Senior Issues (B) Task Force
Health Insurance and Managed Care (B) Committee
Medigap PPACA (B) Subgroup

Mission
The mission of the Senior Issues (B) Task Force (SITF) is to consider policy issues, develop appropriate regulatory standards and to revise the NAIC models, consumer guides and training material, as necessary, on long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement insurance, senior counseling programs and other insurance issues which affect older Americans.

2012 Charges

The mission of the Senior Issues (B) Task Force is to consider policy issues, develop appropriate regulatory standards and revise the NAIC models, consumer guides and training material, as necessary, on Medicare supplement insurance, senior counseling programs and other insurance issues which affect older Americans.

Ongoing Maintenance of NAIC Programs, Products or Services

1. Develop appropriate regulatory standards and revisions to the NAIC models, consumer guides and training material, as necessary, Medicare supplement insurance, senior counseling programs and other insurance issues which affect older Americans. Report annually.—Essential
2. Continue to monitor and work with federal agencies to advance appropriate regulatory standards for Medicare Supplement and other forms of health insurance applicable to older Americans. Report at national meetings.—Essential
3. Review the Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#650) and Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Regulation (#651) to determine if amendments are required based on changes to federal law and revise if necessary. Report by 2012 Fall National Meeting.—Essential
4. Monitor the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D marketplace, assist the states as necessary with regulatory issues, and maintain a dialogue and coordinate with CMS on regulatory issues, including solvency oversight of waived plans and agent misconduct. Report at national meetings.—Essential
5. Monitor and assist states in the implementation of changes to the Model Regulation to Implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#651) to modernize the Medicare supplement market, as approved by the NAIC in March 2007 as required by the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. Report at national meetings.—Essential
6. Continue to monitor the changes in the Medicare Supplement insurance market and assist states with implementation of Medicare Supplement Model amendments due to federal statutory changes. Report at national meetings.—Essential
7. Provide the perspective of state insurance commissioners to the U.S. Congress, as appropriate, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on insurance issues, including concerning the effect and result of federal activity on the senior citizen health insurance marketplace and regulatory scheme.—Essential
8. Review and monitor state and federal relations with respect to senior health care initiatives, and other impacts on the states. Work with federal agencies as appropriate. Report annually.—Essential
9. Work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise the annual joint publication, Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.—Essential
10. Monitor information on legislation impacting the funding of State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP). Report at national meetings.—Important
11. Assist the states and serve as clearinghouse for information on Medicare Advantage plan activity. Report at national meetings.—Important
12. In accordance with changes to the Model Regulation to Implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#651) approved by the NAIC in March 2007, monitor and maintain a record of state approvals of all Medicare supplement insurance new or innovative benefits for use by regulators and others.—Important
13. In accordance with changes to the Model Regulation to Implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#651) approved by the NAIC in March 2007, periodically review state approved new or innovative benefits and consider whether to recommend that they be made part of standard benefit plan designs in the model regulation.—Important
14. Develop appropriate regulatory standards and revisions to the NAIC models, consumer guides and training material, as necessary, on long-term care insurance. Work with federal agencies as appropriate. Report annually.—Essential
15. Continue to study and evaluate evolving long-term care insurance product design, rating, suitability and other related factors, and review the existing Long-Term Care Model Act (#640) and Long-Term Care Model Regulation (#641) to determine their flexibility to remain compatible with the evolving delivery of long-term care services and remain compatible with the evolving long-term care insurance marketplace. Report at national meetings.—Essential
16. Monitor and provide assistance to the States on the implementation of the 2000 rating practices amendments to the Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation (#641). Report annually.—Important
17. Examine whether there is anything the NAIC can or should do to address possible long-term care insurance reserve deficiencies and rating issues, such as mitigation against rate increases and death spirals.—Essential
18. In line with the NAIC's current long-term care models, explore options where appropriate, and monitor efforts, to ensure the fair or equal treatment of policyholders, including those in situations where policyholders live in multiple states.—Essential
19. Examine how regulators should treat the spin-off or transfer of closed blocks of long-term care insurance business to another entity, including process issues related thereto.—Essential