Connecticut 2021 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00841 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/08/2021

                     
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 841  
January Session, 2021 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E INSURANCE DEPARTME NT'S 
RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE INSURANCE STA TUTES.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 38a-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 2 
Terms used in this title and sections 2 and 4 of this act, unless it 3 
appears from the context to the contrary, shall have a scope and 4 
meaning as set forth in this section. 5 
(1) "Affiliate" or "affiliated" means a person that directly, or indirectly 6 
through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is 7 
under common control with another person. 8 
(2) "Alien insurer" means any insurer that has been chartered by or 9 
organized or constituted within or under the laws of any jurisdiction or 10 
country without the United States. 11 
(3) "Annuities" means all agreements to make periodical payments 12 
where the making or continuance of all or some of the series of the 13 
payments, or the amount of the payment, is dependent upon the 14 
continuance of human life or is for a specified term of years. This 15 
definition does not apply to payments made under a policy of life 16 
insurance. 17  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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(4) "Commissioner" means the Insurance Commissioner. 18 
(5) "Control", "controlled by" or "under common control with" means 19 
the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the 20 
direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through 21 
the ownership of voting securities, by contract other than a commercial 22 
contract for goods or nonmanagement services, or otherwise, unless the 23 
power is the result of an official position with the person. 24 
(6) "Domestic insurer" means any insurer that has been chartered by, 25 
incorporated, organized or constituted within or under the laws of this 26 
state. 27 
(7) "Domestic surplus lines insurer" means any domestic insurer that 28 
has been authorized by the commissioner to write surplus lines 29 
insurance. 30 
(8) "Foreign country" means any jurisdiction not in any state, district 31 
or territory of the United States. 32 
(9) "Foreign insurer" means any insurer that has been chartered by or 33 
organized or constituted within or under the laws of another state or a 34 
territory of the United States. 35 
(10) "Insolvency" or "insolvent" means, for any insurer, that it is 36 
unable to pay its obligations when they are due, or when its admitted 37 
assets do not exceed its liabilities plus the greater of: (A) Capital and 38 
surplus required by law for its organization and continued operation; 39 
or (B) the total par or stated value of its authorized and issued capital 40 
stock. For purposes of this subdivision "liabilities" shall include but not 41 
be limited to reserves required by statute or by regulations adopted by 42 
the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 or 43 
specific requirements imposed by the commissioner upon a subject 44 
company at the time of admission or subsequent thereto. 45 
(11) "Insurance" means any agreement to pay a sum of money, 46 
provide services or any other thing of value on the happening of a 47  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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particular event or contingency or to provide indemnity for loss in 48 
respect to a specified subject by specified perils in return for a 49 
consideration. In any contract of insurance, an insured shall have an 50 
interest which is subject to a risk of loss through destruction or 51 
impairment of that interest, which risk is assumed by the insurer and 52 
such assumption shall be part of a general scheme to distribute losses 53 
among a large group of persons bearing similar risks in return for a 54 
ratable contribution or other consideration. 55 
(12) "Insurer" or "insurance company" includes any person or 56 
combination of persons doing any kind or form of insurance business 57 
other than a fraternal benefit society, and shall include a receiver of any 58 
insurer when the context reasonably permits. 59 
(13) "Insured" means a person to whom or for whose benefit an 60 
insurer makes a promise in an insurance policy. The term includes 61 
policyholders, subscribers, members and beneficiaries. This definition 62 
applies only to the provisions of this title and does not define the 63 
meaning of this word as used in insurance policies or certificates. 64 
(14) "Life insurance" means insurance on human lives and insurances 65 
pertaining to or connected with human life. The business of life 66 
insurance includes granting endowment benefits, granting additional 67 
benefits in the event of death by accident or accidental means, granting 68 
additional benefits in the event of the total and permanent disability of 69 
