On March 20th, the Georgia commissioner directed all Property & Casualty carriers to refrain from cancelling any commercial policies, including business interruption/income coverages, for nonpayment for the next sixty days. This may be extended depending on how the pandemic progresses. Health insurers are also told to refrain from cancelling those policies. All actions requiring in-person interaction are being suspended, such as on site exams, audits and licensing requirements.

Accommodations are being made for certain insurer filing requirements and deadlines. Nonfederal filing deadlines are suspended, and late fees will be waived. This does not apply to product filings; for questions contact Steve Manders. As Pearson VUE has closed their Georgia center for the next thirty days, the department recommends those who have not taken the exams yet to compile all their paperwork and submit it to the department, which will process those applications rapidly once the center opens again for testing.

March 24 – The Commissioner is requesting that in light of the Department of Homeland Security's March 19th guidance that the financial services sector, which includes insurance, as an essential services, that counties and municipalities across Georgia determine that insurance is an essential business. The bulletin requests that local governments allow employees to work on-site who are fulfilling core functions such as providing IT support for remote employees, processing mail, adjusting, processing and paying claims, and security.

March 31 – In-person CE requirements are being waived through May 31, 2020. Any agent with a deadline falling before that will have his deadline moved to May 31, 2020. For licensed agents requiring in-person CE, that requirement is waived through May 31, 2020.

April 28 – Due to the improving conditions in Georgia related to COVID-19, the commissioner is winding down some of the earlier directives. The directive to refrain from cancelling for nonpayment commercial policies with business interruption or business income coverage expires May 19, 2020. The suspension of nonfederal filing deadlines and waiver of late filing fees will expire on May 31, 2020. All other directives regarding P&C insurance remain in force.

New Jersey

On a similar note, New Jersey has a bill that would require carriers to provide similar coverages to businesses with fewer than 100 employees that already have business interruption coverage on their policy, even though the policy excludes coverage for viruses. The bill passed in committee but has yet to move through the legislature.

On March 20 a bulletin was issued encouraging carriers to relax due dates for premium payments and loan payments, extend grace periods, waive late fees and penalties, allow payments plans, allow forbearance regarding cancellation/nonrenewal of policies, extend timeframes to compete property and auto inspections or undergo medical exams, and assist policyholders to ensure that their policies do not lapse.

April 10 – The department instructs all licensed Property & Casualty carriers to provide insureds who may be experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 with at least a ninety-day grace period to pay premiums so policies are not cancelled for nonpayment. Insureds may elect to have this ninety-day grace period begin retroactively on April 1, 2020 or the grace period may begin on May 1, 2020. Insurers shall not cancel any policy for nonpayment during the grace period.

Carriers are also to waive late fees otherwise due and not report late payments to credit rating agencies during the ninety-day period; allow premiums due but not paid during the ninety-days to be paid over the rest of the policy term or up to twelve months in twelve equal installments, whichever is longer, except a carrier may allow a longer repayment period; and late payments are not to be considered in any future premium calculations at any time. The grace period is to be applied to all installment payments, including renewal down payments, as long as the insured advises the carrier that he wishes to continue coverage.

Carriers are also to provide on their websites easy to read descriptions of the terms of the grace period, which shall be submitted to the department through SERFF as an informational filing. All agents, brokers and other licensees who accept premium payments are to ensure customers have the ability to make payments through alternate methods of payment, such as online.

May 1 – A bulletin was issued to establish procedures for the application and issuance of temporary resident producer licenses. They will only be issued during the duration of the state of emergency and public health emergency pursuant to EO 103.

The applicant must be a New Jersey resident, citizen of the United States or possess valid work authorization and be at least eighteen years of age; the applicant must not have committed any act that are grounds for denial, suspension or revocation as set in statute, must not have been licensed as a producer within the past thirty months, and must not have a producer license revoked or suspended in any state, and must not have been denied a license in New Jersey. Likewise the applicant must not have been convicted of a felony crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust unless the applicant has obtained the written consent of the commissioner.

An insurance company with active certificate of authority in New Jersey must sponsor the applicant and assume responsibility for all acts of the temporary licensee. The licensee must have an appointment with the sponsoring insurer, and the insurer must be authorized to write the lines of business the applicant is applying for. The appointment is in effect only as long as the temporary license is valid.

Temporary licensees will only be permitted to be appointed with one insurer; applicants must complete the approved prelicensing course with a department-approved provider. While providers of in-person classes may be suspended due to the current emergency, on-line prelicensing classes are available; proof of completion of prelicensing education must be provided with the application for licensure.

Fingerprinting/background checks must be completed before the sponsoring insurer submits an application for temporary licensure. Receipts from the department's fingerprinting vendor must accompany the application.

The department began accepting applications on May 4, 2020 and temporary licenses can only be applied for during this state of emergency. Only the sponsoring insurer may submit applications on behalf of applicants, and the submissions will deem the applicant actively appointed to represent the insurer. Temporary appointments do not get submitted to NIPR, and the $35 fee for appointments in not required for temporary licenses.

Application forms can be found on the department website https://www.nj.gov/dobi/insliced/indprodinitialapp.pdf.

Temporary applications cannot be submitted through NIPR and must be mailed to the department with an  application fee of $150 and a processing fee of $40 made payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

Letters of approval will be mailed to the sponsoring insurer. Licenses determinations will take approximately thirty days. Temporary producers are not eligible for nonresident licenses in other states. The temporary license is valid during the state of emergency and for thirty days thereafter or for 180 days after issuance, whichever is sooner.

The commissioner may revoke a temporary license if interests of the insured or public are endangered. Sponsoring insurers must maintain a record of all licensees that have been granted licenses as are expected. Sponsoring insurers are to notify the department if the licensee is no longer working with the sponsoring insurer.

If a licensee passes the exam before the expiration of the temporary license, no additional application or fee is needed to become fully-licensed. Licensees are to notify the department when they have taken and passed the exams. If the exam is not taken and passed before the temporary license expires, upon expiration the licensee must immediately stop engaging in the business of insurance. The licensee may take the appropriate exam but will be required to submit an additional application, processing fee, and will be required to complete additional fingerprinting/background checks.

May 12 – The department has directed insurers to provide premium reductions to consumers and businesses during the COVID-19 emergency. The departments orders insurers to make an initial premium refund or other adjustment to adversely-impacted insureds and for each month that the public health emergency is in effect. The following lines of insurance must make these adjustments:

Private passenger auto

Commercial auto

Workers comp

Commercial multiple-peril

Commercial liability

Medical malpractice

Any other line where measures of risk have been substantially overstated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mandated refund may be executed by a premium credit, reduction, return of premium, dividend or other appropriate adjustment based on reclassification of exposures to comport with current exposure or reduction of the exposure base (miles driven, payroll, etc. ) to reflect actual or anticipated exposure.

