2018 -- H 8234 | |
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LC005787 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- TRAVEL INSURANCE ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, O`Grady, Ucci, and O'Brien | |
Date Introduced: May 24, 2018 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 27-79 of the General Laws entitled "Limited Lines Travel |
2 | Insurance Act" is hereby repealed in its entirety. |
3 | CHAPTER 27-79 |
4 | Limited Lines Travel Insurance Act |
5 | 27-79-1. Short title. |
6 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Limited Lines Travel Insurance Model |
7 | Act." |
8 | 27-79-2. Definitions. |
9 | As used in this chapter, the following terms shall mean: |
10 | (1) "Limited lines travel insurance producer" means a licensed insurance producer |
11 | designated by an insurer as the travel insurance supervising producer as set forth in § 27-79-6 |
12 | below. |
13 | (2) "Offer and disseminate" means providing general information, including a description |
14 | of the coverage and price, as well as processing the application, collecting premiums, and |
15 | performing other non-licensable activities permitted by the state. |
16 | (3) "Travel insurance" means insurance coverage for personal risks incident to planned |
17 | travel, including but not limited to: |
18 | (i) Interruption or cancellation of trip or event; |
19 | (ii) Loss of baggage or personal effects; |
| |
1 | (iii) Damages to accommodations or rental vehicles; or |
2 | (iv) Sickness, accident, disability or death occurring during travel. |
3 | Travel insurance does not include major medical plans, which provide comprehensive |
4 | medical protection for travelers with trips lasting six (6) months or longer, including for example, |
5 | those working overseas as an ex-patriot or military personnel being deployed. |
6 | (4) "Travel retailer" means a business entity that makes, arranges or offers travel services |
7 | and may offer and disseminate travel insurance as a service to its customers on behalf of and |
8 | under the direction of a limited lines travel insurance producer. |
9 | 27-79-3. Requirements. |
10 | (a) A travel retailer may offer and disseminate travel insurance only if the limited lines |
11 | travel insurance producer complies with the following: |
12 | (1) The limited lines travel insurance producer or travel retailer provides to purchasers of |
13 | travel insurance: |
14 | (i) A description of the material terms or the actual material terms of the insurance |
15 | coverage; |
16 | (ii) A description of the process for filing a claim; |
17 | (iii) A description of the review or cancellation process for the travel insurance policy; |
18 | and |
19 | (iv) The identity and contact information of the insurer and limited lines travel insurance |
20 | producer. |
21 | (2) At the time of licensure, the limited lines travel insurance producer shall establish and |
22 | maintain a register of each travel retailer that offers travel insurance on the limited lines travel |
23 | insurance producer's behalf. The register shall be maintained and updated by the limited lines |
24 | travel insurance producer and shall include the name, address, and contact information of the |
25 | travel retailer and an officer or person who directs or controls the travel retailer's operations, and |
26 | the travel retailer's federal employment identification number. The limited lines travel insurance |
27 | producer shall submit such register to the state insurance department upon reasonable request. |
28 | The limited lines travel insurance producer shall also certify that the travel retailer registered |
29 | complies with applicable federal law. |
30 | (3) The limited lines travel insurance producer is responsible for compliance with the |
31 | travel insurance laws, rules and regulations of the state. |
32 | (4) The limited lines travel insurance producer has paid all applicable insurance producer |
33 | licensing fees. |
34 | (5) The limited lines travel insurance producer requires each employee of the travel |
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1 | retailer whose duties include offering and disseminating travel insurance to receive a program of |
2 | instruction or training, which may be subject to review by the commissioner. The training |
3 | material shall, at a minimum, contain instructions on the types of insurance offered, ethical sales |
4 | practices, and required disclosures to prospective customers. |
5 | (b) Any travel retailer offering or disseminating travel insurance shall make available to |
6 | prospective purchasers brochures or other written materials that: |
7 | (1) Provide the identity and contact information of the insurer and the limited lines travel |
8 | insurance producer; |
9 | (2) Explain that the purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any |
10 | other product or service from the travel retailer; and |
