Article 1. Definitions of California Insurance Code >> Division 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2.6. >> Article 1.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in this article shall govern the construction of this chapter.

"Long-term care insurance" includes any insurance policy, certificate, or rider advertised, marketed, offered, solicited, or designed to provide coverage for diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or personal care services that are provided in a setting other than an acute care unit of a hospital. Long-term care insurance includes all products containing any of the following benefit types: coverage for institutional care including care in a nursing home, convalescent facility, extended care facility, custodial care facility, skilled nursing facility, or personal care home; home care coverage including home health care, personal care, homemaker services, hospice, or respite care; or community-based coverage including adult day care, hospice, or respite care. Long-term care insurance includes disability based long-term care policies but does not include insurance designed primarily to provide Medicare supplement or major medical expense coverage. Long-term care policies, certificates, and riders shall be regulated under this chapter. The commissioner shall review and approve individual and group policies, certificates, riders, and outlines of coverage. Other applicable laws and regulations shall also apply to long-term care insurance insofar as they do not conflict with the provisions in this chapter. Long-term care benefits designed to provide coverage of 12 months or more that are contained in or amended to Medicare supplement or other disability policies and certificates shall be regulated under this chapter.

"Applicant" means either of the following:
  (a) In the case of an individual long-term care insurance policy, the person who seeks to contract for benefits.
  (b) In the case of a group long-term care insurance policy, the proposed certificate holder.

"Certificate" means any certificate issued under a group long-term care insurance policy, which policy has been delivered or issued for delivery in this state.

"Group long-term care insurance" means a long-term care insurance policy which is delivered or issued for delivery in this state and issued to any of the following:
  (a) One or more employers or labor organizations, or a trust or to the trustees of a fund established by one or more employers or labor organizations, or a combination thereof, for employees or former employees or a combination thereof or for members or former members or a combination thereof, of the labor organization.
  (b) Any professional, trade, or occupational association for its members or former or retired members, or combination thereof, if that association meets both of the following:
  (1) Is composed of individuals all of whom are or were actively engaged in the same profession, trade, or occupation.
  (2) Has been maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance.
  (c) An association or a trust or the trustees of a fund established, created, or maintained for the benefit of members of one or more associations. Prior to advertising, marketing, or offering that policy or a certificate within this state, the association or associations, or the insurer of the association or associations, shall file evidence with the commissioner that the association or associations have at the outset a minimum of 100 persons and have been organized and maintained in good faith for a primary purpose other than that of obtaining insurance, have been in active existence for at least one year, have a constitution and bylaws which provide all of the following, and provide evidence that the following have been consistently implemented:
  (1) The association or associations hold regular meetings, not less than annually, to further purposes of the members.
  (2) Except for credit unions, the association or associations collect dues or solicit contributions from members.
  (3) The members have voting privileges and representation on the governing board and committees. Thirty days after that filing the association or associations shall be deemed to satisfy these organizational requirements, unless the commissioner makes a finding that the association or associations do not satisfy those organizational requirements.
  (d) A group other than as described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), subject to all of the following findings by the commissioner:
  (1) The issuance of the group policy or certificate is not contrary to the best interest of the public.
  (2) The issuance of the group policy will result in economies of acquisition or administration.
  (3) The benefits are reasonable in relation to the premiums charged.
  (4) The use of the true or fictitious name of the group, group master policyholder, group policy, certificate, or any trust or other entity created or used for the marketing of the group policy or certificates is not deceptive or misleading with regard to the status, character, or proprietary or representative capacity of the insurer, group, trust, or other entity.
  (5) The group's main revenue source is not related to the marketing of insurance.
  (6) The group's outreach method to obtain new members is not related to the solicitation of insurance.
  (7) The group provides benefits or services, other than insurance, of significant value to its members. The commissioner shall investigate the percentage of members using the other services and the monetary value of those services.
  (e) A life care contract provider which has received a certificate of authority in accordance with Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1770) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. Any life care contract provider which has not received the certificate of authority from the State Department of Social Services shall be subject to this chapter.

"Policy" means any policy, contract, subscriber agreement, rider or endorsement delivered or issued for delivery in this state by an insurer, fraternal benefit society, nonprofit hospital service plan, or any similar organization, regulated by the commissioner.