NH| The New Hampshire Insurance Department has issued Bulletin 25-083-AB announcing a waiver to the rule prohibiting coordination of benefits (COB) for limited benefit retiree health plans. This action addresses unintended issues caused by the strict prohibition, restoring the intended function for retiree health plans when coordinating with Medicare and similar coverage. The waiver is effective immediately for all pending and future filings and applies only until formal rulemaking occurs.
Key Points:
- The prohibition against COB is now waived solely for retiree health plans coordinating with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare supplemental coverage; such plans may no longer be subjected to the blanket restriction, so long as coverage is for retirees only (not current employees).
- The waiver does not apply to other ancillary health products like hospital indemnity, accident-only, or specified disease plans, nor to retiree plans covering active employees, which remain governed by ACA and other statutory provisions permitting COB.