Mississippi § 83-9-215 - Selection of plan administrator; term, powers and duties, and compensation of administrator.

§ 83-9-215. Selection of plan administrator; term, powers and duties, and compensation of administrator.

The board shall select an insurer, through a competitive bidding process, to administer the plan. The board shall evaluate bids submitted under this subsection based on criteria established by the board, which criteria shall include: The insurer’s proven ability to handle large group accident and health insurance. The efficiency of the insurer’s claims-paying procedures. An estimate of total charges for administering the plan. The administering insurer shall serve for a period of three (3) years. At least one (1) year prior to the expiration of each three-year period of service by an administering insurer, the board shall invite all insurers, including the current administering insurer, to submit bids to serve as the administering insurer for the succeeding three-year period. The selection of the administering insurer for the succeeding period shall be made at least six (6) months prior to the end of the current three-year period. The administering insurer shall: Perform all eligibility and administrative claims-payment functions relating to the plan. Pay an agent’s referral fee as established by the board to each insurance agent who refers an applicant to the plan, if the applicant’s application is accepted. The selling or marketing of plans shall not be limited to the administering insurer or its agents. The referral fees shall be paid by the administering insurer from monies received as premiums for the plan. Establish a premium-billing procedure for collection of premiums from insured persons. Billings shall be made periodically as determined by the board. Perform all necessary functions to assure timely payment of benefits to covered persons under the plan, including: Making available information relating to the proper manner of submitting a claim for benefits under the plan and distributing forms upon which submissions shall be made. Evaluating the eligibility of each claim for payment under the plan. Notifying each claimant within forty-five (45) days after receiving a properly completed and executed proof of loss whether the claim is accepted, rejected or compromised. The board shall establish reasonable reimbursement amounts for any services covered under the benefit plans. Submit regular reports to the board regarding the operation of the plan. The frequency, content and form of the reports shall be as determined by the board. Following the close of each calendar year, determine net premiums, reinsurance premiums less administrative expense allowance, the expense of administration pertaining to the reinsurance operations of the association, and the incurred losses of the year and report this information to the association and the State Department of Insurance. Pay claims expenses. If the payments by the administering insurer for claims expenses exceed the portion of premiums allocated by the board for payment of claims expenses, the board shall provide the administering insurer with additional funds for payment of claims expenses. The administering insurer shall be paid, as provided in the contract of the association, for its direct and indirect expenses incurred in the performance of its services. As used in this subsection, the term “direct and indirect expenses” includes that portion of the audited administrative costs, printing expenses, claims administration expenses, management expenses, building overhead expenses and other actual operating and administrative expenses of the administering insurer which are approved by the board as allocable to the administration of the plan and included in the bid specifications.