Virginia Insurance Updated Virginia-Life-Annuities-and-Health-Insurance Exam Questions and Answers by elif

Virginia Code § 38.2-3431 et seq., aligned with the ACA, requires small employer health plans (1-50 employees) to offer coverage to all eligible employees who apply, without discrimination based on health status or other factors. “Eligible” typically means full-time employees meeting the employer’s criteria (e.g., 30+ hours/week). Option A reflects this guaranteed issue mandate, ensuring broad access. Option B (12-month waiting period) is false; Virginia and federal law cap waiting periods at 90 days (Virginia Code § 38.2-3445), not 12 months. Option C (evidence ofinsurability) contradicts guaranteed issue rules for small groups, which prohibit medical underwriting. Option D (under age 65) is incorrect; coverage extends to all eligible employees regardless of age, though Medicare coordination may apply post-65. The study guide likely stresses this inclusivity as a cornerstone of small group market reforms, making A the correct answer.

Virginia Code § 38.2-4306 mandates that Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) provide comprehensive health services, including emergency care, as a core benefit. Emergency services must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (option D) to ensure immediate access to life-saving treatment, aligning with federal and state standards (e.g., ACA requirements under 42 CFR § 422.113). This reflects the HMO’s obligation to cover urgent needs—e.g., a heart attack at 2 a.m.—via in-network facilities or out-of-network reimbursement if necessary. Option A (16 hours, 6 days) and Option B (16 hours, 7 days) fall short of the continuous access requirement, limiting coverage unreasonably. Option C (24 hours, 6 days) excludes one day, contradicting the nonstop mandate. The study guide likely emphasizes this 24/7 rule in an HMO benefits section, with examples like ER visits covered anytime, making D the correct standard. This ensures HMOs meet Virginia’s consumer protection goals under § 38.2-4300 et seq., distinguishing them from less comprehensive plans.

Virginia Code § 38.2-4306 requires HMOs to offer preventive care, coordinated by primary care physicians (PCPs), focusing on health maintenance. Option A (well-baby checkups), option B (immunizations for children), and option D (physical examinations) are standard preventiveservices—e.g., growth monitoring, vaccines, and annual exams—covered at no cost under ACA-aligned plans (Virginia Code § 38.2-3440). Option C (experimental surgery) is not preventive; it’s a treatment, often excluded or requiring special approval due to its unproven nature, not a PCP’s routine role. The study guide likely lists HMO preventive benefits with examples (e.g., flu shots), contrasting them with non-preventive interventions like surgery, making C the exception.

Virginia Code § 38.2-4303 defines the HMO model, where the primary care physician (PCP, option A) acts as the gatekeeper, delivering preventive (e.g., vaccines) and routine care (e.g., checkups), and coordinating referrals. Option B (medical director) oversees HMO operations, not direct care. Option C (routine care physician) isn’t a standard term; the PCP fills this role. Option D (provider association) might imply a network, but care comes from the individual PCP, not a collective. The study guide likely explains the PCP’s central role with examples—e.g., a member seeing their PCP for a flu shot—highlighting HMO cost-control via this structure, making A the correct provider.