Definitions

For purposes of this Subpart, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:

(1)(a) "Self-insurance plan" means any contract, plan, trust, arrangement, or other agreement which is established or maintained to offer or provide health care services, indemnification, or payment for health care services, or health and accident benefits to employees of two or more employers, but which is not fully insured. Any such contract, plan, trust, arrangement, or agreement shall be deemed "fully insured" only if said services, indemnification, payment, or benefits are guaranteed under a contract or policy of health insurance issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state.

(b) The term "self-insurance plan" shall not include any arrangement or trust formed under Subpart J of Part I of Chapter 10 of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or single employer plans, plans exempt from the state insurance laws under the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. §1001 et seq.), except as provided in R.S. 22:463, the Office of Group Benefits, plans of political subdivisions, health maintenance organizations regulated under the Health Maintenance Organization Act, R.S. 22:241 et seq., plans regulated under R.S. 33:1342, 1343, 1346, or 1349, and plans otherwise regulated as insured plans under this Title. A plan of a fraternal benefit society or a labor organization shall not be considered a self-insurance plan for the purposes of this Subpart to the extent that such plan provides health and accident benefits to its members and any of their dependents that are supplemental to those of an employer-provided plan.

(2) "Self-insurer" means any entity that makes, provides, or issues a self-insurance plan as defined in this Section.

(3) "Single employer plans" are:

(a) Those providing benefits to the employees of only one employer.

(b) Those providing benefits to the employees of two or more employers if at least a twenty-five percent interest in each such employer is held by the same legal entity directly or through subsidiaries.

(4) "Claims liability" means the total of all incurred and unpaid claims for allowable benefits under a self-insurance plan, including a multiple employer welfare arrangement, that are not reimbursed or reimbursable by excess of loss insurance, subrogation, or other sources.

(5) "Net assets" means the excess of the assets of a self-insurance plan, including a multiple employer welfare arrangement, minus the liabilities of the plan. The liabilities of a self-insurance plan include the claims liability of the plan.

Acts 1984, No. 857, §1; Acts 1990, No. 902, §1; Acts 1992, No. 775, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1178, §2, eff. June 29, 2001; Redesignated from R.S. 22:3302 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 794, §1; Acts 2015, No. 455, §1.

NOTE: Former R.S. 22:452 redesignated as R.S. 22:181 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.