(a) The plan shall offer health care coverage consistent with comprehensive coverage to every eligible person who is not eligible for Medicare. The coverage to be issued by the plan, its schedule of benefits, exclusions and other limitations shall be established by the board and subject to the approval of the commissioner.
(b) In establishing the plan coverage, the board shall take into consideration the levels of health insurance coverage provided in the state and medical economic factors as may be deemed appropriate; and promulgate benefit levels, deductibles, coinsurance factors, exclusions and limitations determined to be generally reflective of and commensurate with health insurance coverage provided through a representative number of large employers in the state.
(c) The board may adjust any deductibles and coinsurance factors annually according to the medical component of the consumer price index.
(d) Preexisting conditions. —
(1) Plan coverage shall exclude charges or expenses incurred during the first six months following the effective date of coverage as to any condition for which medical advice, care or treatment was recommended or received as to such conditions during the six-month period immediately preceding the effective date of coverage, except that no preexisting condition exclusion shall be applied to a federally defined eligible individual. The board may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to propose any other additional class of eligible individuals to which the preexisting condition exclusion may not apply.