Sec. 544.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Health benefit plan issuer" means an insurance company, association, organization, group hospital service corporation, or health maintenance organization that delivers or issues for delivery an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an evidence of coverage that provides health insurance or health care benefits. The term includes:

(A) a life, health, and accident insurance company operating under Chapter 841 or 982;

(B) a general casualty insurance company operating under Chapter 861;

(C) a fraternal benefit society operating under Chapter 885;

(D) a mutual life insurance company operating under Chapter 882;

(E) a local mutual aid association operating under Chapter 886;

(F) a statewide mutual assessment company operating under Chapter 881;

(G) a mutual assessment company or mutual assessment life, health, and accident association operating under Chapter 887;

(H) a mutual insurance company operating under Chapter 883 that writes coverage other than life insurance;

(I) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941;

(J) a reciprocal exchange operating under Chapter 942; and

(K) a stipulated premium company operating under Chapter 884.

(2) "Underwriting guideline" means a written, electronic, or oral rule, standard, marketing decision, or practice that is used by a health benefit plan issuer or an agent of a health benefit plan issuer to examine, bind, accept, reject, renew or refuse to renew, cancel, or limit coverages available to classes of consumers or charge a different rate for the same coverage.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.