Insurers may begin refunding premiums without prior department approval if they apply a uniform premium reduction for all insureds in an individual line of business for recent, current, and upcoming policy periods or any portion thereof. The amount of the across-the board  refund may be an average percentage based on estimated change in risk and/or reduction of exposure bases. Insurers must submit all components of the refund program via SERFF at their earliest convenience documenting the program, but no more than fifteen days after implementation of the program. The department will review the program and may require changes if the program does not adhere to the guidance in the bulletin.

Insurers may also provide relief to individual insureds without prior approval by reassessing the classification and exposure bases of affected risks on a case-by-case basis for recent, current and upcoming policy periods or portions thereof in accordance with existing rating plans. For example, reclassifying a personal auto exposure from commute use to personal use, reclassifying a physician practice from full to part-time status, excluding payroll for employees being paid but not actively working.

Insureds shall be notified no later than June 15, 2020 of the amount of refund or adjustment; premiums can be returned via check, premium credit, reduction, return of premium or other appropriate adjustment. An explanation will also be supplied including a description of the policy period that was the basis of the change, and insured's will be offered the opportunity to provide their individual actual or estimated experience.

Insurers writing any of the listed lines of business are to provide claim and premium activity reports to the department, and reports summarizing all actions taken in accordance with this bulletin.

Insurers who contend that it should not be subject to the terms of this bulletin shall submit its basis for such contention to the department with supporting documentation by June 1, 2020.

California

On March 18, the California Insurance Commissioner requested carriers to allow a sixty-day grace period for premium payments in light of the COVID-19 emergency. The request applies to all lines of business. Agents, brokers and other licensees are requested to work with insureds to make payment of bills easy so that payments can be made on time while also keeping everyone safe. In another notice he requested carriers not use the expiration of drivers' licenses or vehicle registrations from March 16 for sixty days to affect rates, eligibility for coverage, eligibility for good driver discounts, or ability to obtain auto insurance. This will be reviewed at the end of sixty days in light of how the virus progresses.

March 26 – The Commissioner has put forth a data call – carriers are to submit data to the department regarding commercial business interruption coverage. The information will help the department understand the scope of insured and uninsured losses. Responses are due April 9.

April 3 – The Commissioner has issued a notice stating that all licensees should not attempt to enforce policy or statutory deadlines on policyholders until ninety days after the end of the state of emergency or other state of emergency that impacts a policyholder. This includes, but is not limited to, deadlines for submission of sworn proof of loss, other claim forms, examinations under oath, medical exams, physical inspections of property, separating damaged property from undamaged property, temporary repairs to prevent further damage and other policy, statutory or imposed deadlines placed on policyholders where failure to comply could result in forfeiture, limitation or waiver of any policyholder rights to benefits.

As the department has received complaints from insureds and state officials regarding insureds continuing to repair and rebuild their homes from the November 2018 fire damage to receive full replacement cost and ALE benefits, carriers are reminded that a law went into effect before the fires that insurers provide no less than thirty-six months, plus an additional six-month extension for "good cause" to collect full replacement cost and ALE when delays are beyond the control of the insured. The department and the commissioner have determined that COVID-19 is "good cause".

April 6 – A bulletin was issued to remind licensees that workers compensation benefits are required for all injured workers regardless of immigration status. Workers compensation injuries caused by COVID-19 that arise out of and in the course of employment are compensable to the same extent as any other compensable injury or disease.

April 10 – The commissioner is encouraging carriers to extend coverage to drivers using their personal autos to deliver goods for essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department believes it is impractical and untimely to require these drivers to obtain temporary coverage for this purpose. Insurers are requested not to deny a claim under a personal auto policy solely because the insured was providing delivery service for an essential business impacted by the COVID-19 closures, and the driver was operating within the course and scope of their duties on behalf of said business.

Insurers are requested to add delivery coverage to personal auto policies for drivers engaged in delivery service on behalf of essential businesses impacted by the changes related to the health emergency and not to enforce any exclusions for commercial delivery activity under personal auto policies.

Insurers are also requested to allow essential businesses to retroactively add additional drivers not previously listed under such businesses' commercial auto policies if a driver is operating a vehicle covered by the policy within the scope of their duties for the specific essential business.

They are also requested to allow delivery coverage for drivers who utilize a personal motorcycle, motor scooter, and/or bicycle to deliver goods on behalf of essential businesses under their personal auto policy if the policy already includes motorcycle coverage for the insured driver.

Providers of commercial general liability coverage are to notify essential businesses that commercial auto coverage is available if requested. If requested, the department asks that carriers provide coverage either through a rider or stand-alone policy to essential businesses.

This applies only to those delivery drivers who do not already have such coverage under their personal auto or commercial policies. It does not apply to drivers working for a transportation network company, ride share, or similar commercial product delivery company.

Insurers are requested to provide these coverages as soon as possible and to provide them until at least thirty days after essential businesses are no longer subject to restrictions from the executive order. Insurers are requested to provide coverage retroactively starting March 19, 2020. Insurers intending to implement these provisions should file any amended forms or endorsements with the department and the department will prioritize review and approval of those submitted filings.

April 14 – Because of numerous complaints the department has received regarding insurers trying to dissuade policyholders from filing claims under business interruption or refusing to open and investigate these claims, the department is requiring agents, brokers, carriers and other licensees to accept, forward, acknowledge and fairly investigate all business interruption claims submitted. The department reminds all that they are to abide by the obligations set forth in the Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations. The regulations require all notices of claims to be submitted to the insurer immediately. Acknowledgement of a claim is to be made within fifteen days or at least a notice is to be made in the claim file. Failure to transmit notice to the insurer will be imputed to the insurer. Upon receipt of a claim, the insurer is required to provide the insured with the necessary forms, instructions, and reasonable assistance in providing the proof of claim and begin any necessary investigation. Insurers are required to conduct and diligently pursue a thorough, fair, and objective investigation and are prohibited from seeing information not reasonably required or material to the resolution of a claim in dispute before determining whether a claim will be accepted or denied, in whole or in part. After the investigation, the insurer must accept or deny the claim, in whole or in part, immediately but in no event no more than forty days after receipt of the claim. Denials must be communicated in writing to the insured with all legal and factual bases for the denial.

May 14 – The department has been made aware that some insurers and others engaged in insurance are unfairly taking advantage of the COVID-19 situation and providing unjustifiably low settlements knowing that financial need is high and access to the civil court system is severely limited. The department has also been made aware of insurers or other persons lowering or failing to make settlement offers with full knowledge that insureds are restricted from obtaining full redress. The commissioner reminds those parties that they are required to adhere to the Unfair Claims Practices Act and that those engaging in any unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive act or practice as defined in statute is subject to a civil penalty to be determined by the commissioner, not to exceed $5,000 for each act or, if the practice was willful, up to $10,000 for each act. The commissioner has the discretion to determine what constitutes an act. The commissioner intends to exercise the full extent of his authority under the Unfair Claims Practices Act to pursue all administrative remedies including substantial civil penalties against those who have knowingly committed or performed any unfair practices as enumerated in the act with such frequency as to indicate general business practice.

May 15 – The commissioner extended his order requiring insurance companies to return partial premiums to insureds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Insurers now are to reduce premiums in affected lines of business through May 31, 2020. If the stay-at-home order extends into June, the commissioner will issue additional directives at that time.

June 25 – A bulletin was issued extending premium relief for the month of June commensurate with any reduced exposure in risk, and extends the directive and reporting requirements for any months subsequent to June as conditions warrant. Information regarding premium relief for the months of June, July and August, as conditions warrant, shall be submitted to the department no later than October 1, 2020. If conditions continue then premium relief information will be provided on a quarterly basis to the department. Adjustments for September, October or November will be submitted no later than January 1, 2021. To assist in the submission of information for June through August, an Excel workbook is being provided by the department http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0100-applications/rsb-forms/2020/COVID-19-Premium-Refund-Reporting.cfm. If necessary, additional workbooks will be provided for later months.

August 24 – Remote licensing exams are now available to provide flexibility because of the COVID-19 restrictions. To schedule an exam or for additional information, contact PSI at www.psiexams.com or (833) 518-7456.

New York

New York is instructing carriers to prepare explanations for insureds explaining their commercial property policies and what coverages may or may not provide coverage, as well as any applicable waiting periods. ISO had developed announcements carriers may choose to use. Important Information for New York Businessowners and Commercial Property Insurers. 

March 19 – Carriers are instructed to offer payment accommodations such as: extending due dates, waiving late/reinstatement fees, and allowing deferred payments without cost; working with insureds to avoid cancellations for nonpayment; discovering acts or omissions that may have increased the hazard insured against or physical changes in the property that result in the property no longer meeting underwriting standards; working with insureds to avoid nonrenewal if the insured fails to respond to said notice; increasing resources in order to handle increased claim submissions and inquiries about policy coverage; alerting consumers to risks of scams; and being flexible regarding proof of death, disability or other conditions triggering life insurance or annuity contracts.

March 25 – Expiration of producer licenses is in force for the next sixty days and late fees and penalties are waived during this time. Also suspended is the requirement of a monitor to be present to complete producer continuing education and prelicensing course exams during this sixty-day period.

March 30 – The Excess Lines Association of New York announced it was waiving all late filing fees incurred during March and April. In light of the difficulties in working from home and obtaining signed documents, they recommend using a phone or tablet to scan a signed document using a free application such as Genius Scan. The scan can then be electronically transmitted via email to and from insureds.

Wholesalers having trouble obtaining Part C affidavits, brokers can access ELANY's website to obtain a SmartForm Part C. The form has drop down fields to assist in completing the form with an electronic signature.

March 30 – An order by the governor requires life and fraternal benefit providers to extend a grace period for the payment of premiums and fees to ninety days for policyholders facing a financial hardship due to COVID-19. Holders of life insurance policies, annuity contracts or certificate holders under a group policy or contract are to be given ninety days to exercise benefits under the contract if they are unable to do so as a result of COVID-19. A moratorium is being imposed upon Property & Casualty and workers compensation carriers from cancelling, nonrenewing, or conditionally renewing any Property & Casualty policyholder for sixty days if they are facing hardship due to COVID-19.

March 31 – For policyholders who do not make a timely payment and can demonstrate financial hardship because of COVID-19, insurers shall not impose any late fees for such payments or report the policyholder to any credit reporting agency or debt collection agency regarding the premium payment.  Policyholders who did not make timely payments due to financial hardship because of COVID-19 – even if the carrier issued a nonpayment cancellation before the date of the Executive Order – and who can still prove financial hardship due to the virus, will be permitted by carriers to pay the premium over a twelve-month period. Carriers shall also within ten business days of the promulgation of this part of the order, provide with each premium bill notice of these provisions a toll-free number that policyholders may call to make alternative payment arrangements. Carriers are to notify producers and third-party administrators of these provisions.

Producers who service life, annuity, fraternal benefit society or property/casualty insurance policies shall mail or deliver notice to the policyholders of these provisions within ten business days of promulgation of this section.

Insurers are to accept written attestation from policyholders as proof of financial hardship related to the virus.

If a premium finance company does not receive payment for sixty days after enactment of this section and the finance company cancels the property/casualty policy based on that nonpayment, the carrier shall return gross unearned premiums to the finance company. Finance companies with power of attorney shall not cancel the policy for a period of at least sixty days including any grace period for a property/casualty policy, or for at least ninety days, including contractual grace period for a life insurance policy, if the insured can demonstrate financial hardship. Insureds who did not make timely payments, and those who received a nonpayment cancellation notice who can still prove financial hardship, will be allowed to pay such installment payment over a twelve-month period, subject to the financial soundness of the company.

Finance companies will also provide notice with installment bill payment a toll-free number insureds can call to discuss billing and make alternate payment arrangements, notify producers and third-party administrators of these provisions; life insurance producers will be notified within ten days of these provisions.

April 6 – The Excess Lines Association of New York (ELANY) has confirmed with the department that the moratorium, premium payment grace period and notice requirements do not apply to commercial excess line policies and policyholders. They do apply to personal excess line policies and policyholders.

April 22 – ELANY has confirmed with the department that an exception now exists for the moratorium and that it DOES apply to excess lines commercial fire insurance policies. Those policies are now subject to the moratorium on cancellations and parameters for grace periods does apply.

May 1 – ELANY has extended the waiver on all late fees incurred by any member of the association during the month of May.

May 21 – As producers continue to struggle with obtaining continuing education credits before licenses expire, even with the extension provided earlier, the department is extending the exception for another forty-five days to July 8, 2020. At the end of this period, licenses that would have expired but for this extension will automatically expire unless the producer has submitted a renewal application, including completion of all continuing education credits before that date.

July 2 – Because of the continuing issues related to COVID-19, the expiration of licenses has been extended an additional thirty days, through August 7, 2020. At the end of this period all licenses that would have expired except for the extension will automatically expire unless the producer has submitted a renewal application with all required continuing education credits before that date.

Florida

As of March 18, the Florida Insurance Department directed carriers to review and update their own business continuity plans. It is essential that carriers can service their insureds; if carriers discover deficiencies they must notify the department what operations are compromised.

Examination and testing centers are closed until April 16 or when conditions are deemed safe to re-open. Likewise fingerprint centers are closing as well. The department is continuing to processing license applications, but they cannot be completely processed if fingerprints and exam results are not received. The department is encouraging people to use the Upload Documents feature through their MyProfile account. If the option to upload isn't available in someone's account, it will appear within three hours of submitting a new license application in the system. When filing through NIPR, the upload option will appear when the file reaches the department, generally the day after the application is submitted to NIPR.

March 25 – Insurers are encouraged to be flexible regarding premium payments where feasible in order to avoid a lapse in coverage with measures such as relaxing due dates, extending grace or reinstatement periods, waiving late or penalty fees, and allowing payment plans. Policy cancellation should only be considered if all possible efforts to work with consumers has been exhausted. Carriers are to communicate with insureds about steps taken to be flexible.

Because of the increase in delivery needs and services, carriers are encouraged to allow such use of personal autos for such deliveries and provide coverage during the Emergency Orders.

Because of social distancing concerns carriers are encouraged to use virtual options for underwriting and adjusting claims in lieu of in-person property inspections and premium audit of employers' records. Carriers are encouraged to accept electronic communications instead of handwritten statements, and use email to arrange teleconferences with Department staff. The department is granting a thirty-day extension for any annual statements due to be filed on or before May 1 for HMOs, insurance administrators, continuing care providers, and multiple-employer welfare arrangements.

March 31 – The Division of Risk Management announced that it will review claims submitted by frontline state employees who are required to interact with individuals potentially infected with COVID-19. Employees eligible for compensation are law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, correctional officers, health care workers, child safety investigators and Florida National Guard members. Agencies can opt out of the program, and the state would not have to pay benefits if it was proven the infection was not contracted on the job.

April 6 – A bulletin was issued to remind regulated entities that employers are required to provide workers compensation coverage if the employee suffers a compensable illness arising out of work arising out of and in the course of employment. Under Florida law first responders, health care workers, and others that contract COVID-19 due to work-related exposure would be eligible for workers compensation benefits. The department expects insurers to comply with Florida's workers compensation laws and will take appropriate action in the event of noncompliance.

April 17 – The department is suspending licensing exam requirements for those who are otherwise qualified for issuance of a Florida agent license. The department will issue temporary licenses for health, life, and personal lines agents who have met all other requirements including the application, fingerprinting, criminal history, background and knowledge, experience, or instruction requirements for the license applied for. The holder of a temporary license will be appointed by a sponsoring insurer which assumes responsibility for all acts of the temporary licensee and that licensee may only solicit insurance under the direct supervision of a licensed and appointed agent authorized to sell the type of insurance being solicited.

These temporary licenses will expire six months after the date of issuance or upon issuance of a permanent license of the same type and class, whichever comes first. If a holder of a temporary license violates any provisions of the insurance code, the department will revoke the temporary license. The department will stop issuing temporary licenses pursuant to this order fourteen days from the date when at least half of the exam centers open or expiration of the executive order 20-52.

Kansas

The Kansas Department of Insurance issued a bulletin announcing alternative work arrangements, possible delays in licensing and company applications and filings, and suspending all regulatory statutes in Chapter 40 that include a "deemed approved" clause. Forms and rates will not be deemed approved or used until such forms or rates receive affirmative approval from the department. All other clauses remaining intact, for example regulations to pay claims promptly. If a carrier is having problems adhering to fair claims settlement regulations it is to notify the department.

Texas

On March 23 the department issued a bulletin suspending certain claim handling deadlines imposed by law. The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared a disaster, due to the disruption to carriers and their staff as well as insureds, and the expected volume of claims that will be generated. The claims handling deadline for prompt payment has been extended an additional fifteen days and will continue until the Governor's suspension and Commissioner's declaration are lifted. Carriers are still expected to promptly handle, acknowledge, investigate, and assign claims.

Carriers are also to work with policyholders facing financial hardships and the administration encourages carriers to extend grace periods, suspension of premium payments, payment plans and other actions that will allow policyholders to maintain coverage.

March 24 – The Division of Workers Compensation issuing a bulletin stating the hours of operation of the Austin Metro lobby and carrier boxes as 8 a.m. to noon. Benefit review conferences are being held by telephone, and contested case hearings will also be held by telephone. Parties may exchange documents electronically. Most staff are working remotely and additional guidance is forthcoming.

As testing and fingerprinting facilities are closed, the department will issue temporary agent licenses without required tests or additional fees. Training can be completed online and fingerprints will be submitted later. Temporary applications should be submitted online, paper applications will not be accepted. Temporary licenses will remain active until further notice and the $100 fee for a temporary license will be waived. Only emergency adjuster licenses will be issued until testing and fingerprinting sites reopen.

For March or April renewals, the time to renew a license will be extended by two months and late fees will be waived. Extra time will be allowed to complete continuing education and fines will be waived. Licenses that expired on or before February 29 have until May 31 to renew, and licenses expiring between March 31 and April 30 renewals are extended to May 31 with waiver of continuing education fines and late fees.

March 25 – Workers compensation carriers must continue or begin providing timely claims adjusting services, processing and delivering indemnity and medical payments in a timely manner, authorize pharmacies to provide a ninety-day supply of any prescription medication regardless of date last filled, subject to the remaining number of days authorized by the prescribing provider.

Regarding designated doctor, required medical and referral exams, designated doctor exams are being ceased and requests are being held; if there are special circumstances contact the Division. Required medical, designated doctor, and referral exams that have already been ordered are suspended. Any exams ordered or scheduled before the 25th are now suspended and should not take place until further notice from the Division.

Failure to submit a timely medical bill will be deemed an exception due to a catastrophic event under the labor code. Such challenges will be taken into account when considering enforcement actions.

March 27 – If a DWC filing requires a payment by check, such as DWC Form 155 or 156, it may be submitted without payment. Likewise, the below listed forms may be submitted with electronic signatures and without sworn statements, affidavits, or notarizations until further notice. Forms may also be submitted by fax, without the need to mail in the original documents. Faxes should be broken into segments as faxes over forty pages can be interrupted.

DWC Form-153, Request for Copies of Confidential Claimant Information; DWC Form-155, Request for Record Check; and DWC Form-156, Prospective Employment Authorization and Certification.

DWC is no longer requiring signatures for contested case hearing decisions and orders and Appeals Panel decisions. Signatures are no longer required for receipt of medical fee disputes, medical fee dispute and decision orders, and approved or denied DWC Form-064 Medical Interlocutory Order Requests.

Effective April 1, electronic carrier representative boxes will be initiated. Hand-delivered documents from carriers will no longer be accepted, and a paper date-stamped receipt copy will no longer be provided. Documents normally placed in the carrier boxes will be provided through secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) box.

Carriers are encouraged to begin using the new codes for electronic data interchange (EDI) claims reports: "cause of injury" code 83 – Pandemic and "nature of injury" code 83-COVID-19 on April 1, 2020. These codes should be used for COVID-19 injuries occurring on or after December 1, 1019.

March 30 – The department is expediting approvals for filings that provide additional coverage or relief to policyholders during the COVID-19 outbreak. Recent filings include some insurers filing to remove delivery exclusions from policies for the delivery of food, medicine and other goods, and a commercial auto insurer filing for a temporary rate decrease for certain policies anticipating less driving and a reduced loss exposure. The department will work with insurers on such filings, and reviewed and approved the first delivery exclusion filing the day it was received.

April 9 – Due to the impact of the coronavirus, the department has changed the effective date of the approved FAIR plan rate changes from May 1, 2020 to august 1, 2020.

April 15 – Because of the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, the department expects insurers to work with commercial insureds that have reduced operations accordingly. For policies calculated using auditable exposures that may have changed as a result of the outbreak, insurers are encouraged to: conduct midterm premium audits if requested by insureds – many midterm audits do not require an onsite audit; allow insureds to self-audit and report changes in the exposure to the company; consider any reduced risk to businesses that change operations or elect to continue paying employees when they are not working; and make other adjustments to reduce the premium as appropriate. A midterm or self-audit does not replace a final audit permitted or required by the policy.