the insured, and providing optional methods of settlement of proceeds. 70 
Life insurance includes burial contracts to the extent provided by 71 
section 38a-464. 72 
(15) "Mutual insurer" means any insurer without capital stock, the 73 
managing directors or officers of which are elected by its members. 74 
(16) "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a 75 
limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a 76 
business trust, an unincorporated organization or other legal entity. 77 
(17) "Policy" means any document, including attached endorsements 78  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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and riders, purporting to be an enforceable contract, which 79 
memorializes in writing some or all of the terms of an insurance 80 
contract. 81 
(18) "State" means any state, district, or territory of the United States. 82 
(19) "Subsidiary" of a specified person means an affiliate controlled 83 
by the person directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 84 
(20) "Unauthorized insurer" or "nonadmitted insurer" means an 85 
insurer that has not been granted a certificate of authority by the 86 
commissioner to transact the business of insurance in this state or an 87 
insurer transacting business not authorized by a valid certificate. 88 
(21) "United States" means the United States of America, its territories 89 
and possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of 90 
Columbia.  91 
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) No insurer, health care center 92 
or fraternal benefit society doing business in this state shall: 93 
(1) In connection with the issuance, withholding, extension or 94 
renewal of an annuity or an insurance policy for life, credit life, 95 
disability, long-term care, accidental injury, specified disease, hospital 96 
indemnity or credit accident insurance, request, require, purchase or use 97 
information obtained from an entity providing direct-to-consumer 98 
genetic testing without the informed written consent of the individual 99 
who has been tested; or 100 
(2) Condition insurance rates, the provision or renewal of insurance 101 
coverage or benefit or other conditions of insurance for an individual 102 
on: 103 
(A) Any requirement or agreement that the individual undergo 104 
genetic testing; or 105 
(B) The results of any genetic testing of a member of the individual's 106  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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family unless the results are contained in the individual's medical 107 
record. 108 
Sec. 3. Section 38a-816 of the general statutes is repealed and the 109 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 110 
The following are defined as unfair methods of competition and 111 
unfair and deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance: 112 
(1) Misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance policies. 113 
Making, issuing or circulating, or causing to be made, issued or 114 
circulated, any estimate, illustration, circular or statement, sales 115 
presentation, omission or comparison which: (A) Misrepresents the 116 
benefits, advantages, conditions or terms of any insurance policy; (B) 117 
misrepresents the dividends or share of the surplus to be received, on 118 
any insurance policy; (C) makes any false or misleading statements as 119 
to the dividends or share of surplus previously paid on any insurance 120 
policy; (D) is misleading or is a misrepresentation as to the financial 121 
condition of any person, or as to the legal reserve system upon which 122 
any life insurer operates; (E) uses any name or title of any insurance 123 
policy or class of insurance policies misrepresenting the true nature 124 
thereof; (F) is a misrepresentation, including, but not limited to, an 125 
intentional misquote of a premium rate, for the purpose of inducing or 126 
tending to induce to the purchase, lapse, forfeiture, exchange, 127 
conversion or surrender of any insurance policy; (G) is a 128 
misrepresentation for the purpose of effecting a pledge or assignment of 129 
or effecting a loan against any insurance policy; or (H) misrepresents 130 
any insurance policy as being shares of stock. 131 
(2) False information and advertising generally. Making, publishing, 132 
disseminating, circulating or placing before the public, or causing, 133 
directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or 134 
placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine or other publication, 135 
or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter or poster, or over any 136 
radio or television station, or in any other way, an advertisement, 137 
announcement or statement containing any assertion, representation or 138  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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statement with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to 139 
any person in the conduct of his insurance business, which is untrue, 140 
deceptive or misleading. 141 
(3) Defamation. Making, publishing, disseminating or circulating, 142 
directly or indirectly, or aiding, abetting or encouraging the making, 143 
publishing, disseminating or circulating of, any oral or written 144 
statement or any pamphlet, circular, article or literature which is false 145 
or maliciously critical of or derogatory to the financial condition of an 146 
insurer, and which is calculated to injure any person engaged in the 147 
business of insurance. 148 
(4) Boycott, coercion and intimidation. Entering into any agreement 149 
to commit, or by any concerted action committing, any act of boycott, 150 
coercion or intimidation resulting in or tending to result in unreasonable 151 
restraint of, or monopoly in, the business of insurance. 152 
(5) False financial statements. Filing with any supervisory or other 153 
public official, or making, publishing, disseminating, circulating or 154 
delivering to any person, or placing before the public, or causing, 155 
directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or 156 
delivered to any person, or placed before the public, any false statement 157 
of financial condition of an insurer with intent to deceive; or making any 158 
false entry in any book, report or statement of any insurer with intent to 159 
deceive any agent or examiner lawfully appointed to examine into its 160 
condition or into any of its affairs, or any public official to whom such 161 
insurer is required by law to report, or who has authority by law to 162 
examine into its condition or into any of its affairs, or, with like intent, 163 
wilfully omitting to make a true entry of any material fact pertaining to 164 
the business of such insurer in any book, report or statement of such 165 
insurer. 166 
(6) Unfair claim settlement practices. Committing or performing with 167 
such frequency as to indicate a general business practice any of the 168 
following: (A) Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy 169 
provisions relating to coverages at issue; (B) failing to acknowledge and 170  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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act with reasonable promptness upon communications with respect to 171 
claims arising under insurance policies; (C) failing to adopt and 172 
implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims 173 
arising under insurance policies; (D) refusing to pay claims without 174 
conducting a reasonable investigation based upon all available 175 
information; (E) failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a 176 
reasonable time after proof of loss statements have been completed; (F) 177 
not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable 178 
settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear; (G) 179 
compelling insureds to institute litigation to recover amounts due under 180 
an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts 181 
ultimately recovered in actions brought by such insureds; (H) 182 
attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a 183 
reasonable man would have believed he was entitled by reference to 184 
written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of 185 
an application; (I) attempting to settle claims on the basis of an 186 
application which was altered without notice to, or knowledge or 187 
consent of the insured; (J) making claims payments to insureds or 188 
beneficiaries not accompanied by statements setting forth the coverage 189 
under which the payments are being made; (K) making known to 190 
insureds or claimants a policy of appealing from arbitration awards in 191 
favor of insureds or claimants for the purpose of compelling them to 192 
accept settlements or compromises less than the amount awarded in 193 
arbitration; (L) delaying the investigation or payment of claims by 194 
requiring an insured, claimant, or the physician of either to submit a 195 
preliminary claim report and then requiring the subsequent submission 196 
of formal proof of loss forms, both of which submissions contain 197 
substantially the same information; (M) failing to promptly settle claims, 198 
where liability has become reasonably clear, under one portion of the 199 
insurance policy coverage in order to influence settlements under other 200 
portions of the insurance policy coverage; (N) failing to promptly 201 
provide a reasonable explanation of the basis in the insurance policy in 202 
relation to the facts or applicable law for denial of a claim or for the offer 203 
of a compromise settlement; (O) using as a basis for cash settlement with 204 
a first party automobile insurance claimant an amount which is less than 205  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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the amount which the insurer would pay if repairs were made unless 206 
such amount is agreed to by the insured or provided for by the 207 
insurance policy. 208 
(7) Failure to maintain complaint handling procedures. Failure of any 209 
