Wisconsin Legislature: Ins 17.35(3)(c)

1. A guarantee that the insured can purchase an unlimited extended reporting endorsement upon cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy.

2. If the policy is a group policy, a provision that any health care provider, as defined under s. 655.001 (8), Stats., whose participation in the group terminates has the right to purchase an individual unlimited extended reporting endorsement.

3. A prominent notice that the insured has the obligation under s. 655.23 (3) (a), Stats., to purchase the extended reporting endorsement unless other insurance is available to ensure continuing coverage for the liability of all insureds under the policy for the term the claims-made policy was in effect.

4. A prominent notice that the insurer will notify the commissioner if the insured does not purchase the extended reporting endorsement and that the insured, if a natural person, may be subject to administrative action by his or her licensing board.

(2b) Aggregate limits; unlimited extended reporting endorsements.

(a) This subsection interprets and implements s. 655.23 (4), Stats.

(b) Highest aggregate limit applies.

1. ‘Claims-made coverage.’ The aggregate limit applicable to all claims reported during a reporting year of a claims-made policy shall be the highest limit specified in s. 655.23 (4) (b), Stats., that applies during the reporting year.

2. ‘Occurrence coverage.’ The limit applicable to all occurrences during an occurrence year of an occurrence policy shall be the highest limit specified in s. 655.23 (4), Stats., that applies during the occurrence year.

(c) Unlimited extended reporting endorsements issued before January 1, 1999. Before January 1, 1999, the aggregate limit applicable to an unlimited extended reporting endorsement shall be one of the following:

1. The total amount of the annual aggregate limit specified in s. 655.23 (4), Stats., as it applied on the date of the occurrence, shall be available for each occurrence year, less amounts previously paid under any policy for that occurrence year.

2. The following minimum percentage of the annual aggregate limit specified in s. 655.23 (4), Stats., as it applied to the last reporting year of the canceled or nonrenewed claims-made policy shall be available for all claims reported under the extended reporting endorsement: 100% when the policy was in effect for 1 year or less, including any retroactive coverage period; 130% when the policy was in effect for more than 1 year, but less than or equal to 2 years, including any retroactive coverage period; 150% when the policy was in effect for more than 2 years, but less than or equal to 3 years, including any retroactive coverage period; 160% when the policy was in effect for more than 3 years, including any retroactive coverage period.

(d) Unlimited extended reporting endorsements issued on and after January 1, 1999. On and after January 1, 1999 the minimum aggregate limit applicable to an unlimited extended reporting endorsement shall be that specified in par. (c) 2.

(2e) Requirements for group coverage.

(a) In this section, “provider” means a health care provider, as defined in s. 655.001 (8), Stats.

(b) An insurer or self-insured provider that provides primary coverage under a group policy or self-insured plan shall do all of the following:

1. At the time of original issuance of the policy or when the self-insured plan takes effect, and each time coverage for an individual provider is added:

a. Furnish each covered provider with a copy of the policy or a certificate of coverage specifying the coverage provided and whether the coverage is limited to a specific practice location, to services performed for a specific employer or in any other way.

b. Include on the first page of the policy or the certificate of coverage, or in the form of a sticker, letter or other form included with the policy or certificate of coverage, that it is the responsibility of the individual provider to ensure that he or she has health care liability insurance coverage meeting the requirements of ch. 655, Stats., in effect for all of his or her practice in this state, unless the provider is exempt from the requirements of that chapter.

2. For a policy or self-insured plan in effect on October 1, 1993, furnish the documents specified in subd. 1. a. and b. to each individual covered provider before the next renewal date or anniversary date of the policy or self-insured plan.

3. Notify each covered provider individually when the policy or self-insured plan is cancelled, nonrenewed or otherwise terminated, or amended to affect the coverage provisions.

4. On the certificate of insurance filed with the fund under s. 655.23 (3) (b) or (c), Stats., and s. Ins 17.28 (5), specify whether the coverage is limited to a specific practice location, to services performed for a specific employer or in any other way.