11 | (3) Explain that an unlicensed travel retailer is permitted to provide general information |
12 | about the insurance offered by the travel insurance producer or insurer, including a description of |
13 | the coverage and price, but is not qualified or authorized to answer technical questions about the |
14 | terms and conditions of the insurance offered by the travel retailer or to evaluate the adequacy of |
15 | the customer's existing insurance coverage. |
16 | (c) A travel retailer who is not licensed as an insurance producer may not: |
17 | (1) Evaluate or interpret the technical terms, benefits, and conditions of the offered travel |
18 | insurance coverage; |
19 | (2) Evaluate or provide advice concerning a prospective purchaser's existing insurance |
20 | coverage; or |
21 | (3) Hold himself/herself or itself out as a licensed insurer, licensed producer, or insurance |
22 | expert. |
23 | 27-79-4. Compensation. |
24 | A travel retailer whose insurance-related activities, and those of its employees, are |
25 | limited to offering and disseminating travel insurance on behalf of and under the direction of a |
26 | limited lines travel insurance producer meeting the conditions stated in this chapter, is authorized |
27 | to do so and receive related compensation. |
28 | 27-79-5. Policy. |
29 | Travel insurance may be provided under an individual policy or under a group or master |
30 | policy. |
31 | 27-79-6. Responsibility. |
32 | As the insurer designee, the limited lines travel insurance producer is responsible for the |
33 | acts of the travel retailer and shall use reasonable means to ensure compliance by the travel |
34 | retailer with this chapter. |
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1 | 27-79-7. Enforcement. |
2 | The limited lines travel insurance producer and any travel retailer offering and |
3 | disseminating travel insurance under the limited lines travel insurance producer license shall be |
4 | subject to the penalties for violations of this chapter pursuant to § 42-14-16. |
5 | SECTION 2. Title 27 of the General Laws entitled "INSURANCE" is hereby amended |
6 | by adding thereto the following chapter: |
7 | CHAPTER 79.1 |
8 | TRAVEL INSURANCE ACT |
9 | 27-79.1-1. Short title. |
10 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Travel Insurance Act." |
11 | 27-79.1-2. Scope and purposes. |
12 | (a) The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public welfare by creating a |
13 | comprehensive legal framework within which travel insurance may be sold in this state. |
14 | (b) The requirements of this chapter shall apply to travel insurance policies and |
15 | certificates which are delivered or issued for delivery in this state. It shall not apply to |
16 | cancellation fee waivers and travel assistance services, except as expressly provided herein. |
17 | (c) All other applicable provisions of the state's insurance laws shall continue to apply to |
18 | travel insurance; provided, that, the specific provisions of this chapter shall supersede any other |
19 | provisions of the general or public laws that would otherwise be applicable to travel insurance. |
20 | 27-79.1-3. Definitions. |
21 | As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
22 | (1) "Aggregator site" means a website that provides access to information regarding |
23 | insurance products from more than one insurer, including product and insurer information, for use |
24 | in comparison shopping. |
25 | (2) "Blanket travel insurance" means a policy of travel insurance issued to any eligible |
26 | group providing coverage for specific classes of persons defined in the policy, with coverage |
27 | provided to all members of the eligible group without a separate charge to individual members of |
28 | the eligible group. |
29 | (3) "Cancellation fee waiver" means a contractual agreement between a supplier of travel |
30 | services and its customer to waive some or all of the non-refundable cancellation fee provisions |
31 | of the supplier's underlying travel contract, with or without regard to the reason for the |
32 | cancellation or form of reimbursement. A cancellation fee waiver is not insurance. |
33 | (4) "Eligible group," for the purposes of travel insurance, means two (2) or more persons |
34 | who are engaged in a common enterprise, or have an economic, educational, or social affinity or |
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1 | relationship, including, but not limited to, any of the following: |
2 | (i) Any entity engaged in the business of providing travel or travel services, including, |
3 | but not limited to, tour operators, lodging providers, vacation property owners, hotels and resorts, |
4 | travel clubs, travel agencies, property managers, cultural exchange programs, and common |
5 | carriers or the operator, owner, or lessor of a means of transportation of passengers, including, but |
6 | not limited to, airlines, cruise lines, railroads, steamship companies, and public bus carriers, |
