NMSA 59A-16-13.2. Discrimination on the basis of blindness

59A-16-13.2. Discrimination on the basis of blindness. A. No insurer, including health maintenance organizations, nonprofit health care plans and fraternal benefit societies, shall refuse to insure, or refuse to continue to insure, or limit the amount, extent or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage solely because of blindness, including partial blindness. B. With respect to the underlying cause of the blindness, persons who are blind shall be subject to the same standards of sound actuarial principles or actual or reasonably anticipated experience as are sighted persons, and blindness may be considered as evidence of the severity or progression of the underlying cause. C. Refusal to insure includes denial by an insurer of disability insurance coverage on the grounds that the policy defines "disability" as being presumed in the event that the insured loses his eyesight. However, an insurer may exclude from coverage disabilities consisting solely of blindness when such condition exists at the time the policy is issued. History: 1978 Comp., § 59A-16-13.2, enacted by Laws 1993, ch. 126, § 1.