(2m) Risk retention groups. If the policy is issued by a risk retention group, as defined under s. 600.03 (41e), Stats., each new and renewal application form shall include the following notice in 10-point type:

NOTICE

Under the federal liability risk retention act of 1986 (15 USC 3901 to 3906) the Wisconsin insurance security fund is not available for payment of claims if this risk retention group becomes insolvent. In that event, you will be personally liable for payment of claims up to your limit of liability under s. 655.23 (4), Wis. Stat.

Note: Subsection (2m) first applies to applications taken on October 1, 1991.

(3) Permissible exclusions. A policy may exclude coverage, or permit subrogation against or recovery from the insured, for any of the following:

(a) Criminal acts.

(b) Intentional sexual acts and other intentional torts.

(d) Defamation.

(e) Employment, religious, racial, sexual, age and other unlawful discrimination.

(f) Pollution resulting in injury to a 3rd party.

(g) Acts that occurred before the effective date of the policy of which the insured was aware or should have been aware.

(h) Incidents occurring while a provider’s license to practice is suspended, revoked, surrendered or otherwise terminated.

(i) Criminal and civil fines, forfeitures and other penalties.

(j) Punitive and exemplary damages.

(k) Liability of the insured covered by other insurance, such as worker’s compensation, automobile, fire or general liability.

(L) Liability arising out of the ownership, operation or supervision by the insured of a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility or business enterprise.

(m) Liability of others assumed by the insured under a contract or agreement.

(n) Any other exclusion which the commissioner determines is not inconsistent with the coverage required under sub. (2).

(4) Deductibles. If a policy includes a deductible or coinsurance clause, the insurer is responsible for payment of the total amount of indemnity up to the limits under s. 655.23 (4), Stats., but may recoup the amount of the deductible or coinsurance from the insured after the insurer’s payment obligation is satisfied.

Note: Subsection (2b) applies to all claims made health care liability insurance policies for which certificates have been filed with the patients compensation fund, whether issued before, on or after July 1, 1994.

History: Cr. Register, June, 1990, No. 414, eff. 7-1-90; emerg. cr. (2m), eff. 7-1-91; cr. (2m), Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91; cr. (2e), Register, September, 1993, No. 453, eff. 10-1-93; cr. (2b), Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94; emerg. r. and recr. (2b) (b) and cr. (2b) (c) and (d), eff. 6-1-98; r. and recr. (2b) (b) and cr. (2b) (c) and (d), Register, August, 1998, No. 512, eff. 9-1-98.

Note: See the table of Appellate Court Citations for Wisconsin appellate cases citing s. Ins 17.35.

Ins 17.40 Notice to fund of filing of action outside this state.

(1) Purpose. This section implements s. 655.27 (5) (a) and (b), Stats., relating to the requirement that the fund be notified of an action filed outside this state within 60 days of service of process on the health care provider or the employee of the health care provider and relating to the duty of the insurer or self-insurer of the provider to provide an adequate defense of the fund and act in good faith and in a fiduciary relationship with respect to any claim affecting the fund.

(2) Primary insurer or self-insurer to give notice to fund. A primary insurer or self-insurer for a health care provider or employee of a health care provider shall notify the fund in writing within 60 days of the insurer or self-insurer’s first notice of the filing of an action outside this state alleging medical malpractice against its insured health care provider or the employee of its insured health care provider or within 60 days of service of process on the insured health care provider or employee thereof, whichever is later. The notice shall provide at a minimum the names and addresses of the parties plaintiff and defendant, the court in which the action is filed, the case number, and copies, if available, of the complaint in the action and answer filed on behalf of the defendant provider.

(3) Failure to give notice. If the primary insurer or self-insurer fails to give notice to the fund as required in sub. (2), the board shall deny fund coverage for the action filed outside this state unless the primary insurer demonstrates, and the board finds, all of the following:

(a) The fund was not prejudiced by the failure to give notice as required, and

(b) It was not reasonably possible to give notice within the time limit.

(4) Failure to act in good faith. If the board denies coverage pursuant to sub. (3), then failure to give notice to the fund of the filing of an action outside this state as required in sub. (2) constitutes a failure to act in good faith on the part of the insurer or self-insurer in violation of s. 655.27 (5) (b), Stats.

History: CR 03-038: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03.

Ins 17.50 Self-insured plans for health care providers.

(1) Purpose. This section implements s. 655.23 (3) (a), Stats.

