New Hampshire § 420-K-2 - Section 420-K:2 Establishment of the Pool.

§ 420-K-2. Section 420-K:2 Establishment of the Pool.

I. There is established a nonprofit entity to be known as the "New Hampshire small employer health reinsurance pool." All health carriers, writers of health insurance, and other insurers issuing or maintaining health insurance in this state shall be members of the pool. II. On or before July 1, 2005, the commissioner shall give notice to all members of the pool of the time and place for the initial organizational meeting, which shall take place by July 15, 2005. The members shall select the initial board at the organizational meeting and such initial board shall be subject to approval by the commissioner. The members shall elect each subsequent board at the annual meeting of members and each such subsequent board shall be subject to approval by the commissioner. The initial board and each subsequent board shall consist of at least 5 and not more than 9 representatives of members. There shall be no more than one board member on the initial board and each subsequent board representing any one member company. In determining voting rights at the organizational meeting and all subsequent meetings of members, each member shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy. All such votes shall be proportional to the member's covered lives. To the extent possible, at least 2/3 of members of each board shall be small employer health carriers. At least one member of each board shall be a small employer health carrier with less than $100,000,000 in net small employer health insurance premium in this state. The commissioner, or designee, shall be an ex-officio voting member of the board. In approving selection of each board, the commissioner shall assure that all members are fairly represented. III. If the initial board is not elected at the organizational meeting, the commissioner shall appoint the initial board within 15 days of the organizational meeting. IV. Within 60 days after the appointment of such initial board, the board shall submit to the commissioner a plan of operation and thereafter any amendments to the plan necessary or suitable to assure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of the pool. The commissioner shall, after notice and hearing, approve the plan of operation provided he or she determines it to be suitable to assure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of the pool, and provides for the sharing of pool gains or losses on an equitable proportionate basis in accordance with the provisions of paragraph VI of this section. The plan of operation shall become effective upon approval in writing by the commissioner consistent with the date on which the coverage under this section shall be made available. If the board fails to submit a suitable plan of operation within 60 days after its appointment, or at any time thereafter fails to submit suitable amendments to the plan of operation, the commissioner shall, after notice and hearing, adopt and promulgate a plan of operation or amendments no later than October 1, 2005. The commissioner shall amend any plan adopted by him or her, as necessary at the time a plan of operation is submitted by the board and approved by the commissioner. V. The board shall select reinsurance pool administrators through a competitive bidding process to administer the pool. The board shall evaluate bids submitted based on criteria established by the board. Each month, total payments to administrators shall not exceed the larger of $2,500 or an amount equal to $10 per life for which the reinsurance pool has any potential claims liability. VI. The plan of operation shall establish procedures for: (a) Handling and accounting of assets and moneys of the pool, and for annual fiscal reporting to the commissioner. (b) Filling vacancies on the board, subject to the approval of the commissioner. (c) Selecting an administrator and setting forth the powers and duties of the administrator. (d) Reinsuring risks in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (e) Collecting assessments from all members to provide for claims reinsured by the pool and for administrative expenses incurred or estimated to be incurred during the period for which the assessment is made. (f) Any additional matters at the discretion of the board.