MS HB1109

Amends Mississippi Code Section 83-9-5 to require accident and health insurance policies to penalize insurers for late payment of claims to healthcare providers or insureds.

Establishes timeframes for claim payment: 25 days for electronically submitted clean claims and 35 days for paper claims; defines "clean claim" as one requiring no further information or adjustment by provider or insured.

Requires insurers to pay interest at 1.5% per month on unpaid benefits or 1% per day late penalty, whichever is greater, if claims are not paid timely; insurers must notify claimants of reasons for non-payment within applicable timeframes.

Allows insureds to bring legal action for unpaid claims and provides for treble damages (three times the unpaid claim amount) if insurer intentionally failed to pay benefits when due.

Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to levy administrative penalties on insurers failing to pay clean claims timely: up to $10,000 for 85-95% compliance, $10,000-$100,000 for 50-85% compliance, and $100,000-$200,000 for less than 50% compliance; effective July 1, 2019.