Final Extension of Transition Policies through December 31, 2017

Phoenix - The Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI) announced that insurers in the individual and small group major medical health insurance markets can choose to renew transitional policies through December 31, 2017. Transitional plans are non-ACA compliant policies that have been continuously in effect since by or before December 31, 2013.

At least six health insurers have individual or small group transition policies still in effect in Arizona. By extending the transition period, consistent with the February 29, 2016 Bulletin issued by the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), insurers will have the option to continue the pre-2014 individual and small group policies covering more than 100,000 Arizonans through the end of 2017. Insurers that offer  this short term extension of coverage are required to send each policyholder a Renewal Notice that explains the offer to continue the transition policy to the end of 2017 and includes information regarding any related price increase.

Each policyholder that chooses to renew his or her transition plan will receive a final notice, by or before October 1, 2017, explaining that the transitional plan is being discontinued effective December 31, 2017. However, extending transition plans to the end of 2017 allows affected policyholders to select a new plan during the annual open enrollment period along with other Arizonans.

The transition extension does not affect grandfathered policies issued prior to March 23, 2010. These policies can remain in effect as long as they maintain grandfathered status.

This decision extends the Department’s prior determination on transitional plans as outlined on March 27, 2015.

PDF icon PR2016-002_2017TransitionPolicy20160325.pdf
FY 2020 INSURER ANNUAL ASSESSMENT INVOICES ARE AVAILABLE

Click here to view invoices for annual assessments to insurance companies and service companies. Payments are due August 9, 2019. 

Follow the instructions on the first page of the document to locate the invoice that applies to your company.  

Please consider using the OPTins "Assessment" account to pay your assessment invoice.  
Insurers Offering Individual Health Insurance in Arizona

Lists insurance companies that are offering health insurance to individuals and families in Arizona in 2020.  Open enrollment starts November 1st and runs through December 15th, 2019.  Individuals can start shopping for coverage now at healthcare.gov or cuidadodesalud.gov (Spanish)
Health Insurance Telemarketers Annoy; Pose Fraud Risks

Phoenix, AZ—The Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI) wants to make citizens aware of scams involving aggressive telemarketers attempting to sell health insurance plans and, in some cases, attempting to gain personal and financial information possibly for criminal purposes.

The ADOI has received complaints from people who received multiple phone calls, robocalls, and text messages claiming to be from the National Health Enrollment Center, the Healthcare Enrollment Center and from Healthcare.gov. Some people report that they were contacted multiple times a day, sometimes from different phone numbers, despite requests to be placed on the companies' do-not-call lists. Additionally, some people report having been asked to provide health insurance enrollment information, including such information as address, date of birth, social security number, and personal health information that, in the wrong hands, could be used in identity theft or other fraud schemes.

Arizona citizens who have received persistent phone calls or text messages from these or other callers attempting to sell them health insurance are encouraged to file a complaint with:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Arizona Department of Insurance Consumer Protection Division

  • Visit https://insurance.az.gov/consumers
  • Or call the ADOI’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 602-364-2499, or 1-800-325-2548 if calling within Arizona but outside Maricopa County.

We can all take steps to avoid becoming victims of fraud.

  • Never provide someone who calls you with your bank account number, your social security number, your credit card number, or your personal health information. If you are asked to provide this information, hang up.
  • Research the insurance agent and insurance company you are considering using by finding their license information through the ADOI’s License Search webpage (https://insurance.az.gov/license-search), and use contact information in the license record to contact them. Be skeptical and do research.
  • For information about insurance available from Health Insurance Marketplace, visit the Healthcare.gov website or call Healthcare.gov directly at 1-800-318-2596. The Arizona Department of Insurance is a state agency dedicated to protecting Arizona citizens and businesses by promoting a safe, strong, innovative and competitive insurance marketplace.

The Arizona Department of Insurance is a state agency dedicated to protecting Arizona citizens and businesses by promoting a safe, strong, innovative and competitive insurance marketplace.
Arizona Sample Notice of Continuation Coverage (Mini-COBRA)

Pursuant to ARS § 20-2330, a health benefits plan issued or renewed after December 31, 2018, must allow an enrollee and any qualified dependent to continue coverage after a qualifying event.  The law requires a small employer (with an average of at least 1 but fewer than 20 employees) to notify an enrollee in writing of the right of the enrollee and any qualified dependents to continue coverage under the employer's health benefits plan upon an enrollee's qualifying event.  Pursuant to Subsection C of the law, the Department has prepared a sample notice of coverage continuation form and is making the sample available on its website.  A small employer that uses, properly completes, and timely issues the Department's form is presumed to satisfy notification requirements.  On January 23, 2019, the Department uploaded a new version of the form.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Regulation

In 2019, the Arizona Legislature adopted the NAIC Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act at Arizona Revised Statutes (“ARS”) by enacting the Corporate Governance Act at Title 20, Chapter 2, Article 16 (Laws 2019, 1st Reg. Sess., Ch. 180, § 1).   The Department of Insurance (“Department”) seeks to adopt the correlate Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Regulation.  ARS § 20-492.02 allows the Department to adopt rules to carry out the Act upon notice and an opportunity to be heard.  The Legislature has exempted the Department from Title 41, Chapter 6 for one year after the effective date of the Act.  (Laws 2019, 1st Reg. Sess., Ch. 180, § 2.)
Regulatory Bulletin 2019-01

Use of Credits and Premium Rebates in the Health Insurance Market