(2) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Actuarial” means prepared by an actuary meeting the requirements of s. Ins 6.12 who has experience in the field of medical malpractice liability insurance.

(am) “Affiliated health care providers” means two or more health care providers delivering services as described in s. 655.002 (1), Stats., and who satisfy all of the following:

1. The health care providers are either legal entities or are employed by one or more separate legal entities over which operating control is exercised by a common controlling legal entity. The controlling legal entity need not be a health care provider.

2. The incomes of the health care providers are consolidated with the controlling legal entity in audited financial statements prepared under generally accepted accounting principles.

(b) “Level of confidence” means a percentage describing the probability that a certain funding level will be adequate to cover actual losses.

(c) “Occurrence coverage” means coverage for acts or omissions occurring during the period in which a self-insured plan is in effect.

(d) “Office” means the office of the commissioner of insurance.

(e) “Provider,” when used without modification, means a health care provider as defined in s. 655.001 (8), Stats., or affiliated health care providers as defined in par. (am), responsible for the establishment and operation of a self-insured plan.

(f) “Risk margin” means the amount that must be added to estimated liabilities to achieve a specified confidence level.

(g) “Self-insured plan” means a method, other than through the purchase of insurance, by which a provider may furnish professional liability coverage which meets the requirements of ch. 655, Stats.

(h) “Year” means the self-insured plan’s fiscal year.

(3) Coverage.

(a) A self-insured plan shall provide professional liability occurrence coverage with limits of liability in the amounts specified in s. 655.23 (4), Stats., for the provider, the provider’s employees, other than employees who are natural persons defined as health care providers under s. 655.001 (8), Stats., and any other person for whom the provider is legally responsible while the employee or other person is acting within the scope of his or her duties for the provider.

(b) A self-insured plan may also provide occurrence coverage for any natural person who is a health care provider, as defined in s. 655.001 (8), Stats., and who is an employee, partner or shareholder of the provider. The self-insured plan shall provide separate limits of liability in the amounts specified in s. 655.23 (4), Stats., for each such natural person covered.

(c) A self-insured plan shall also provide for supplemental expenses in addition to the limits of liability in s. 655.23 (4), Stats., including attorney fees, litigation expenses, costs and interest incurred in connection with the settlement or defense of claims.

(d) A self-insured plan may not provide coverage for anything other than the professional liability coverage required under ch. 655, Stats., or for any other person than those specified in pars. (a) and (b).

(4) Initial filing. A provider that intends to establish a self-insured plan shall file with the office a proposal which shall include all of the following:

(a) If the provider is not a natural person, the history and organization of the provider.

(b) If the provider is not a natural person, a resolution adopted by the provider’s governing body approving the establishment and operation of a self-insured plan.

(d) An actuarial estimate of the liabilities that will be incurred by the self-insured plan in the first year of operation, an actuarial review of the cost of the first year’s funding and a description of how the self-insured plan will be funded.

(e) If prior acts coverage is required under sub. (6) (f) 1., an actuarial estimate of the liabilities of the provider and any natural person covered under sub. (3) (b) for prior acts, an actuarial review of the cost of funding the coverage and a description of how the coverage will be funded.

(f) An actuarial feasibility study which includes a 5-year projection of expected results.

(g) The identity of the bank that will act as trustee for the self-insured plan and a proposed trust agreement between the provider and the bank.

(h) Any proposed investment policy that will be applicable to the investment of the trust’s assets.

(i) A description of the provider’s existing or proposed risk management program.

(j) The estimated number and the professions of natural persons that the self-insured plan will cover under sub. (3) (b).

(k) A description of the proposed contractual arrangements with administrators, claims adjusters and other persons that will be involved in the operation of the self-insured plan.

(L) The provider’s most recent audited annual financial statement prepared under generally accepted accounting principles that includes, if applicable, all affiliated health care providers covered under the self-insured plan on a consolidated basis.

(m) A proposed draft of a letter of credit, if the provider intends to use one as part of the initial funding, except for affiliated health care providers who are prohibited from using a letter of credit for initial funding.

(n) Any additional information requested by the office.

(5) Review of proposal; approval.

(a) After reviewing a proposal submitted under sub. (4), the office may approve the proposal if all of the following conditions are met: