California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued a Notice requesting that all insurance companies provide their policyholders with a grace period of at least 60 days to pay insurance premiums. Lara made this request in order to ensure that policies are not canceled for nonpayment of premium due to COVID-19 and the associated public health emergency.

Lara is also requesting that all insurance agents, and brokers who accept premiums for insurers to take action to make sure customers have the ability to make insurance payments, including alternate methods of payment, including online payments, in order to eliminate the need to make in-person payments to protect the health of workers and clients.

This Notice follows California Governor Gavin Newsome's State of Emergency declaration from March 4, 2020, making additional resources available, formalize emergency actions that are already being implemented across state agencies and departments, and ultimately help the state prevent the spread of COVID-19.