April 16 – Texas has extended many financial, title agent, and managed care quality assurance filing requirements. The details may be found here: Filing requirements.

April 17 – The department issued a bulletin reminding carriers that there are provisions for exceptions to using credit scoring when an insured or applicant's score has been affected by catastrophic illness/injury; death of a spouse, child or parent; temporary loss of employment; divorce; or identity theft. An insurer may only consider credit information not affected by the event or must assign a neutral credit score. Insurers are encouraged to accept verbal requests for credit exceptions instead of written requests as listed in the insurance code.

April 22 – The department has announced that testing has reopened at some sites within the state. Candidates should log into their PearsonVue accounts to find a test center and make a reservation. As fingerprinting sites and many testing sites are still closed, the abilities put in place to get a temporary license are still in force.

April 27 – The Division of Workers Compensation is posting a draft data call for information related to COVID-19 exposures and injuries reported to certain carriers on or after December 1, 2019. This information will help the department access information to determine the affect of COVID-19 on the workers comp system. Comments are being accepted on the draft until May 8, 2020. A bulletin is expected in late May.

May 11 – The department issued a reminder that sponsors of those with temporary licenses are responsible for the acts of the temporary licensee, expected to review the applicant's background to ensure suitability for licensure, and monitor behavior and provide required training.

May 18 – The department reminds agents and adjusters that the extension to renew licenses and complete continuing education ends May 31. For licenses that expired in March, April or May, there will be no fine of late fee if continuing education hours and payments are completed by May 31.

June 15 – Beginning August 15, the state returns to normal temporary licensing procedures. Those with a temporary license on August 15 or earlier will have until November 13 to get a regular license. Those with a temporary license issued on or after August 15 will have ninety days to get a regular license. Anyone applying for a temporary license will have to pay the $150 licensing fee and submit fingerprints with the application. Once the temporary license expires, the person may no longer act under the authority of the license.

The following requirements continue to be waived:

Applicants seeking a temporary license may take approved webinars and courses listed as "classroom equivalent" to satisfy the ten hours of classroom training and do not have to take classes in person.

That during any two consecutive quarters, at least 70 percent of an organization's applicants for temporary licenses take the required licensing examination is waived.

June 29 – The department has extended modified requirements for filings of sworn statements. Filings may be submitted without sworn statements, affidavits, and notarizations through July 31, 2020. See the modified filing chart: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/financial/modified-filing-requirements.html.

July 3 – Testing and fingerprint centers remain open for those applying for agent and adjuster licenses. In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, temporary licenses will remain active until further notice.

July 29 – The department will allow filings to be submitted without sworn statements, affidavits and notarizations until September 30, 2020 due to COVID-19. A chart is provided with all temporary changes here: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/financial/modified-filing-requirements.html

December 18 – Texas has revised its filing requirements for signatures and sworn statements, affidavits, and notarization through March 31, 2021. A chart listing all filing requirements and modifications can be found here :  https://www.tdi.texas.gov/financial/modified-filing-requirements.html

July 22, 2021 – The governor has rescinded various statutes that were in response to the pandemic effective September 20, 2021. The temporary extension of claim handling deadlines will no longer be available for claims submitted to carriers after September 20, 2021, the suspension of certain fees for licensed agents expires and fines for not timely completing continuing education requirements will resume effective September 20, 2021.

The following licensing requirement exceptions are canceled effective September 20, 2021:

• Fingerprints must be submitted with applications and filings that require them as of 9/20/21
• Applications and filings submitted before 9/20/21 without fingerprints must now file the fingerprints before approval will be granted unless the department otherwise granted approval
• Fire industry licensees who received a license without submitting fingerprints must now file them before the license is renewed
• URAs and IROs that were certified without fingerprints now must have fingerprints filed before license renewal
• Temporary licenses issued before September 1, 2021 will expire on November 29, 2021. Those with a temporary license must submit fingerprints and complete the application process before the temporary license expires.
• Temporary licenses issued on or after September 1, 2021 are valid for 180 days.
• The normal licensing fee of $150 resumes on September 20, 2021.

Hawaii  

New producer and surplus lines broker applicants may continue to submit applications and pay fees online via NIPR. Active licensees may continue to renew online at: https://www.ehawaii.gov/dcca/hils/renew/exe/insrenew.cgi

Due to Pearson VUE temporarily closing and suspension of testing due to the coronavirus workers compensation adjuster licenses due to renew on April 16, 2020 will be extended until examinations can be made available. Fees must be made timely with a written explanation that the exam has not been taken due to the unavailability of testing through Pearson VUE. The exam must be taken within forty-five days of when testing is made available.

March 27 – The commissioner encourages carriers to work with insureds to continue coverage and prevent policies from lapsing, and consider the following actions:

1. refrain from cancelling or nonrenewing policies due to nonpayment and grant a grace period for payments to be made;
2. work with insureds on structured payment plans for late premium payments;
3. waive late fees and penalties;
4. extend timeframes to complete property & auto inspections or undergo medical exams;
5. continue working with insureds for sixty days after this emergency has passed or as long as is reasonably practicable.

April 27 – A bulletin from the department outlined a number of instructions to facilitate insurers' responses and accommodations to policyholders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department will not regard the following as unfair practices or methods of competition, and encourages insurers to implement these activities as long as the activities  are reasonably related to assisting policyholders:

• Waiving of fees, penalties, other charges related to an insured's temporary inability to submit premium payments or respond to an insurer's inquiries; extending grace periods for premium payments; granting additional time to pay before nonrenewals or cancellations become effective; extending proof of loss submission deadlines to claimants; allowing self-auditing and self-reporting in lieu of physical audits to the extent physical audits are impracticable; and encouraging insureds to use electronic payment technology whenever possible.

The department also supports insurers using virtual inspections of property and increased use of electronic delivery methods for consumer interactions and notifications.

The department will consider proposals from insurers designed to quickly adjust to changes in the insurer's risk exposure. For example, such proposals may allow personal vehicles to be covered while delivering, food, medicine, or other essentials, reduction of premiums prospectively, or refund premiums retroactively. The division may waive enforcement of relevant applicable statutes, and may allow insurer deviations from filed rates as long as the newly proposed rates are lower than the latest approve rates on file, insurer's actions are applied uniformly and without prejudice to all affected insureds, and the insurer has notified the commissioner in writing of its specific proposal and justifications.

Maryland

On March 5 the Governor declared a State of Emergency because of the coronavirus. Citizens have been advised to not travel unless it is for essential purposes. It is recommended that those who must travel purchase trip cancellation coverage which will reimburse nonrefundable costs if the trip is cancelled because of COVID-19. On March 20 the Insurance Administration is therefore requesting insurers that provide travel insurance provide an option to buy a cancel for any reason waiver when they buy a travel policy, or otherwise provide similar coverage so that the individual will be reimbursed for nonrefundable travel costs due to cancellation of a trip because of COVID-19.

Another bulletin on March 20 recommends to all insurers, both life and health and property and casualty to make reasonable accommodations to insureds so that insureds do not lose coverage due to nonpayment of bills. Reasonable accommodations include suspensions of premiums due, extension of due dates, grace periods, and waiver of installment and late fees. Insurers are advised to encourage insureds to use online payment systems and other technology in order to get the bills paid.

In a bulletin March 23, the insurance commissioner encouraged all carriers to use remote claims handling technologies to the greatest extent possible. When on-site activity is necessary, employees, contractors, vendors, insureds and other parties must follow social distancing protocols as laid out by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health as much as possible. Prompt payment of known claims should be a top priority. All are encouraged to monitor the administration's website for updates regarding COVID-19 related issues.

The administration recommended to carriers that since traffic has decreased as citizens work from home and remain home instead of going out, that carriers consider making rate filings to provide temporary relief to insureds. Filings could be for premium discounts for specific coverages or perils, or any other premium reduction commensurate with reduced loss exposure. The administration will waive filing fees and provide expedited review for those carriers filing such rate changes.

March 26 – The Department advised carriers to make reasonable accommodations so that individuals and business do not lose coverage due to nonpayment of premiums. Reasonable accommodations include suspension of premium due, extension of billing due dates and grace periods, and waiver of installment and late payment fees. Maryland domiciled carriers providing grace periods may request waiver of the Statutory Accounting Principle that requires an insurer to nonadmit premium receivable assets over ninety days past due. The number of days past due that will be allowed is dependent on the insurer's grace period. For example, a carrier with a thirty-day grace period for all policies can ask to admit receivables up to 120 days past due. Requests should be submitted with sufficient detail to support the request.

March 30 – The department is strongly encouraging carriers to follow one provider that has temporarily waived the commercial use exclusion found in private passenger auto policies during the COVID-19 emergency. This allows insureds to be protected to the full extent of their liability coverage when using their vehicles to deliver goods to residents for pay. The department will waive fees for filings endorsements to provide such coverage and will review and approve the filing as soon as possible, hopefully within twenty-four hours of submission. Providing coverage in this manner may begin immediately.

April 3 – Insurers are requested to be lenient with policyholders having trouble completing first notices of loss due to factors beyond their control due to COVID-19, and consider whether or not late notice of a claim was preventable and if the late-notice actually prejudiced the insurer's ability to adjust the claim.

Insurers are also requested to request sworn statement proof of loss only when necessary and relax the completion date if necessary due to COVID-19 issues. When necessary insurers may choose to approve electronic signatures.  Insurers should also consider using remote technology for examinations under oath, and if that is not possible consider delaying such if until distancing protocols are relaxed. If necessary to be done in person, distancing protocols should be adhered to.

For additional living, loss of use, rental reimbursement and non-COVID-19 business interruption claims, benefits are based on a reasonable amount of time to complete repairs or restore operations. Insurers are reminded that these times may be extended due to the current situation, and policyholders should not be penalized for things outside of their control.

Under section 19-213 of the Insurance Article, under homeowners, dwelling or farm owner policies, the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value payment may following completed repairs may be filed for no less than two years after the date of loss. Insurers are allowed to include a clause requiring the insured to provide notice of intent to file for replacement cost within 180 days of the date of loss. The administration is requesting that carriers also be lenient in these situations as well.

April 6 – Due to the State of Emergency vehicle owners may look to cut expenses by returning registration plates and dropping insurance coverage. As the Motor Vehicle Administration is closed, plates may be dropped off at the twenty-four-hour drop boxes in Baltimore City, Columbia, Gaithersburg, Glen Burnie, Salisbury, Westminster and Walnut Hill. Plates can be mailed to Glen Burnie; the date and time of drop off or mailing should be documented by video or mailing method. Owners of commercial fleets may wish to put some vehicles out of service during the State of Emergency in order to drop coverage for those vehicles to save premium expenses. Insureds may send a list of vehicles no longer in service to carriers, and carriers are instructed to work with insureds to reduce premium without the return of tags. This eliminates the need to reregister the vehicles after the State of Emergency ends.

April 7 – Quarterly estimated premium tax payments are due April 15, 2020. The commissioner does not have the authority to amend these due dates, but will exercise his discretion to waive penalties and interest for late payments if a carrier is unable to make such payments timely due to the impact of COVID-19 on the company's premium tax administrative offices. Carriers should be prepared to submit documentation of the impact at the request of the commissioner. The waiver of penalties and interest will be effective through June 1, 2020 unless amended by a later bulletin.

April 9 – The department recognizes that some carriers may have implemented rate relief measures without making a filing with the department. Fees for those filings have been waived and standards were relaxed so relief measures could be implemented quickly. The department requests that if your company implemented rate relief without making a filing, please make the filing promptly. Filings are required, and may be in the form of a policy endorsement or rate/rule that describes the parameters of your program. Actuarial support may be limited to a brief statement that the relief measure is related to reduced exposure to losses due to COVID-19.

April 13 – Because some commercial lines of business are priced based on an estimate of the annual payroll or revenue of the insured, the department is advising carriers to work with insureds to accommodate requests for mid-term revisions for premium based on COVID-19 related changes in payroll or revenue, rather than wait for actual results at the close of a policy period. Many companies are experiencing furloughs and layoffs, affecting payroll and revenue.

The department is requesting carriers to waive or reduce, to the greatest extent possible short-rate cancellation penalties during the COVID-19 crisis. The department is requesting carriers that use credit/financial rating reviews of applicants and insureds for pricing/payment plan eligibility to take into consideration the unforeseen economic impact of COVID-19 and to minimize to the greatest extent possible the adverse pricing and eligibility outcomes for applicants and insureds resulting from the crisis. Such reviews should be weighted heavily on pre-COVID-19 data.

Commercial lines carriers are also requested to refrain from attaching any adverse underwriting or pricing outcomes for insureds who have made inquiries or filed business interruption claims that have not resulted in any claim payment.

April 24 – The department approved updates to NCCI's Statistical plan creating uniform codes for tracking COVID-19 injuries, losses and expenses. The effective date for the use of these codes is December 1, 2019. The department also approved changes to the Statistical Plan and the Basic Manual for Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance ("Basic Manual").

July 2 – The administration realizes that carriers cannot delay cancellations indefinitely. The administration intends to carefully monitor the impact of COVID-19 on cancellations and accommodations that have been made by insurers to mitigate cancellations. The administration is requiring each P&C insurer to make an informational SERFF filing with details of its COVID-19 response efforts. The following guidance is put forth with respect to resumption of nonpayment cancellations:

• All existing legal requirements for advance notification, mailing and content of such notice are in effect;
• A policy cannot be cancelled for a past due amount from a prior term;
• Payments from insureds in arrears should be applied to the current policy before being applied to a prior policy.

