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Pennsylvania Health, Medicare Supplement and Long-Term Care Law: Practice Questions
20 free practice questions with explanations. Pick an answer for each, then check your score.
Quick study guide
The 16-03 outline cites a Pennsylvania statute (40 P.S.) or regulation (31 Pa. Code) for most health, senior and long-term care items.
Individual accident and health policies (40 P.S. §§ 752–753)
Pennsylvania's required time limit on certain defenses runs three years from issue. A policy (other than a single premium nonrenewable one) must let the buyer return it within 10 days of delivery for a full refund. The optional relation of earnings to insurance provision compares disability benefits with the greater of current earnings or the two-year average, but never cuts total benefits below the lesser of $200 a month or the sum of the benefits.
Disability income (31 Pa. Code Ch. 88)
For the first 24 months of a claim, total disability must mean inability to do the insured's own regular occupation; after that it may switch to any occupation the insured is reasonably suited for.
Mandated benefits and children
Policies with maternity benefits cover at least 48 hours in hospital after a vaginal delivery and 96 hours after a Caesarean. Newborns are covered from the moment of birth, and adopted children from the date of placement; in both cases the insurer can require notice within 31 days. Group policyholders may choose to cover an unmarried child with no other coverage through age 29.
Group conversion
A member insured for at least three months can convert group medical coverage without evidence of insurability by applying within 31 days; the premium for a group conversion policy is capped at 120% of comparable group rates.
| Rule | Medicare supplement | Long-term care |
|---|---|---|
| Free look | 30 days (31 Pa. Code § 89.783) | 30 days (40 P.S. § 991.1110) |
| Preexisting conditions | 6-month lookback and exclusion at most; none in open enrollment after 6 months' creditable coverage | Lookback and exclusion of 6 months at most |
| Replacement | No new waiting periods once the old policy has been in force 6 months | Replacing insurer credits time already served |
Medicare supplement (31 Pa. Code §§ 89.771 ff.)
Open enrollment lasts six months from the first day of the month the applicant enrolls in Part B. First-year commission may be no more than 200% of the second year's, with level renewals for at least five years. Guaranteed issue applies to people who leave a first Medicare Advantage plan within 12 months.
Long-term care (40 P.S. §§ 991.1105–991.1111; 31 Pa. Code Ch. 89a)
Applicants name a second person to receive lapse notices, or sign a waiver. Insurers must offer 5% compound inflation protection, which is included unless the buyer signs a rejection. Benefits cannot require more than three of six activities of daily living or cognitive impairment, and a rejected nonforfeiture offer still leaves a contingent benefit upon lapse after a large rate increase.