Chapter 176H

Section 1. In this chapter the following words shall have the following meanings:— ''Attorney'', an attorney at law who is a member of the bar of the commonwealth or any other state. ''Commissioner'', the commissioner of insurance. ''Covered dependents'', dependents of an insured…

Section 10. The rates to be charged by a sponsor under a membership legal services plan approved under this chapter shall be filed and determined in accordance with the provisions of sections one through five and six through twenty of chapter one hundred and seventy-five A.

Section 11. The commissioner may, upon not less than fifteen days' written notice to all interested parties, hold a public hearing upon an insured legal services plan or a membership legal services plan previously approved by him under section five or section nine of this chapter…

Section 12. Any insurer or sponsor or other interested party aggrieved by any order or decision of the commissioner made without a hearing, or the advisory committee on prepaid legal services may, within fifteen days after written notice of the order or decision, make written req…

Section 13. The commissioner, or any deputy examiner or any other person designated by the commissioner, shall, at least once in three years, and at other times the commissioner deems prudent, visit any sponsor, other than an employer or employee organization subject to the Emplo…

Section 13A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, chapter 176V shall apply to legal services plans governed by this chapter.

Section 13B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, chapter 176W shall apply to legal services plans governed by this chapter.

Section 14. Any dispute or controversy arising between an insurer or sponsor and any attorney, insured, or member, or any person whose insurance certificate contract or membership certificate has been canceled or to whom an insurer or sponsor has refused to issue an insurance cer…

Section 15. Upon application to the superior court by the commissioner, injunctive relief may be granted if any sponsor of an insured legal services plan or a membership legal services plan has failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter; is operating fraudulently; is op…

Section 16. It shall be unlawful for any person, group of persons, or entity except an insurer or sponsor of an insured legal services plan or a membership legal services plan, to establish, underwrite, operate or offer to sell a legal services plan, except in conformity with the…

Section 17. The commissioner may, after public hearing, promulgate appropriate rules and regulations for the execution of his duties under this chapter. The rules and regulations may include such provisions as the commissioner deems necessary to assure that legal services plans o…

Section 19. The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by a complaint brought in the superior court by the commissioner or the advisory committee on prepaid legal services.

Section 2. Any sponsor may establish and operate an insured legal services plan underwritten in whole or in part by an insurer subject to the provisions of this chapter. An insured legal services plan may be either an indemnity plan or a service plan, or a combination of both. Un…

Section 3. Insurance corporations may be insurers of insured legal services plans, and such companies shall be subject to the insurance laws of the commonwealth except insofar as any provision of the insurance laws may be in conflict with applicable provisions of this chapter. An…

Section 4. An insurance certificate shall be issued to each insured under an insured legal services plan. No insurance certificate shall be issued unless it contains the following provisions:— (a) A statement of covered legal services and the basis for payment for such legal serv…

Section 5. No insurer shall issue a group insurance policy providing benefits for legal services or an insurance certificate which is a contract, or any amendment to such group policy provisions or insurance certificate previously approved and issued without prior approval of the…

Section 6. The rates to be charged by an insurer for an insurance certificate contract under an insured legal services plan approved under the provisions of this chapter shall be filed and determined in accordance with the provisions of sections one to five, inclusive, and six to…

Section 7. Any corporation formed under the provisions of chapter one hundred and eighty, any corporation formed under general or special law for any of the purposes set forth in section four of chapter one hundred and eighty, or any labor organization is authorized to establish …

Section 8. A membership certificate shall be issued by a sponsor to each participating member under a membership legal services plan. No membership certificate shall be issued unless it contains the following provisions:— (a) A statement of covered legal services under the certif…

Section 9. No sponsor shall issue a membership certificate or any amendment to a membership certificate previously approved and issued without prior approval of the commissioner, and prior to such approval the sponsor shall file a copy of the membership legal services plan and me…