Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance is hoping to make things easier for some small employers seeking insurance rate information or applying for group health insurance through a new, standardized form.

The “Virginia Small Employer Group Health Insurance Medical History Form” was recently introduced by the State Corporation Commission, which oversees the insurance bureau, for insurers doing business in the state. The form provides a standardized form for employers required to provide information regarding their employees to an insurer when applying for a group health insurance policy.

The new form may also be used by small employers submitting group health insurance applications to or seeking rate and coverage information from, one or more insurers. It is intended to relieve small employers and their employees of the burden of completing multiple health insurance applications, according to the SCC.

The form comes as a result of House Bill 728, passed by the 2008 Virginia General Assembly, directing the Bureau of Insurance to convene a workgroup comprised of representatives from insurers, insurance agent organizations, employer organizations, and the Virginia Association of Health Plans. The group was to develop a uniform group health insurance application form by July 1.

Use of the form by insurers and small groups is voluntary.

The Bureau of Insurance has distributed copies of the form and instructions for its use to all health insurance companies, health services plans, and health maintenance organizations doing business in Virginia for use immediately. The bureau warns that the text of the form may not be altered and guidelines allow for only minimal formatting changes.

Also, the form must contain the full and proper corporate name of the health carrier using it.

The bureau said it will periodically survey insurance carriers concerning their use of this form, and will review and revise it, as needed, to ensure its ongoing compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and to ensure that it meets the needs of the insurers and small employers using it.