Sec. 355b. Claim-related information; alternative means of communication.

409 words·~2 min read·/il/chapter-215/act-5/355b

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(a)For the purposes of this Section, "claim-related information" means all claim or billing information relating specifically to an insured, subscriber, or person covered by an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance issued, delivered, amended, or renewed by a company doing business in this State.

(b)A company that issues, delivers, amends, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall accommodate a reasonable request by a person covered by a policy issued by the company to receive communications of claim-related information from the company by alternative means or at alternative locations if the person clearly states that disclosure of all or part of the information could endanger the person.

(c)If a child is covered by a policy issued by a company, then the child's parent or guardian may make a request to the company pursuant to subsection

(b)of this Section.

(d)A company may require

(1)a person making a request pursuant to subsection

(b)of this Section to do so in writing,

(2)the request to contain a statement that disclosure of all or part of the claim-related information to which the request pertains could endanger the person or child, and

(3)the specification of an alternative address, telephone number, or other method of contact.

(e)Except with the express consent of the person making a request pursuant to subsection

(b)of this Section, a company may not disclose to the policyholder

(1)the address, telephone number, or any other personally identifying information of the person who made the request or child for whose benefit a request was made,

(2)the nature of the health care services provided, or

(3)the name or address of the provider of the health care services.

(f)A company that makes reasonable and good faith efforts to comply with this Section shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability on the grounds of noncompliance with this Section.

(g)The Director shall adopt rules to guide companies in guarding against the disclosure of the information protected pursuant to this Section.

(h)Nothing in this Section shall prevent, hinder, or otherwise affect the entry of an appropriate order made in the best interests of a child by a court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating disputed issues of child welfare or custody.