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Other General Requirements

Market Requirements (Binder Filings)

Minnesota is using SERFF Plan Management for individual and small employer group markets that are not grandfathered plans to be offered outside MNsure and qualified health plans to be offered inside the Exchange. Minnesota’s specific Plan Management filing instructions are found within SERFF, under the Plan Management General Filing instructions.

Company Address Changes –Filing Fees Required

In-force contracts must be amended to reflect the new address. An endorsement setting forth the new address must be submitted for approval and sent to all in-force policyholders, contract holders, and certificate holders. The filing description must state that all in-force contracts will be amended by the endorsement. Attach a list of all affected forms to the Supporting Documentation tab of the SERFF Filing. The list should include the form name, form number, approval date, SERFF Tracking Number, and State Tracking Number (if applicable).

Company Name Changes– Filing Fees Required

Minn. R. Part 2605.0400

New Business: Name changes are required to be submitted as formal filings complete with the appropriate filing fees. Attach a list of all affected forms to the Supporting Documentation tab of the SERFF Filing. The list should include the form name, form number, approval date, SERFF Tracking Number, and State Tracking Number (if applicable). This filing procedure is only applicable if the forms are identical in all other respects to the previously approved versions.

Existing Business: In-force contracts must be amended to reflect the new name. These name change endorsements must be submitted as formal filings complete with the appropriate filing fees. Attach a list of all affected forms to the Supporting Documentation tab of the SERFF Filing. The list should include the form name, form number, approval date, SERFF Tracking Number, and State Tracking Number (if applicable).

When a name change is the result of a merger or assumption agreement the name change endorsement should not be filed until the merger or assumption has been approved by the Department’s Financial Examinations – Insurance Division. Questions regarding mergers and assumptions should be directed to the insurance.commerce@state.mn.us

Company Officer Name Changes – Filing Fees Required

Officer Name Change filings only, filers should:

  1. File cover/signature pages with the new officer name(s) and a revision date as a part of the form number in the SERFF Filing Form Schedule.
  2. Include change of officers’ names from previous officers to new officers in SERFF Filing General Information.

Attach a list of all affected, previously approved forms, by attaching the list to the Supporting Documentation tab. The list should include the form name, form number, approval date, SERFF Tracking Number, and State Tracking Number (if applicable).

2017 Benchmark Plan

Minnesota’s EHB plan is based on 2014 HealthPartners Gold Open Access Choice. Since pediatric dental is not covered within the HealthPartners Gold Open Access Choice, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Plan (MetLife Federal Dental Plan-High Option) is used as a supplement benchmark plan for pediatric dental benefits.

Information on the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Plan coverages can be found at the United State Office of Personnel Management.

Grandfathered Plans

Grandfathered plans are subject to Federal and state guaranteed renewability laws (see 45 CFR § 148.122(a); Minnesota Statute, section 62A.65, subdivision 2). Grandfathered plan changes must be made if (1) the change is necessary in order to comply with Federal or state law, or (2) the change is necessary in order to comply with IRS tax requirements (such as changing minimum deductibles to maintain the tax exempt status of Health Savings Accounts). Other, non-required changes to a grandfathered plan's benefit coverage and/or a design parameter should be minimal, in accordance with 29 CFR § 2590.715-1251(g).

Carriers are reminded to audit grandfathered plans to ensure that the grandfathered status has been maintained. Plans losing this status must be incorporated into the single risk pool filing.

Issuers are reminded that Grandfathered form filings may not be filed with non-grandfathered form filings. 

Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)

The Federal government requires all healthcare insurers and group health plan sponsors to provide this document to plan participants at certain times beginning September 23, 2012. In addition, the Department requires a representative sample of Summaries of Benefits and Coverage to be submitted for review, as required under the ACA.

Minnesota requires non-grandfathered major medical Individual and Small Employer Group and QHP plans to file their SBCs for review. The documents must be attached to the binders, under supporting documentation. More information about the filing requirements can be found within the Plan Management General Filing Instructions within SERFF.

Intake Process for Receiving and Responding to Change Requests for Marketplace Rate, Form and Binder Filings

The Minnesota Departments of Health and Commerce have collaborated on centralizing a new intake process for receiving and responding to change requests for Marketplace rate, form and binder filings. All carriers will be required to use this process when requesting to make changes related to Marketplace rate, form and binder filings, after these filings have been approved or certified.

SERFF change request form

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