7 | wherein, with regard to any particular travel or type of travel or travelers, all members or |
8 | customers of the group must have a common exposure to risk attendant to the travel; |
9 | (ii) Any college, school, or other institution of learning covering students, teachers or |
10 | employees or volunteers; |
11 | (iii) Any employer covering any group of employees, volunteers, contractors, board of |
12 | directors, dependents or guests; |
13 | (iv) Any sports team, camp, or sponsor thereof covering participants, members, campers, |
14 | employees, officials, supervisors, or volunteers; |
15 | (v) Any religious, charitable, recreational, educational, or civic organization or branch |
16 | thereof covering any group of members, participants, or volunteers; |
17 | (vi) Any financial institution or financial institution vendor, or parent holding company, |
18 | trustee, or agent of, or designated by, one or more financial institutions or financial institution |
19 | vendors, including accountholders, credit card holders, debtors, guarantors, or purchasers; |
20 | (vii) Any incorporated or unincorporated association, including labor unions, having a |
21 | common interest, constitution and bylaws, and organized and maintained in good faith for |
22 | purposes other than obtaining insurance for members or participants of such association covering |
23 | its members; |
24 | (viii) Any trust or the trustees of a fund established, created or maintained for the benefit |
25 | of and covering members, employees or customers, subject to the insurance commissioner |
26 | (commissioner), as defined in §27-2.7-1, permitting the use of a trust and the state's premium tax |
27 | provisions in § 27-79.1-6 of one or more associations meeting the requirements of subsection |
28 | (4)(vii) of this section; |
29 | (ix) Any entertainment production company covering any group of participants, |
30 | volunteers, audience members, contestants, or workers; |
31 | (x) Any volunteer fire department, ambulance, rescue, police, court or any first aid, civil |
32 | defense or other such volunteer group; |
33 | (xi) Preschools, daycare institutions for children or adults, and senior citizen clubs; |
34 | (xii) Any automobile or truck rental or leasing company covering a group of individuals |
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1 | who may become renters, lessees, or passengers defined by their travel status on the rented or |
2 | leased vehicles. The common carrier, the operator, owner, or lessor of a means of transportation, |
3 | or the automobile or truck rental or leasing company, is the policyholder under a policy to which |
4 | this section applies; or |
5 | (xiii) Any other group where the commissioner has determined that the members are |
6 | engaged in a common enterprise, or have an economic, educational, or social affinity or |
7 | relationship, and that issuance of the policy would not be contrary to the public interest. |
8 | (5) "Fulfillment materials" means documentation sent to the purchaser of a travel |
9 | protection plan confirming the purchase and providing the travel protection plan's coverage and |
10 | assistance details. |
11 | (6) "Group travel insurance" means travel insurance issued to any eligible group. |
12 | (7) "Limited lines travel insurance producer" means a licensed insurance producer |
13 | designated by an insurer as the travel insurance supervising producer: |
14 | (i) Licensed managing general agent or third-party administrator; |
15 | (ii) Licensed insurance producer, including a limited lines producer; or |
16 | (iii) Travel administrator. |
17 | (8) "Offer and disseminate" means providing general information, including a description |
18 | of the coverage and price, as well as processing the application, and collecting premiums, and |
19 | performing other non-licensable activities permitted by the state. |
20 | (9) "Travel administrator" means a person who directly or indirectly underwrites, collects |
21 | charges, collateral or premiums from, or adjusts or settles claims on residents of this state, in |
22 | connection with travel insurance, except that a person shall not be considered a travel |
23 | administrator if that person's only actions that would otherwise cause it to be considered a travel |
24 | administrator are among the following: |
25 | (i) A person working for a travel administrator to the extent that the person's activities are |
26 | subject to the supervision and control of the travel administrator; |
27 | (ii) An insurance producer selling insurance or engaged in administrative and claims |
28 | related activities within the scope of the producer's license; |
29 | (iii) A travel retailer offering and disseminating travel insurance, and registered under the |
30 | license of a limited lines travel insurance producer in accordance with this chapter; |
31 | (iv) An individual adjusting or settling claims in the normal course of that individual's |
32 | practice or employment as an attorney at law and who does not collect charges or premiums in |
