Michigan § 500.3717 - Suspension; exemption; conditions; exception.

Upon a request for suspension by the small employer carrier and a finding by the commissioner after consulting with the attorney general that the suspension is reasonable in light of the financial condition of the carrier and that the suspension would enhance the efficiency and fairness of the marketplace for small employer health insurance, the commissioner may suspend all or any part of section 3705 as to the premiums applicable to 1 or more small employers for 1 or more rating periods and may suspend section 3712(1)(c) or (d).

A commercial carrier whose capital and surplus as concerns policyholders as of December 31, 2003 as shown on the annual financial statement filed with the commissioner is $18,000,000.00 or less may be exempt from this chapter, if the commercial carrier had policyholders residing in Michigan before June 1, 2003, the commercial carrier files with the commissioner a written request for an exemption, and the commissioner, after reviewing the commercial carrier's request and annual financial statement, determines an exemption is warranted.

An exemption granted under subsection (2) is effective for 3 years, so long as the commercial carrier experiences no disproportionate growth in premium volume in business written, or changes in the commercial carrier's pattern, location, or contours of that insurance business that indicate that the commercial carrier is utilizing its exemption to take unfair competitive advantage of competing small employer carriers who do not qualify for the exemption. A commercial carrier that meets the requirements of subsections (2) to (5) may reapply every 3 years to the commissioner for a subsection (2) exemption. The commissioner shall continue an exemption granted under subsection (2) if the commissioner finds the commercial carrier meets the criteria in subsections (2) to (5) for the exemption.

The commissioner shall not grant an exemption under subsection (2) to any carrier that directly, or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a carrier whose surplus as concerns policyholders is in excess of the amount stated in subsection (2).

A carrier admitted to do business in this state after June 1, 2003 is not eligible for an exemption under subsection (2).