Sec. 2.5. (a) As used in this section, the term "policy of accident and sickness insurance" does not include the following:

(1) Accident only, credit, dental, vision, Medicare supplement, long term care, or disability income insurance.

(2) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance.

(3) Automobile medical payment insurance.

(4) A specified disease policy.

(5) A short term insurance plan that:

(A) may be renewed for the greater of:

(i) thirty-six (36) months; or

(ii) the maximum period permitted under federal law;

(B) has a term of not more than three hundred sixty-four (364) days; and

(C) has an annual limit of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000).

(6) A policy that provides indemnity benefits not based on any expense incurred requirement, including a plan that provides coverage for:

(A) hospital confinement, critical illness, or intensive care; or

(B) gaps for deductibles or copayments.

(7) Worker's compensation or similar insurance.

(8) A student health plan.

(9) A supplemental plan that always pays in addition to other coverage.

(10) An employer sponsored health benefit plan that is:

(A) provided to individuals who are eligible for Medicare; and

(B) not marketed as, or held out to be, a Medicare supplement policy.

(b) The benefits provided by:

(1) an individual policy of accident and sickness insurance; or

(2) a certificate of coverage that is issued under a nonemployer based association group policy of accident and sickness insurance to an individual who is a resident of Indiana;

may not be excluded, limited, or denied for more than twelve (12) months after the effective date of the coverage because of a preexisting condition of the individual.

(c) An individual policy of accident and sickness insurance or a certificate of coverage described in subsection (b) may not define a preexisting condition, a rider, or an endorsement more restrictively than as:

(1) a condition that would have caused an ordinarily prudent person to seek medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the effective date of the plan;

(2) a condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the effective date of the plan; or

(3) a pregnancy existing on the effective date of the plan.

(d) An insurer shall reduce the period allowed for a preexisting condition exclusion described in subsection (b) by the amount of time the individual has continuously served under a preexisting condition clause for a policy of accident and sickness insurance issued under IC 27-8-15 if the individual applies for a policy under this chapter not more than thirty (30) days after coverage under a policy of accident and sickness insurance issued under IC 27-8-15 expires.

As added by P.L.93-1995, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.190-1996, SEC.1; P.L.211-2003, SEC.2; P.L.127-2006, SEC.1; P.L.173-2007, SEC.23; P.L.3-2008, SEC.212; P.L.288-2019, SEC.2.