January 4, 2021 – A bulletin from the department reminds producers and direct writers of private passenger auto insurance to initiate contact with insureds to determine if they have experienced a change in their driving habits regarding usage and mileage as a result of the pandemic.  Where such changes have impacted the policy's rating, appropriate adjustments in rating should be made promptly. Insurers are encouraged to provide refunds or credits for reduced mileage retroactively to the onset of the reduction in miles driven to the greatest extent possible.

January 12, 2021 – Because of COVID-19, the governor ordered the Department of Transportation to not suspend drivers' licenses because the license expired. All licensed drivers in Maryland will have 30 days from the time the Governor's March 2020 Executive Order is lifted to obtain a renewal license. While the State of Emergency remains in place, carriers providing motor vehicle liability insurance may not cancel or nonrenew these insurance policies because of an insured's expired license. Carriers are to prevent issuance of cancellation or nonrenewal notices of this type from being issued.

Oregon

On March 23 the Division of Financial Regulation issued a statement in response to the statement issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to reduce people's need to visit the DMV offices. The Division bulletin states that insurers are expected to refrain from using the expiration of driver's licenses or vehicle registrations to affect eligibility for an insurance discount, decrease a driver's or business's ability to obtain coverage, or change rates charged to drivers or businesses.

March 25 – The Division ordered a temporary emergency order requiring all insurance companies to extend grace periods for the payment of premiums, postponement of cancellations and nonrenewals, and extended deadlines for reporting claims. Also carriers are required to provide consumers with the ability to make premium payments and report claims while maintaining safe social distance standards. The order is effective immediately and will remain in place at least until April 23; the order may be extended beyond that date.

Insurance companies may not withdraw from, cancel or fail to renew any commercial liability line of business, such as child care, without appropriate written justification and approval by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

Child care facilities must be carried out in a maximum stable group of ten children, with stable meaning the same group each day, in a classroom that is not accessible to other children throughout the day. Such child care facilities are not considered an increased hazard, and an insurer cannot cancel or nonrenew a liability policy for such a child care facility.

March 26 – The Department has developed a fact sheet for consumers explaining the basics of business interruption coverage. Oregon Business Interruption and COVID-19 Fact Sheet.

April 9 – The division is calling on carriers to extend coverage for personal delivery drivers and limit the exclusions for commercial delivery during the COVID-19 outbreak. Carriers are encouraged to file endorsements with the department broadening coverage for those using personal autos to deliver essential goods for a fee. When the state of emergency is finally removed, carriers are to give policyholders a minimum of thirty-days' notice of the mid-term reduction in coverage to allow for an orderly wind down of the extension. This is for drivers who do not have coverage through their personal policies, and is not intended for drivers working for transportation network companies. This is retroactive to March 17, the date of the governor's executive order.

April 22 – In response to questions regarding department directives, a bulletin providing guidance has been issued. To those carriers with previously approved endorsement planning to expand auto coverage for the remainder of a policy term, they do not need to file new forms. Carriers wanting to expand coverage on a temporary basis for coverage excluded in their policy should file the proposed endorsements or revisions through SERFF. These filing should be labeled COVID-19 in the product name field for identification and priority review. The filing description must also include an explanation of how changes in coverage and pricing will be communicated to policyholders; thirty-days' notice must be given for any reductions in coverage.

Temporary rate reductions based on reduced exposure should also be filed through SERFF with the product name field listed as COVID-19. The request should include the amount of rate reduction, duration, and the classes to which the reduction applies. Also required is an explanation of how the rate reduction will be applied to in-force policies and whether the reduction applies to new business. The policyholder notice must state how long the reduction will be in place, and the carrier must provide thirty-days' notice for any increase in rates.

Carriers wanting to provide insureds with mid-term payments in recognition of lower exposure may do so if the amounts are in its filed plan. A rule filing should be made in SERFF with the product name field listing COVID-19, and the filing should include an explanation of how insureds will be notified of the payment amount and duration. Payments sent without a change to the rate plan are not allowed unless provided for in the policy.

April 23 – The director issued an order March 25 through April 23 directing insurers to extend deadlines for reporting claims, institute grace periods for payment, suspend cancellations and nonrenewals, and provide other relief to insureds. In light of the fact that the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to interfere with the ability to carry on normal business, the duration of the order is extended through May 23, 2020.

April 30 – A temporary administration order has been made effective 5/1/2020 through 10/24/2020 to update the workers compensation statistical plan in accordance with NCCI updates related to the reporting of COVID-19 claims.

May 23 – Insurers are ordered to provide at least a sixty-day grace period to pay past-due premiums, pay claims for covered losses that occur within the first thirty days of that grace period, extend  timelines for claim reporting and other communications. These orders are effective through June 23, and the orders given March 23 are also extended to June 23. These orders may be extended in thirty-day increments as needed.

July 22 – Emergency orders are extended until July 31. A new order is being drafted to better reflect current needs and protect those who cannot pay their insurance premiums, and will be issued August 1.

August 3 – The emergency order has been extended through August 30. Residents are allowed to ask for a one-time sixty-day grace period to pay past-due premiums for auto, home or renters coverage. No documentation is required, but carriers may request verbal or written confirmation. Claims are to be paid during the grace period, and reporting deadlines are extended in order to provide people with communication options that adhere to social distancing requirements.

Involuntary cancellations for nonpayment are to be suspended if that person it within a grace period, a claim resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, increased risk resulting from COVID-19; for commercial lines, increased risk due to the provision of goods or services related to food, shelter, essential consumer needs, education, health care, emergency services, government services, care for the elderly, minors, disabled or vulnerable people, goods or services at the direction of a government official. This does not apply to cancellations sent before March 17, 2020.

At the end of the grace period policies may be cancelled, but cancellation cannot be dated any earlier than the last day of the grace period. Premium may be determined including days within the grace period. Policies may not be cancelled strictly because of a claim related to COVID-19 unless there was fraud or material misrepresentation.

January 22, 2021 – A rule was adopted effective January 22, 2021 allowing the expiration of an emergency order as a legitimate reason to cancel a commercial liability policy., as long as the emergency order was the only reason the policy was renewed.

Missouri 

March 27 – The commissioner urged all auto carriers to immediately extend auto coverage for personal delivery drivers to aid people temporarily assigned this duty during the pandemic and state of emergency. The commissioner said he would expedite review and approval of endorsement filings so that drivers could quickly have coverage. The endorsement would apply only to drivers for retail and service operations during the pandemic and stay-at-home order. It does not apply to ridesharing or other commercial delivery businesses.

In a bulletin issued March 24 the Department of Commerce and Insurance stated that annual statement supplemental filings due on April 1, 2020 will be considered officially filed when filed electronically with NAIC. For 2020, any requirements to send signed hard copies of annual statements is now optional. All other filings normally filed via mail, including dividend and surplus note payment requests, should be electronically filed with an electronic signature. These filings should be emailed to [email protected] with a read receipt request. The date of the read receipt is the officially filed date. While notarization is not required while this bulletin is in effect, documents that are normally notarized should be signed by the appropriate person, scanned and submitted electronically as a .pdf attachment.

