A. A blanket or group health insurance policy or contract shall not contain a provision relative to notice or proof of loss or the time for paying benefits or the time within which suit may be brought upon the policy that in the superintendent's opinion is less favorable to the insured than would be permitted in the required or optional provisions for individual health insurance policies as set forth in Chapter 59A, Article 22 NMSA 1978.

B. The following provisions of Chapter 59A, Article 22 NMSA 1978 shall also apply as to Chapter 59A, Article 23 NMSA 1978 and blanket and group health insurance contracts:

(1) Section 59A-22-1 NMSA 1978, except Subsection C of that section; and

(2) Section 59A-22-32 NMSA 1978.

C. The following provisions of Chapter 59A, Article 22 NMSA 1978 shall also apply as to group health insurance contracts:

(1) Section 59A-22-33 NMSA 1978;

(2) Section 59A-22-34 NMSA 1978;

(3) Section 59A-22-34.1 NMSA 1978;

(4) Section 59A-22-34.3 NMSA 1978;

(5) Section 59A-22-35 NMSA 1978;

(6) Section 59A-22-36 NMSA 1978;

(7) Section 59A-22-39 NMSA 1978;

(8) Section 59A-22-39.1 NMSA 1978;

(9) Section 59A-22-40 NMSA 1978;

(10) Section 59A-22-40.1 NMSA 1978;

(11) Section 59A-22-41 NMSA 1978;

(12) Section 59A-22-42 NMSA 1978;

(13) Section 59A-22-43 NMSA 1978; and

(14) Section 59A-22-44 NMSA 1978.

History: Laws 1984, ch. 127, § 463; 1988, ch. 89, § 3; 1990, ch. 5, § 3; 1992, ch. 56, § 3; 1997, ch. 7, § 2; 1997, ch. 249, § 2; 1997, ch. 250, § 2; 1997, ch. 255, § 2; 2001, ch. 14, § 2; 2003, ch. 337, § 2; 2007, ch. 278, § 2; 2009, ch. 212, § 3.

The 2009 amendment, effective June 19, 2009, added Paragraph (13) of Subsection B.

The 2007 amendment, effective June 15, 2007, added Paragraph (10) of Subsection C.

The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, inserted Paragraph C(4), (8), (11), (12) and redesignated the subsequent paragraphs accordingly.

The 2001 amendment, effective June 15, 2001, inserted current Paragraphs C(4), (8) and (11) and renumbered the remaining paragraphs accordingly.

The second 1997 amendments. — Laws 1997, ch. 7 § 2 and Laws 1997, ch. 255, § 2, both effective January 1, 1998, enacted identical amendments to this section which substituted "of that section" for "thereof" in Paragraph B(1) and added Paragraph C(8). See also the first 1997 amendments.

The first 1997 amendments. — Laws 1997, ch. 249, § 2, effective June 20, 1997, added a new Paragraph C(7) relating to 59A-22-39.1 NMSA 1978 and redesignated the following paragraph. However, the section was also amended by Laws 1997, ch. 250, § 2, effective June 20, 1997, which added a new Paragraph C(7) relating to 59A-22-34.3 NMSA 1978 and redesignated the following paragraph accordingly. This section was set out as amended by Laws 1997, ch. 250, § 2. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978. See also the second 1997 amendments.

The 1992 amendment, effective May 20, 1992, substituted "that" for "which" near the middle of Subsection A and added Subsection C(7).