person to maintain complete record of all the complaints which it has 210 
received since the date of its last examination. This record shall indicate 211 
the total number of complaints, their classification by line of insurance, 212 
the nature of each complaint, the disposition of these complaints, and 213 
the time it took to process each complaint. For purposes of this 214 
subsection "complaint" means any written communication primarily 215 
expressing a grievance. 216 
(8) Misrepresentation in insurance applications. Making false or 217 
fraudulent statements or representations on or relative to an application 218 
for an insurance policy for the purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, 219 
money or other benefit from any insurer, producer or individual. 220 
(9) Any violation of any one of sections 38a-358, 38a-446, 38a-447, 38a-221 
488, 38a-825, 38a-826, 38a-828 and 38a-829. None of the following 222 
practices shall be considered discrimination within the meaning of 223 
section 38a-446 or 38a-488 or a rebate within the meaning of section 38a-224 
825: (A) Paying bonuses to policyholders or otherwise abating their 225 
premiums in whole or in part out of surplus accumulated from 226 
nonparticipating insurance, provided any such bonuses or abatement of 227 
premiums shall be fair and equitable to policyholders and for the best 228 
interests of the company and its policyholders; (B) in the case of policies 229 
issued on the industrial debit plan, making allowance to policyholders 230 
who have continuously for a specified period made premium payments 231 
directly to an office of the insurer in an amount which fairly represents 232 
the saving in collection expense; (C) readjustment of the rate of premium 233 
for a group insurance policy based on loss or expense experience, or 234 
both, at the end of the first or any subsequent policy year, which may be 235 
made retroactive for such policy year. 236 
(10) Notwithstanding any provision of any policy of insurance, 237  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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certificate or service contract, whenever such insurance policy or 238 
certificate or service contract provides for reimbursement for any 239 
services which may be legally performed by any practitioner of the 240 
healing arts licensed to practice in this state, reimbursement under such 241 
insurance policy, certificate or service contract shall not be denied 242 
because of race, color or creed nor shall any insurer make or permit any 243 
unfair discrimination against particular individuals or persons so 244 
licensed. 245 
(11) Favored agent or insurer: Coercion of debtors. (A) No person 246 
may (i) require, as a condition precedent to the lending of money or 247 
extension of credit, or any renewal thereof, that the person to whom 248 
such money or credit is extended or whose obligation the creditor is to 249 
acquire or finance, negotiate any policy or contract of insurance through 250 
a particular insurer or group of insurers or producer or group of 251 
producers; (ii) unreasonably disapprove the insurance policy provided 252 
by a borrower for the protection of the property securing the credit or 253 
lien; (iii) require directly or indirectly that any borrower, mortgagor, 254 
purchaser, insurer or producer pay a separate charge, in connection 255 
with the handling of any insurance policy required as security for a loan 256 
on real estate or pay a separate charge to substitute the insurance policy 257 
of one insurer for that of another; or (iv) use or disclose information 258 
resulting from a requirement that a borrower, mortgagor or purchaser 259 
furnish insurance of any kind on real property being conveyed or used 260 
as collateral security to a loan, when such information is to the 261 
advantage of the mortgagee, vendor or lender, or is to the detriment of 262 
the borrower, mortgagor, purchaser, insurer or the producer complying 263 
with such a requirement. 264 
(B) (i) Subparagraph (A)(iii) of this subdivision shall not include the 265 
interest which may be charged on premium loans or premium 266 
advancements in accordance with the security instrument. (ii) For 267 
purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision, such disapproval 268 
shall be deemed unreasonable if it is not based solely on reasonable 269 
standards uniformly applied, relating to the extent of coverage required 270  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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and the financial soundness and the services of an insurer. Such 271 
standards shall not discriminate against any particular type of insurer, 272 
nor shall such standards call for the disapproval of an insurance policy 273 
because such policy contains coverage in addition to that required. (iii) 274 
The commissioner may investigate the affairs of any person to whom 275 
this subdivision applies to determine whether such person has violated 276 
