                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 38.2-3551)

A. As used in this article:
			&#8220;Eligible dependent&#8221; means an individual who may be covered as a
dependent under a group health policy or policies and who is eligible, as
determined by a small employer health group cooperative, for coverage as a
dependent of an eligible employee under a group health policy or policies issued
to or through such small employer health group cooperative.			&#8220;Eligible
employee&#8221; means an employee who works for a small employer on a full-time
basis, has a normal work week of 30 or more hours, has satisfied applicable
waiting period requirements, and is not a part-time, temporary, or substitute
employee.			&#8220;Employer-member&#8221; means a small employer participating
in a small employer health group cooperative.			&#8220;Group health
policy&#8221; or &#8220;policy&#8221; means a group insurance policy providing
hospital, medical and surgical or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred
basis, a group accident and sickness insurance policy or subscription contract,
and a group health care plan for health care services or limited health care
services provided by a health maintenance organization. For the purposes of this
article, a group health policy or policy shall also mean a policy or plan
provided by a dental or optometric services plan, dental plan organization, and
a health maintenance organization offering limited health care services as
defined in § 38.2-4300.			&#8220;Health insurance issuer&#8221; or
&#8220;issuer&#8221; means a company authorized to issue coverage under Article
3 (§ 38.2-3521.1 et seq.) of Chapter 35, Chapter 42 (§ 38.2-4200 et seq.),
Chapter 43 (§ 38.2-4300 et seq.), Chapter 45 (§ 38.2-4500 et seq.), or Chapter
61 (§ 38.2-6100 et seq.) of this title.			&#8220;Health status-related
factor&#8221; means the following in relation to the individual or a dependent
eligible for coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage
offered by a health insurance issuer:

   1. Health status;

   2. Medical condition, including both physical and mental illnesses;

   3. Claims experience;

   4. Receipt of health care;

   5. Medical history;

   6. Genetic information;

   7. Evidence of insurability, including conditions arising out of acts of
   domestic violence; or

   8. Disability.
   				&#8220;Service area&#8221; means the geographic area within which a health
   insurance issuer is authorized to sell a group health policy or
   policies.				&#8220;Small employer&#8221; means, in connection with a group
   health policy with respect to a calendar year and a plan year, an employer who
   employed an average of at least one but not more than 50 employees on business
   days during the preceding calendar year and who employs at least one employee
   on the first day of the plan year.				&#8220;Small employer health group
   cooperative&#8221; or &#8220;cooperative&#8221; means an entity authorized by
   its employer-members to negotiate with health insurance issuers on their
   behalf as to the terms, including premium rates, under which a group health
   policy or policies may be issued, providing coverage for the eligible
   employees of such employer-members and their eligible dependents.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply in any instance in which the
provisions of this section are inconsistent or in conflict with a provision of
Article 6 (&#xA7; 38.2-3438 et seq.) of Chapter 34.

HISTORY: 2006, c. 427; 2013, c. 751; 2016, c. 1.