§ 23-97-309 - Prior hospitalization or institutionalization.

23-97-309. Prior hospitalization or institutionalization.

(a) No long-term care insurance policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state if the policy:

(1) Conditions eligibility for any benefits on a prior hospitalization requirement;

(2) Conditions eligibility for any benefits provided in an institutional care setting on the receipt of a higher level of institutional care; or

(3) Conditions eligibility for any benefits other than waiver of premium, post-confinement, post-acute care, or recuperative benefits on a prior institutionalization requirement.

(b) (1) A long-term care insurance policy containing post-confinement, post-acute care, or recuperative benefits shall clearly label in a separate paragraph of the policy or certificate entitled "Limitations or Conditions on Eligibility for Benefits" the limitations or conditions, including any required number of days of confinement.

(2) A long-term care insurance policy or rider that conditions eligibility for noninstitutional benefits on the prior receipt of institutional care shall not require a prior institutional stay of more than thirty (30) days.

(c) No long-term care insurance policy or rider that provides benefits only following institutionalization shall condition such benefits upon admission to a facility for the same or related conditions within a period of less than thirty (30) days after discharge from the institution.