this subdivision. If a violation of this subdivision is found, the person in 277 
violation shall be subject to the same procedures and penalties as are 278 
applicable to other provisions of section 38a-815, subsections (b) and (e) 279 
of section 38a-817 and this section. (iv) For purposes of this section, 280 
"person" includes any individual, corporation, limited liability 281 
company, association, partnership or other legal entity. 282 
(12) Refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure or limiting the 283 
amount, extent or kind of coverage available to an individual or 284 
charging an individual a different rate for the same coverage because of 285 
physical disability, mental or nervous condition as set forth in section 286 
38a-488a or intellectual disability, except where the refusal, limitation or 287 
rate differential is based on sound actuarial principles or is related to 288 
actual or reasonably anticipated experience. 289 
(13) Refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure or limiting the 290 
amount, extent or kind of coverage available to an individual or 291 
charging an individual a different rate for the same coverage solely 292 
because of blindness or partial blindness. For purposes of this 293 
subdivision, "refusal to insure" includes the denial by an insurer of 294 
disability insurance coverage on the grounds that the policy defines 295 
"disability" as being presumed in the event that the insured is blind or 296 
partially blind, except that an insurer may exclude from coverage any 297 
disability, consisting solely of blindness or partial blindness, when such 298 
condition existed at the time the policy was issued. Any individual who 299 
is blind or partially blind shall be subject to the same standards of sound 300 
actuarial principles or actual or reasonably anticipated experience as are 301 
sighted persons with respect to all other conditions, including the 302 
underlying cause of the blindness or partial blindness. 303  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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(14) Refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure or limiting the 304 
amount, extent or kind of coverage available to an individual or 305 
charging an individual a different rate for the same coverage because of 306 
exposure to diethylstilbestrol through the female parent. 307 
(15) (A) Failure by an insurer, or any other entity responsible for 308 
providing payment to a health care provider pursuant to an insurance 309 
policy, to pay accident and health claims, including, but not limited to, 310 
claims for payment or reimbursement to health care providers, within 311 
the time periods set forth in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, unless 312 
the Insurance Commissioner determines that a legitimate dispute exists 313 
as to coverage, liability or damages or that the claimant has fraudulently 314 
caused or contributed to the loss. Any insurer, or any other entity 315 
responsible for providing payment to a health care provider pursuant 316 
to an insurance policy, who fails to pay such a claim or request within 317 
the time periods set forth in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall 318 
pay the claimant or health care provider the amount of such claim plus 319 
interest at the rate of fifteen per cent per annum, in addition to any other 320 
penalties which may be imposed pursuant to sections 38a-11, 38a-25, 321 
38a-41 to 38a-53, inclusive, 38a-57 to 38a-60, inclusive, 38a-62 to 38a-64, 322 
inclusive, 38a-76, 38a-83, 38a-84, 38a-117 to 38a-124, inclusive, 38a-129 323 
to 38a-140, inclusive, 38a-146 to 38a-155, inclusive, 38a-283, 38a-288 to 324 
38a-290, inclusive, 38a-319, 38a-320, 38a-459, 38a-464, 38a-815 to 38a-819, 325 
inclusive, 38a-824 to 38a-826, inclusive, and 38a-828 to 38a-830, 326 
inclusive. Whenever the interest due a claimant or health care provider 327 
pursuant to this section is less than one dollar, the insurer shall deposit 328 
such amount in a separate interest-bearing account in which all such 329 
amounts shall be deposited. At the end of each calendar year each such 330 
insurer shall donate such amount to The University of Connecticut 331 
Health Center. 332 
(B) Each insurer or other entity responsible for providing payment to 333 
a health care provider pursuant to an insurance policy subject to this 334 
section, shall pay claims not later than: 335 
(i) For claims filed in paper format, sixty days after receipt by the 336  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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insurer of the claimant's proof of loss form or the health care provider's 337 
request for payment filed in accordance with the insurer's practices or 338 
procedures, except that when there is a deficiency in the information 339 
needed for processing a claim, as determined in accordance with section 340 
38a-477, the insurer shall (I) send written notice to the claimant or health 341 
care provider, as the case may be, of all alleged deficiencies in 342 
information needed for processing a claim not later than thirty days 343 
after the insurer receives a claim for payment or reimbursement under 344 
the contract, and (II) pay claims for payment or reimbursement under 345 
the contract not later than thirty days after the insurer receives the 346 
information requested; and 347 
(ii) For claims filed in electronic format, twenty days after receipt by 348 
the insurer of the claimant's proof of loss form or the health care 349 
provider's request for payment filed in accordance with the insurer's 350 
practices or procedures, except that when there is a deficiency in the 351 
information needed for processing a claim, as determined in accordance 352 
with section 38a-477, the insurer shall (I) notify the claimant or health 353 
care provider, as the case may be, of all alleged deficiencies in 354 
information needed for processing a claim not later than ten days after 355 
the insurer receives a claim for payment or reimbursement under the 356 
contract, and (II) pay claims for payment or reimbursement under the 357 
contract not later than ten days after the insurer receives the information 358 
requested. 359 
(C) As used in this subdivision, "health care provider" means a person 360 
licensed to provide health care services under chapter 368d, chapter 361 
368v, chapters 370 to 373, inclusive, 375 to 383c, inclusive, 384a to 384c, 362 
inclusive, or chapter 400j. 363 
(16) Failure to pay, as part of any claim for a damaged motor vehicle 364 
under any automobile insurance policy where the vehicle has been 365 
declared to be a constructive total loss, an amount equal to the sum of 366 
(A) the settlement amount on such vehicle plus, whenever the insurer 367 
takes title to such vehicle, (B) an amount determined by multiplying 368 
such settlement amount by a percentage equivalent to the current sales 369  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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tax rate established in section 12-408. For purposes of this subdivision, 370 
"constructive total loss" means the cost to repair or salvage damaged 371 
property, or the cost to both repair and salvage such property, equals or 372 
exceeds the total value of the property at the time of the loss. 373 
(17) Any violation of section 42-260, by an extended warranty 374 
provider subject to the provisions of said section, including, but not 375 
limited to: (A) Failure to include all statements required in subsections 376 
(c) and (f) of section 42-260 in an issued extended warranty; (B) offering 377 
an extended warranty without being (i) insured under an adequate 378 
extended warranty reimbursement insurance policy or (ii) able to 379 
demonstrate that reserves for claims contained in the provider's 380 
financial statements are not in excess of one-half the provider's audited 381 
net worth; (C) failure to submit a copy of an issued extended warranty 382 
form or a copy of such provider's extended warranty reimbursement 383 
policy form to the Insurance Commissioner. 384 
(18) With respect to an insurance company, hospital service 385 
corporation, health care center or fraternal benefit society providing 386 
individual or group health insurance coverage of the types specified in 387 
subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (6), (10), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469, 388 
refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure or limiting the amount, 389 
extent or kind of coverage available to an individual or charging an 390 
individual a different rate for the same coverage because such 391 
individual has been a victim of family violence. 392 
(19) With respect to an insurance company, hospital service 393 
corporation, health care center or fraternal benefit society providing 394 
individual or group health insurance coverage of the types specified in 395 
subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (9), (10), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469, 396 
refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure or limiting the amount, 397 
extent or kind of coverage available to an individual or charging an 398 
individual a different rate for the same coverage because of genetic 399 
information. Genetic information indicating a predisposition to a 400 
disease or condition shall not be deemed a preexisting condition in the 401 
absence of a diagnosis of such disease or condition that is based on other 402  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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medical information. An insurance company, hospital service 403 
corporation, health care center or fraternal benefit society providing 404 
individual health coverage of the types specified in subdivisions (1), (2), 405 
(3), (4), (6), (9), (10), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469, shall not be 406 
prohibited from refusing to insure or applying a preexisting condition 407 
limitation, to the extent permitted by law, to an individual who has been 408 
diagnosed with a disease or condition based on medical information 409 
other than genetic information and has exhibited symptoms of such 410 
disease or condition. For the purposes of this subsection, "genetic 411 
information" means the information about genes, gene products or 412 
inherited characteristics that may derive from an individual or family 413 
member. 414 
(20) Any violation of sections 38a-465 to 38a-465q, inclusive. 415 
(21) With respect to a managed care organization, as defined in 416 
section 38a-478, failing to establish a confidentiality procedure for 417 
medical record information, as required by section 38a-999. 418 
(22) Any violation of sections 38a-591d to 38a-591f, inclusive. 419 
(23) Any violation of section 38a-472j. 420 
(24) Any violation of section 2 of this act.  421 
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) (1) Except as provided in 422 
subsection (b) of this section, no insurer that delivers, issues for delivery, 423 
renews, amends or endorses a homeowners insurance policy in this 424 
state on or after July 1, 2021, that is subject to the requirements of 425 
sections 38a-663 to 38a-696, inclusive, of the general statutes shall cancel 426 
such policy unless: 427 
(A) If such policy is not a renewal policy and has been in effect for 428 
fewer than sixty days, such insurer sends a written cancellation notice 429 
to the named insured: 430 
(i) At least ten days before the effective date of such cancellation for 431  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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nonpayment of premium disclosing: 432 
(I) Such cancellation; 433 
(II) That the named insured may avoid such cancellation and 434 
continue coverage under such policy by paying, before the effective date 435 
of such cancellation, such unpaid premium; and 436 
(III) That any excess premium, if not tendered by the insurer, shall be 437 
refunded to the named insured upon demand by the named insured; or 438 
(ii) At least thirty days before the effective date of such cancellation 439 
for any reason other than nonpayment of premium disclosing: 440 
(I) Such cancellation; 441 
(II) The reason for such cancellation; 442 
(III) The effective date of such cancellation; and 443 
(IV) That any excess premium, if not tendered by the insurer, shall be 444 
refunded to the named insured upon demand by the named insured; or 445 
(B) If such policy is not a renewal policy and has been in effect for at 446 
least sixty days, or if such policy is an effective renewal policy, such 447 
insurer sends a written cancellation notice to the named insured: 448 
(i) At least ten days before the effective date of such cancellation for 449 
nonpayment of premium disclosing: 450 
(I) Such cancellation; 451 
(II) That the named insured may avoid such cancellation and 452 
continue coverage under such policy by paying, before the effective date 453 
of such cancellation, such unpaid premium; and 454 
(III) That any excess premium, if not tendered by the insurer, shall be 455 
refunded to the named insured upon demand by the named insured; or 456  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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(ii) At least thirty days before the effective date of such cancellation 457 
for fraud or misrepresentation of any material fact made by the named 458 
insured in obtaining coverage under such policy that, if discovered by 459 
such insurer, would have caused such insurer not to issue or renew such 460 
policy, as applicable, or any physical change in the covered property 461 
that materially increases a hazard insured against under such policy 462 
disclosing: 463 
(I) The effective date of such cancellation; and 464 
(II) That any excess premium, if not tendered by the insurer, shall be 465 
refunded to the named insured upon demand by the named insured. 466 
(2) No insurer may cancel a homeowners insurance policy described 467 
in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection for any reason 468 
other than: 469 
(A) Nonpayment of premium; 470 
(B) Fraud or misrepresentation of any material fact made by the 471 
named insured in obtaining coverage under such policy that, if 472 
discovered by the insurer, would have caused the insurer not to issue or 473 
renew such policy, as applicable; or 474 
(C) Any physical change in the covered property that materially 475 
increases a hazard insured against under such policy. 476 
(3) No notice of cancellation required under subdivision (1) of this 477 
subsection shall be effective unless such notice is sent to the named 478 
insured by registered mail, certified mail or mail evidenced by a 479 
certificate of mailing, or, if agreed by the insurer and the named insured, 480 
by electronic means evidenced by a delivery receipt. 481 
(b) No notice of cancellation is required under subsection (a) of this 482 
section if the homeowners insurance policy is transferred from the 483 
insurer to an affiliate of such insurer for another policy with no 484 
interruption of coverage and the same terms, conditions and provisions, 485  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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including policy limits, as the transferred policy, except that the insurer 486 
to which the policy is transferred shall not be prohibited from applying 487 
such insurer's rates and rating plans at the time of renewal. 488 
(c) The named insured under a homeowners insurance policy 489 
described in subsection (a) of this section may cancel such policy at any 490 
time by sending to the insurer that delivered, issued for delivery, 491 
renewed, amended or endorsed such policy a written notice disclosing 492 
the effective date of such cancellation. 493 
Sec. 5. Section 38a-646 of the general statutes is repealed and the 494 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 495 
As used in sections 38a-645 to 38a-658, inclusive, except as otherwise 496 
provided herein: 497 
(1) "Credit life insurance" means insurance on the life of a debtor 498 
pursuant to or in connection with a specific loan or other credit 499 
transaction; 500 
(2) "Credit accident and health insurance" means insurance on a 501 
debtor to provide indemnity for payments becoming due on a specific 502 
loan or other credit transaction while the debtor is disabled as defined 503 
in the policy; 504 
(3) "Creditor" means the lender of money or vendor or lessor of 505 
goods, services, property, rights or privileges for which payment is 506 
arranged through a credit transaction or any successor to the right, title 507 
or interest of any such lender, vendor or lessor, and an affiliate, associate 508 
or subsidiary of any of them or any director, officer or employee of any 509 
of them or any other person in any way associated with any of them; 510 
(4) "Debtor" means a borrower of money or a purchaser or lessee of 511 
goods, services, property, rights or privileges for which payment is 512 
arranged through a credit transaction; 513 
(5) "Indebtedness" means the total amount payable by a debtor to a 514  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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creditor in connection with a loan or other credit transaction; [.] and 515 
(6) "Loss ratio" means annual incurred claims divided by earned 516 
premiums.  517 
Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 38a-651 of the general statutes is 518 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 519 
1, 2021): 520 
(b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the 521 
provisions of chapter 54, establishing a procedure for review of such 522 
policies, certificates of insurance, notices of proposed insurance, 523 
applications for insurance, endorsements and riders, and shall 524 
disapprove any such form at any time if: [the] 525 
(1) The schedule of premium rates charged or to be charged is, by 526 
reasonable assumptions and as determined according to benchmark 527 
loss ratio calculations, excessive in relation to the benefits provided; or 528 
[if it contains] 529 
(2) Such form: 530 
(A) Has a prima facie loss ratio of less than fifty per cent for any single 531 
or joint credit life insurance or credit accident and health insurance 532 
policy unless the commissioner approves a premium rate deviation for 533 
such policy; or 534 
(B) Contains provisions which (i) are unjust, unfair, inequitable, 535 
misleading, deceptive, [or which] (ii) encourage misrepresentation of 536 
the coverage, or [which] (iii) are contrary to any provision of the 537 
insurance laws or of any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. 538 
Sec. 7. Subsection (e) of section 38a-702e of the general statutes is 539 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 540 
1, 2021): 541 
(e) Each applicant for an insurance producer license shall, before 542  Substitute Bill No. 841 
 
 
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being admitted to an examination under subsection (a) of this section, 543 
prove to the satisfaction of the commissioner that such applicant meets 544 
one of the following prerequisites: (1) Successful completion of a course 545 
approved by the commissioner requiring not less than [forty] twenty 546 
hours for each line of insurance for which the applicant is applying to 547 
be licensed; or (2) equivalent experience or training as determined by 548 
the commissioner. 549 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 October 1, 2021 38a-1 
Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 New section 
Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 38a-816 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2021 New section 
Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 38a-646 
Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 38a-651(b) 
Sec. 7 October 1, 2021 38a-702e(e) 
 
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:   
In Section 1, "sections 2 and 4" was substituted for "section 2" for 
consistency. 
 
INS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO