South Carolina § 38-71-550 - Outline of coverage required.

§ 38-71-550. Outline of coverage required.

(a) In order to provide for full and fair disclosure in the sale of individual accident and health insurance policies or subscriber contracts of a nonprofit hospital, medical, or dental service association, no such policy or contract may be delivered or issued for delivery in this State unless, in the case of a direct response insurance product, the outline of coverage described in subsection (b) accompanies the policy and, in all other cases, the outline of coverage described in subsection (b) is delivered to the applicant at the time application is made and an acknowledgment of receipt or certificate of delivery of the outline is provided the insured with the application. In the event the policy is issued on a basis other than that applied for, the outline of coverage properly describing the policy or contract shall accompany the policy or contract when it is delivered and clearly state that it is not the policy or contract for which application was made.

(b) The department shall by regulation prescribe the format and content of the outline of coverage required by subsection (a). For purposes of this subsection (b), 'format' means style, arrangement, and overall appearance, including such items as the size, color, and prominence of type and the arrangement of text and captions. The outline of coverage shall include:

(1) A statement identifying the applicable category or categories of coverage provided by the policy or contract as prescribed in Section 38-71-540.

(2) A description of the principal benefits and coverage provided in the policy or contract.

(3) A statement of the exceptions, reductions, and limitations contained in the policy or contract.

(4) A statement of the renewal provisions, including any reservation by the insurer of a right to change premiums.

(5) A statement that the outline is a summary of the policy or contract issued or applied for and that the policy or contract should be consulted to determine governing contractual provisions.

HISTORY: Former 1976 Code SECTION 38-35-1250 [1975 (59) 588] recodified as SECTION 38-71-550 by 1987 Act No. 155, SECTION 1; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 765.