33 | connection with insurance coverage; or |
34 | (v) A business entity that is affiliated with a licensed insurer while acting as a travel |
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1 | administrator for the direct and assumed insurance business of an affiliated insurer. |
2 | (10) "Travel assistance services" means non-insurance services for which the consumer is |
3 | not indemnified based on a fortuitous event, and where providing the service does not result in |
4 | transfer or shifting of risk that would constitute the business of insurance. Travel assistance |
5 | services include, but are not limited to: security advisories; destination information; vaccination |
6 | and immunization information services; travel reservation services; entertainment; activity and |
7 | event planning; translation assistance; emergency messaging; international legal and medical |
8 | referrals; medical case monitoring; coordination of transportation arrangements; emergency cash |
9 | transfer assistance; medical prescription replacement assistance; passport and travel document |
10 | replacement assistance; lost luggage assistance; concierge services; and any other service that is |
11 | furnished in connection with planned travel. Travel assistance services are not insurance and not |
12 | related to insurance. |
13 | (11) "Travel insurance" means insurance coverage for personal risks incident to planned |
14 | travel, including: |
15 | (i) Interruption or cancellation of trip or event; |
16 | (ii) Loss of baggage or personal effects; |
17 | (iii) Damages to accommodations or rental vehicles; |
18 | (iv) Sickness, accident, disability or death occurring during travel.; |
19 | (v) Emergency evacuation; |
20 | (vi) Repatriation of remains; or |
21 | (vii) Any other contractual obligations to indemnify or pay a specified amount to the |
22 | traveler upon determinable contingencies related to travel as approved by the commissioner. |
23 | Travel insurance does not include major medical plans, that provide comprehensive |
24 | medical protection for travelers with trips lasting longer than six (6) months or longer, including, |
25 | for example, those working or residing overseas as an expatriate, or military personnel being |
26 | deployed or any other product that requires a specific insurance producer license. |
27 | (12) "Travel protection plans" means plans that provide one or more of the following: |
28 | (i) Travel insurance, |
29 | (ii) Travel assistance services, and |
30 | (iii) Cancellation fee waivers. |
31 | (13) "Travel retailer" means a business entity that makes, arranges, or offers planned |
32 | travel services, and may offer and disseminate travel insurance as a service to its customers on |
33 | behalf of, and under the direction of, a limited lines travel insurance producer. |
34 | 27-79.1-4. Licensing and registration requirements. |
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1 | (a) The commissioner may issue to an individual or business entity that has filed with the |
2 | commissioner an application for a limited lines travel insurance producer license in a form and |
3 | manner prescribed by the commissioner, a limited lines travel insurance producer license, which |
4 | authorizes the limited lines travel insurance producer to sell, solicit, or negotiate travel insurance |
5 | through a licensed insurer. No person may act as a limited lines travel insurance producer or |
6 | travel insurance retailer unless properly licensed or registered. |
7 | (b) A travel retailer may offer and disseminate travel insurance only if the under a limited |
8 | lines travel insurance producer business entity license only, and if the following conditions are |
9 | met and comply with the following: |
10 | (1) The limited lines travel insurance producer or travel retailer provides to purchasers of |
11 | travel insurance: |
12 | (i) A description of the material terms or the actual material terms of the insurance |
13 | coverage; |
14 | (ii) A description of the process for filing a claim; |
15 | (iii) A description of the review or cancellation process for the travel insurance policy; |
16 | and |
17 | (iv) The identity and contact information of the insurer and limited lines travel insurance |
18 | producer. |
19 | (2) At the time of licensure, the limited lines travel insurance producer shall establish and |
20 | maintain a register, on a form prescribed by the commissioner of each travel retailer, that offers |
21 | travel insurance on the limited lines travel insurance producer's behalf. The register shall be |
22 | maintained and updated by the limited lines travel insurance producer, and shall include the |
23 | name, address, and contact information of the travel retailer, and an officer or person who directs |
24 | or controls the travel retailer's operations, and the travel retailer's federal tax employment |
25 | identification number. The limited lines travel insurance producer shall submit the register to the |
26 | commissioner upon reasonable request. The limited lines travel insurance producer shall also |
27 | certify that the travel retailer registered complies with 18 U.S.C. § 1033, and any other applicable |
28 | federal law. The grounds for the suspension, revocation, and the penalties applicable to resident |
29 | insurance producers shall be applicable to the limited lines travel insurance producers and travel |
30 | retailers. |
31 | (3) The limited lines travel insurance producer must designate one of its employees who |
32 | is a licensed individual producer as the person (a "designated responsible producer" or "DRP") |
33 | responsible for the compliance with the travel insurance laws and regulations applicable to the |
34 | limited lines travel insurance producer and its registrants, and any other rules and regulations of |
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1 | the state. |
2 | (4) The DRP, president, secretary, treasurer, and any other officer or person who directs |
3 | or controls the limited lines travel insurance producer's insurance operations shall comply with |
4 | the fingerprinting requirements applicable to insurance producers in the resident state of the |
5 | limited lines travel insurance producer. |
6 | (5) The limited lines travel insurance producer must have paid all applicable insurance |
7 | producer licensing fees as set forth in applicable state law. |
8 | (6) The limited lines travel insurance producer must require each employee and |
9 | authorized representative of the travel retailer whose duties include offering and disseminating |
10 | travel insurance, to receive a program of instruction or training, which is or may be subject to the |
11 | discretion of the commissioner for review and approval by the commissioner. The training |
12 | material shall, at a minimum, contain adequate instructions on the types of insurance offered, |
13 | ethical sales practices, and required disclosures to prospective customers. |
14 | (c) Any travel retailer offering or disseminating travel insurance shall make available to |
15 | prospective purchasers brochures or other written materials that have been approved by the travel |
16 | insurer. Such materials shall include information which, at a minimum: |
17 | (1) Provides the identity and contact information of the insurer and the limited lines travel |
18 | insurance producer; |
19 | (2) Explains that the purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any |
20 | other product or service from the travel retailer; and |
21 | (3) Explains that an unlicensed travel retailer is permitted to provide only general |
22 | information about the insurance offered by the travel insurance producer or insurer, including a |
23 | description of the coverage and price, but is not qualified or authorized to answer technical |
24 | questions about the terms and conditions of the insurance offered by the travel retailer or to |
25 | evaluate the adequacy of the customer's existing insurance coverage. |
26 | (d) A travel retailer employee or authorized representative, who is not licensed as an |
27 | insurance producer may not: |
28 | (1) Evaluate or interpret the technical terms, benefits, and conditions of the offered travel |
29 | insurance coverage; |
30 | (2) Evaluate or provide advice concerning a prospective purchaser's existing insurance |
31 | coverage; or |
32 | (3) Hold themselves out as a licensed insurer, licensed producer, or insurance expert. |
33 | (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general or public laws, or regulation, a |
34 | travel retailer whose insurance-related activities, and those of its employees and authorized |
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1 | representatives, are limited to offering and disseminating travel insurance on behalf of and under |
2 | the direction of a limited lines travel insurance producer meeting the conditions stated in this |
3 | chapter, is authorized to receive related compensation, upon registration by the limited lines |
4 | travel insurance producer. |
5 | (f) As the insurer designee, the limited lines travel insurance producer is responsible for |
6 | the acts of the travel retailer, and shall use reasonable means to ensure compliance by the travel |
7 | retailer with this chapter. |
8 | 27 79.1-5. Compensation. |
9 | A travel retailer whose insurance related activities, and those of its employees, are limited |
10 | to offering and disseminating travel insurance on behalf of and under the direction of a limited |
11 | lines travel insurance producer meeting the conditions stated in this chapter, is authorized to do so |
12 | and receive related compensation. |
13 | 27-79.1-6. Premium tax. |
14 | (a) A travel insurer shall pay a gross premiums tax, as provided in § 44-17-2 on travel |
15 | insurance premiums paid by any of the following: |
16 | (1) An individual primary policyholder who is a resident of this state; |
17 | (2) A primary certificate holder who is a resident of this state who elects coverage under |
18 | a group travel insurance policy; or |
19 | (3) A blanket travel insurance policyholder that is resident in, or has its principal place of |
20 | business or the principal place of an affiliate or subsidiary that has purchased blanket travel |
21 | insurance in this state for eligible blanket group members, subject to any apportionment rules |
22 | which apply to the insurer across multiple taxing jurisdictions, or that permits the insurer to |
23 | allocate premiums on an apportioned basis in a reasonable and equitable manner in those |
24 | jurisdictions. |
25 | (b) A travel insurer shall: |
26 | (1) Document the state of residence or principal place of business of the policyholder or |
27 | certificate holder, as required in this chapter; and |
28 | (2) Report as premium only the amount allocable to travel insurance, and not any |
29 | amounts received for travel assistance services or cancellation fee waivers. |
30 | 27-79.1-7. Travel protection plans. |
31 | (a) Travel protection plans may be offered for one price for the combined features that |
32 | the travel protection plan offers in this state if: |
33 | (1) The travel protection plan clearly discloses to the consumer at, or prior to the time of |
34 | purchase, that it includes travel insurance, travel assistance services, and cancellation fee waivers, |
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1 | as applicable, and provides information and an opportunity at, or prior to the time of purchase, for |
2 | the consumer to obtain additional information regarding the features and pricing of each; and |
3 | (2) The fulfillment materials: |
4 | (i) Describe and delineate the travel insurance, travel assistance services, and cancellation |
5 | fee waivers in the travel protection plan; and |
6 | (ii) Include the travel insurance disclosures and the contact information for persons |
7 | providing travel assistance services and cancellation fee waivers, as applicable. |
8 | 27-79.1-8. Sales practices. |
9 | (a) All persons offering travel insurance to residents of this state are subject to the unfair |
10 | trade practices provided in chapter 29 of title 27, except as otherwise provided in this section. In |
11 | the event of a conflict between this chapter, and other provisions of this title regarding the sale |
12 | and marketing of travel insurance and travel protection plans, the provisions of this chapter shall |
13 | control. |
14 | (b) Offering or selling a travel insurance policy that could never result in the payment of |
15 | any claims for any insured under the policy is an unfair trade practice under chapter 29 of title 27. |
16 | (c)(1) All documents provided to consumers prior to the purchase of travel insurance, |
17 | including, but not limited to, sales materials, advertising materials, and marketing materials, shall |
18 | be consistent with the travel insurance policy itself, including, but not limited to, forms, |
19 | endorsements, policies, rate filings, and certificates of insurance. |
20 | (2) For travel insurance policies or certificates that contain pre-existing condition |
21 | exclusions, information and an opportunity to learn more about the pre-existing condition |
22 | exclusions shall be provided any time prior to the time of purchase, and in the coverage's |
23 | fulfillment materials. |
24 | (3) The fulfillment materials and the information described in § 27-79.1-4 shall be |
25 | provided to a policyholder or certificate holder as soon as practicable following the purchase of a |
26 | travel protection plan. Unless the insured has either started a covered trip or filed a claim under |
27 | the travel insurance coverage, a policyholder or certificate holder may cancel a policy or |
28 | certificate for a full refund of the travel protection plan price from the date of purchase of a travel |
29 | protection plan until at least: |
30 | (i) Fifteen (15) days following the date of delivery of the travel protection plan's |
31 | fulfillment materials by postal mail; or |
32 | (ii) Ten (10) days following the date of delivery of the travel protection plan's fulfillment |
33 | materials by means other than postal mail. For the purposes of this section, "delivery" means |
34 | handing fulfillment materials to the policyholder or certificate holder, or sending fulfillment |
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1 | materials by postal or electronic mail to the policyholder or certificate holder. |
2 | (4) The company shall disclose in the policy fulfillment and documentation whether the |
3 | travel insurance is primary or secondary to other applicable coverage. |
4 | (5) When travel insurance is marketed directly to a consumer through an insurer's website |
5 | or by others through an aggregator site, it shall not be an unfair trade practice or other violation of |
6 | law where an accurate summary or short description of coverage is provided on the website, so |
7 | long as the consumer has access to the full provisions of the policy through electronic means. |
8 | (d) No person offering travel insurance or travel protection plans on an individual or |
9 | group basis may do so by using a negative option or opt out, which would require a consumer to |
10 | take an affirmative action to deselect coverage such as unchecking a box on an electronic form |
11 | when they purchase a trip. |
12 | (e) It shall be an unfair trade practice to market blanket travel insurance coverage as free. |
13 | (f) When a consumer's destination jurisdiction requires insurance coverage, it shall not be |
14 | an unfair trade practice to require that a consumer choose between the following options as a |
15 | condition of purchasing a trip or travel package: |
16 | (1) Purchasing the coverage required by the destination jurisdiction through the travel |
17 | retailer or limited lines travel insurance producer supplying the trip or travel package; or |
18 | (2) Agreeing to obtain and provide proof of coverage that meets the destination |
19 | jurisdiction's requirements prior to departure. |
20 | 27-79.1-9. Travel administrators. |
21 | (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, no person shall act or represent |
22 | itself as a travel administrator for travel insurance in this state unless that person: |
23 | (1) Is a licensed property and casualty insurance producer in this state for activities |
24 | permitted under that producer license; or |
25 | (2) Holds a valid managing general agent license in this state. |
26 | (b) A travel administrator and its employees are exempt from the licensing requirements |
27 | of chapter 10 of title 27 for travel insurance it administers. |
28 | (c) An insurer is responsible for the acts of a travel administrator administering travel |
29 | insurance underwritten by the insurer, and is responsible for ensuring that the travel administrator |
30 | maintains all books and records relevant to the insurer to be made available by the travel |
31 | administrator to the commissioner upon request. |
32 | 27-79.1-10. Policy. |
33 | (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, travel insurance shall be classified |
34 | and filed for purposes of rates and forms under an inland marine line of insurance. |
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1 | (b) Eligibility and underwriting standards for travel insurance may be developed and |
2 | provided based on travel protection plans designed for individual or identified marketing or |
3 | distribution channels, and the travel insurance offered as part of the travel protection plan may be |
4 | offered as individual travel insurance, group travel insurance, or blanket travel insurance. |
5 | 27-79.1-11. Enforcement. |
6 | (a) The limited lines travel insurance producer and any travel retailer offering and |
7 | disseminating travel insurance under the limited lines travel insurance producer license shall be |
8 | subject to the penalties for violations of this chapter pursuant to § 42-14-16. |
9 | (b) The commissioner may conduct investigations or examinations of travel insurers, |
10 | limited lines travel insurance producers, travel retailers, and travel administrators to enforce the |
11 | provisions of this chapter to protect resident travel insurance consumers. |
12 | (c) The commissioner may take action, following notice and a hearing, necessary or |
13 | appropriate to enforce the provisions of this chapter, commissioner's orders, and state statutes to |
14 | protect consumers of travel insurance in this state, pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42. |
15 | 27-79.1-12. Regulations. |
16 | The commissioner may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this |
17 | chapter. |
18 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect ninety (90) days after passage. |
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LC005787 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- TRAVEL INSURANCE ACT | |
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1 | This act would create "The Travel Insurance Act" to establish a comprehensive, uniform |
2 | regulatory framework to clarify current law applicable to the unique aspects of travel insurance, |
3 | while establishing uniform regulation pertaining to travel insurance providers, and by |
4 | standardizing protections and requirements, and encouraging fair and effective competition |
5 | among market participants. This act would also clarify and bolster regulators' general |
6 | enforcement authority over various parties within the travel insurance industry, including |
7 | insurers, producers, travel retailers, and travel administrators. |
8 | This act would take effect ninety (90) days after passage. |
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LC005787 | |
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| LC005787 - Page 14 of 14 |