the Commission may be sold or otherwise issued in those Compacting States for which the Insurer is legally authorized to do business. (1) Not later than thirty (30) days after the Commission has given notice of a disapproved Product or Advertisement filed with the Commission, the Insurer or Third Party Filer whose filing was disapproved may appeal the determination to a review panel appointed by the Commission. The Commission shall promulgate Rules to establish procedures for appointing such review panels and provide for notice and hearing. An allegation that the Commission, in disapproving a Product or Advertisement filed with the Commission, acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or in a manner that is an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law, is subject to judicial review in accordance with Article III, Section 4. (2) The Commission shall have authority to monitor, review and reconsider Products and Advertisement subsequent to their filing or approval upon a finding that the product does not meet the relevant Uniform Standard. Where appropriate, the Commission may withdraw or modify its approval after proper notice and hearing, subject to the appeal process in Section 1 above. (1) The Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment and organization. To fund the cost of its initial operations, the Commission may accept contributions and other forms of funding from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Compacting States and other sources. Contributions and other forms of funding from other sources shall be of such a nature that the independence of the Commission concerning the performance of its duties shall not be compromised. (2) The Commission shall collect a filing fee from each Insurer and Third Party Filer filing a product with the Commission to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff in a total amount sufficient to cover the Commission's annual budget. (3) The Commission's budget for a fiscal year shall not be approved until it has been subject to notice and comment as set forth in Article VII of this Compact. (4) The Commission shall be exempt from all taxation in and by the Compacting States. (5) The Commission shall not pledge the credit of any Compacting State, except by and with the appropriate legal authority of that Compacting State. (6) The Commission shall keep complete and accurate accounts of all its internal receipts, including grants and donations, and disbursements of all funds under its control. The internal financial accounts of the Commission shall be subject to the accounting procedures established under its Bylaws. The financial accounts and reports including the system of internal controls and procedures of the Commission shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant. Upon the determination of the Commission, but no less frequently than every three (3) years, the review of the independent auditor shall include a management and performance audit of the Commission. The Commission shall make an Annual Report to the Governor and legislature of the Compacting States, which shall include a report of the independent audit. The Commission's internal accounts shall not be confidential and such materials may be shared with the Commissioner of any Compacting State upon request provided, however, that any work papers related to any internal or independent audit and any information regarding the privacy of individuals and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets, shall remain confidential. (7) No Compacting State shall have any claim to or ownership of any property held by or vested in the Commission or to any Commission funds held pursuant to the provisions of this Compact. (1) Any State is eligible to become a Compacting State. (2) The Compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the Compact into law by two Compacting States; provided, the Commission shall become effective for purposes of adopting Uniform Standards for, reviewing, and giving approval or disapproval of, Products filed with the Commission that satisfy applicable Uniform Standards only after twenty-six (26) States are Compacting States or, alternatively, by States representing greater than forty percent (40%) of the premium volume for life insurance, annuity, disability income and long-term care insurance products, based on records of the NAIC for the prior year. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other Compacting State upon enactment of the Compact into law by that State. (3) Amendments to the Compact may be proposed by the Commission for enactment by the Compacting States. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the Commission and the Compacting States unless and until all Compacting States enact the amendment into law. (1) Withdrawal (a) Once effective, the Compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every Compacting State; provided, that a Compacting State may withdraw from the Compact (“Withdrawing State”) by enacting a statute specifically repealing the statute which enacted the Compact into law. (b) The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repealing statute. However, the withdrawal shall not apply to any product filings approved or self-certified, or any Advertisement of such products, on the date the repealing statute becomes effective, except by mutual agreement of the Commission and the Withdrawing State unless the approval is rescinded by the Withdrawing State as provided in Paragraph (e) of this section. (c) The Commissioner of the Withdrawing State shall immediately notify the Management Committee in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this Compact in the Withdrawing State. (d) The Commission shall notify the other Compacting States of the introduction of such legislation within ten (10) days after its receipt of notice thereof. (e) The Withdrawing State is responsible for all obligations, duties and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal, except to the extent those obligations may have been released or relinquished by mutual agreement of the Commission and the Withdrawing State. The Commission's approval of Products and Advertisement prior to the effective date of withdrawal shall continue to be effective and be given full force and effect in the Withdrawing State, unless formally rescinded by the Withdrawing State in the same manner as provided by the laws of the Withdrawing State for the prospective disapproval of products or advertisement previously approved under state law. (f) Reinstatement following withdrawal of any Compacting State shall occur upon the effective date of the Withdrawing State reenacting the Compact. (2) Default (a) If the Commission determines that any Compacting State has at any time defaulted (“Defaulting State”) in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this Compact, the Bylaws or duly promulgated Rules or Operating Procedures, then, after notice and hearing as set forth in the Bylaws, all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this Compact on the Defaulting State shall be suspended from the effective date of default as fixed by the Commission. The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a Compacting State to perform its obligations or responsibilities, and any other grounds designated in Commission Rules. The Commission shall immediately notify the Defaulting State in writing of the Defaulting State's suspension pending a cure of the default. The Commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the Defaulting State must cure its default. If the Defaulting State fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the Commission, the Defaulting State shall be terminated from the Compact and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this Compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination. (b) Product approvals by the Commission or product self-certifications, or any Advertisement in connection with such product, that are in force on the effective date of termination shall remain in force in the Defaulting State in the same manner as if the Defaulting State had withdrawn voluntarily pursuant to Section 1 of this article. (c) Reinstatement following termination of any Compacting State requires a reenactment of the Compact. (3) Dissolution of Compact (a) The Compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the Compacting State which reduces membership in the Compact to one Compacting State. (b) Upon the dissolution of this Compact, the Compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Commission shall be wound up and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the Bylaws. (1) The provisions of this Compact shall be severable; and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Compact shall be enforceable. (2) The provisions of this Compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes. (1) Other Laws (a) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a Compacting State, except as provided in Paragraph (b) of this section. (b) For any Product approved or certified to the Commission, the Rules, Uniform Standards and any other requirements of the Commission shall constitute the exclusive provisions applicable to the content, approval and certification of such Products. For Advertisement that is subject to the Commission's authority, any Rule, Uniform Standard or other requirement of the Commission which governs the content of the Advertisement shall constitute the exclusive provision that a Commissioner may apply to the content of the Advertisement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action taken by the Commission shall abrogate or restrict: (i) the access of any person to state courts; (ii) remedies available under state law related to breach of contract, tort, or other laws not specifically directed to the content of the Product; (iii) state law relating to the construction of insurance contracts; or (iv) the authority of the attorney general of the state, including but not limited to maintaining any actions or proceedings, as authorized by law. (c) All insurance products filed with individual States shall be subject to the laws of those States. (2) Binding Effect of this Compact (a) All lawful actions of the Commission, including all Rules and Operating Procedures promulgated by the Commission, are binding upon the Compacting States. (b) All agreements between the Commission and the Compacting States are binding in accordance with their terms. (c) Upon the request of a party to a conflict over the meaning or interpretation of Commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the Compacting States, the Commission may issue advisory opinions regarding the meaning or interpretation in dispute. (d) In the event any provision of this Compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any Compacting State, the obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by that provision upon the Commission shall be ineffective as to that Compacting State, and those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction shall remain in the Compacting State and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this Compact becomes effective. Sec. 21.42.705. Opt-out duties, guidelines, remedies. (a) As a participant in the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact, it is the policy of the state to opt out, and the director shall opt out, of any Uniform Standard that provides a materially lower level of protection for or materially diminishes the rights of Alaska policyholders or policy applicants under Alaska law. (b) If the director or a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the policy set out in (a) of this section has been violated, notice of the violation shall be given to the legislature, and reasonable and prompt measures shall be taken to opt out of the Uniform Standard that does not comply with the policy statement set out in (a) of this section to the extent that such action is permissible under the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact.