Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A. Maine Insurance Code § 1951. Definitions

1. Carrier. “Carrier” means any insurance company, nonprofit hospital and medical service organization or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health plans in this State. For the purposes of this chapter, carriers that are affiliated companies or that are eligible to file consolidated tax returns are treated as one carrier and any restrictions or limitations imposed by this chapter apply as if all health plans delivered or issued for delivery in this State by affiliated carriers were issued by one carrier. For purposes of this chapter, health maintenance organizations are treated as separate organizations from affiliated insurance companies and nonprofit hospital and medical service organizations.

2. Private purchasing alliance. “Private purchasing alliance” or “alliance” means a corporation established under former Title 13-A,  1 Title 13-B  2 or Title 13-C  3 to provide health insurance to its members through one or more participating carriers.