33-38-106. Medical care discount card supplier financial responsibility requirements -- claims against bonds or accounts -- exemptions. (1) A person intending to act as a medical care discount card supplier may not market, promote, advertise, or distribute a medical care discount card in this state until the person has purchased a bond or established a surety account and filed with the commissioner a copy of a bond or a statement identifying a surety account depository as provided in this section.

(2) A person intending to act as a medical care discount card supplier shall:

(a) purchase and maintain a surety bond in the amount of $50,000 issued by a surety company authorized to do business in this state; or

(b) establish and maintain a surety account in the amount of $50,000 at a federally insured bank, savings and loan association, or federal savings bank located in this state.

(3) A person intending to act as a medical care discount card supplier shall provide the depository, trustee, and account number of the surety account to the commissioner and shall annually provide to the commissioner proof of renewal of the bond or maintenance of the surety account. The person shall pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $250 with the initial filing and with each subsequent filing.

(4) A medical care discount card supplier shall maintain the surety account or bond until 2 years after the date that the supplier ceases operations in the state. Money from a surety account may not be released to the supplier without the written consent of the commissioner.

(5) A surety on a medical care discount card company bond may not cancel a bond required by this section without giving at least 21 days' written notice of cancellation to the medical care discount card supplier and the commissioner. If the commissioner receives notice of a surety's intention to cancel a supplier's bond, the commissioner shall notify the affected supplier that, unless the supplier files another $50,000 surety bond with the commissioner or establishes a $50,000 surety account on or before the date the bond is to be canceled, the supplier may no longer do business as a supplier in this state.

(6) A bond surety shall write a bond required by this section and a person intending to act as a medical care discount card supplier shall establish an account in favor of a person, and the commissioner for the benefit of a person, injured by a violation of this part. The bond surety shall also write the bond to cover any fines levied against the supplier, a supplier's enroller, or both, for a violation of this part occurring during the time the supplier's bond is in effect.

(7) A person with a claim against a medical care discount card supplier's bond or surety account for a violation of a provision of this part may maintain an action against the supplier and against either the bond surety or the trustee of the surety account, as appropriate. The aggregate liability of the surety or trustee to a person injured by a violation of this part may not exceed the amount of the surety bond or account.

(8) A person acting as a medical care discount card supplier on October 1, 2005, shall file with the commissioner a copy of a surety bond or statement identifying a surety account depository on that date. A person commencing business as a supplier after October 1, 2005, shall file a copy of a bond or statement with the commissioner at least 30 days before commencing business as a supplier.

(9) A health insurance issuer that is also a medical care discount card supplier is exempt from the requirements of this section.

(10) An administrator that is authorized to do business in this state and that provides medical care discount cards to Montana residents who are members of self-funded group health plans administered by that administrator is exempt from the requirements of this section.