(1) The purpose of this section is to start a program to inform county citizens of the need for catastrophic health insurance and to make this insurance available to citizens through an independent insurer at no cost or liability to the county.
(2) A catastrophic illness or injury may financially devastate an individual or the family of the individual because of extraordinary medical expenses. It is vitally necessary to the public health and welfare in Montgomery County that:
(A) Its citizens not be burdened with this financial cost. Most health insurance policies contain a monetary limitation on the amount of money that can be expended on a particular illness or individual. The county has enacted this section because additional insurance is not always available to citizens; and
(B) The Montgomery County government not be financially burdened by citizens who become indigent due to catastrophic health costs.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Catastrophic health insurance means a supplementary insurance contract that indemnifies a citizen for medical expenses that:
a. Result form an illness, injury, or disease; and
b. Are greater than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00).
(2) Citizen means any individual who lives in or works in this country for at least ninety (90) consecutive days.
(3) Insurer means an insurance company that is authorized to provide catastrophic illness insurance in this state.
(c) Responsibility of county executive. The county executive should use his best efforts to:
(1) Contract with an insurer to provide to any citizen catastrophic health insurance;
(2) Inform citizens of the availability to purchase the catastrophic health insurance plan; and
(3) Provide oversight for all contract obligations with the county.
(d) Preexisting conditions. A contract provided under this section will not be required to cover a preexisting medical condition of the citizen.
(e) The county is not liable in any way for any claims arising out of an arrangement for insurance established under this section, and the insurer must bear the cost of all claims and indemnity the county against all claims and the cost of defending against all claims in connection with an arrangement for insurance established under this section.
(f) Regulations. The county executive may adopt regulations under method (2) of section 2A-15 of this Code to implement this section. (1986 L.M.C., ch. 68, § 1; , § 1.)
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