April 6 – The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has been ordered by the governor to implement an emergency rule that will provide workers compensation benefits to first responders who contract COVID-19. The rule creates a presumption that the responders contracted the virus in the line of duty and they are instructed to file a claim under the workers compensation law to cover incurred expenses.

April 10 – The department advises carriers providing premium relief plans for personal and commercial P&C policies such as premium adjustments, reimbursements, credits, and insured notifications that submitting SERFF filings to document such strategies is strongly encouraged. Transparency during this time is important, and the SERFF system provides historical documentation on how companies responded to this event.

All COVID-19 filings related to premium relief will receive an expeditious review if the carrier provides advance notice of the SERFF tracking number to the department by emailing [email protected]. All filings will be use and file, and the department strongly recommends timely filing of premium relief plans. The department encourages including the following information with the filing: Explanation of premium relief strategy, effective and termination dates of premium relief, method used to determine premium relief, description of how relief will be implemented in a fair manner, how the insureds will be notified of the relief, how the carrier will account for premium dividends, how the carrier will account for COVID-19 premium relief when performing future ratemaking exercises, and confirmation that the carrier will continue to monitor the situation and adjust premium and coverage plans and monitor solvency.

April 13 – The department will begin issuing temporary resident producer licenses for life, variable life and annuity, accident and health, property, casualty, personal lines and crop. The licensing requirement of successfully passing an exam for these lines of business will be waived provided a currently licensed Missouri insurance producer will sponsor the applicant.  All other licensing requirements shall remain in effect. The temporary license will be valid for ninety days after the initial date of issuance. If proof of passing the exam is not emailed to the department within the ninety days after issuance, the license will expire and an individual will need to reapply and meet the standard requirements. If proof of the exam is received, the department will convert, with no additional fees, the temporary license to a regular producer license for a two year period based on the original date of the temporary license.

May 7 – The bulletin issued March 21 encouraging carriers to not cancel, nonrenew, or terminate coverage while the state of emergency was in effect has been extended until June 15, 2020.

June 16 – Effective June 16 the department will cease accepting applications for temporary residence licenses, and rescinds the temporary waiver of the licensing required of successfully passing an exam for the following lines of business: Life, Variable Life and Variable Annuity, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines and Crop. Applications for a temporary license under bulletin 20-09 received on or after June 16 will not be processed. Current temporary licenses will remain in effect until the license expires. The department will extend the initial ninety-day effective period for temporary licenses for an additional sixty days beyond the expiration date to accommodate testing needs. All other conditions prescribed in bulletin 20-09 will apply.

Temporary license applications that meet the requirements of bulletin 20-09 before June 15 will be approved. Those applications that do not meet the requirements before June 15 will be closed. If documentation of passage of the appropriate exam is not emailed to the department ([email protected]) before the expiration of the temporary license, the license will expire and the individual will need to reapply and meet standard licensing requirements. Upon receipt of documentation of passage of the exam, the department will convert the temporary license to a regular producer license for a two-year period based on the effective date of the temporary license with no additional fees.

December 9 – The department has issued a notice to title insurers that are contracted with title agents and agencies that continues the waiver of "on-site" reviews until March 31, 2021. An earlier waiver expired June 15, 2020.

Wisconsin

On March 20 the Insurance Commissioner asked insurers to work with policyholders having economic hardships during this time by offering noncancellation periods and deferring premium payments.

On March 23 the Insurance Commissioner at the direction of the Governor ordered insurers operating in the state to assist restaurants who have been offering delivery service to provide coverage for said delivery service on personal auto policies and offer coverage for hired and nonowned automobiles as riders on the restaurants general liability policies. Many carriers had already started providing such coverage. Interested parties should contact their agents directly. Coverage will be effective on the date requested and last until the public health emergency has ended.

April 16 – The governor signed a bill that included a provision that an injury to a first responder during any public health emergency declared by the governor on March 12, 2020 is presumed to be caused by the individual's employment. The presumption requires a diagnosis or positive test for COVID-19, and may be rebutted by specific evidence that the injury was caused outside of employment.

April 22 – Licensing exams may not be taken only through ProProctor from Prometric. It allows fully proctored remote testing through a secure online testing option in the candidate's location of choosing. Each proposed test location will be vetted and approved by ProProctor as part of the process. Information is available here: www.prometric.com/wisconsin/insurance. Currently there is an influx of candidates and space is limited, but Prometric is ramping up capability as fast as possible.

June 18 – The department had ordered insurers to provide coverage to restaurants and bars for delivery during the COVID-19 crisis. The department guidance expired May 13. The department is asking insurers to give consumer's  at least ten day-written notice if their hired and nonowned auto coverage will expire. Insurers are also to notify consumers if their personal auto delivery coverage will expire, using the same method the insurer used to notify consumers that the coverage was available.

West Virginia

Has suspended normal time standards for claims handling of workers compensation claims and other regulated entities. Claims are to be handled as expeditiously as possible during the current emergency and companies should use all means necessary to work remote via telephone, facsimile, mobile applications and others to best serve insureds. Claims adjustment and resolution should be given priority so that high priority claims are addressed first.

Temporary total disability payments will not be suspended for failure to undergo examinations or needed treatment during this insurance emergency.

March 18 – An order issued by the commissioner states that insurers must not cancel or nonrenew policies if the reason is a result of adverse circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This applies only to cancellations or nonrenewals related to the pandemic, and not for insureds who were already delinquent or cancelled/nonrenewed for other valid underwriting reasons.

Insurers are encouraged to be flexible with insureds by instituting moratoriums on cancellations or premium collections and allow for alternate payment arrangements, deferred premium payments, premium holidays and acceleration or waiver of underwriting requirements so that insureds do not become delinquent because of the crisis.

The department will not view any accommodations made in light of the hardship as violating insurance laws such as unfair inducement prohibitions. Accommodations should not be made in an unfairly discriminatory manner. Insurers can require validation of the adverse circumstances and that are directly related to COVID-19 and the State of Emergency.

April 6 – In light of the stay at home orders, and the designation of insurance as an essential business, the commissioner has ordered that individuals engaged in the business of insurance in West Virginia may leave their homes to provide any services or perform any work necessary to operate and/or maintain the essential business of insurance provided that, carriers, underwriters, agents, brokers, and related claims and agency services, their employees or representatives, are prohibited from engaging in door-to-door/in-home solicitation of new business or other transactions unless certain conditions exist. These conditions are that they are servicing or other essential transaction for a current policy or policies, the activity is at the request of the insured, the servicing or other transaction cannot be accomplished electronically or remotely, and the transaction is to be done only with the use of personal protective equipment and/or appropriate social distancing. This is in effect until further notice.

Massachusetts

Carriers have been ordered to provide employers and individuals with as much flexibility as possible during the pandemic in order to retain coverage despite concerns about paying premiums on time. Carriers should explore grace periods, streamlined paperwork, look at timing of payments to allow insureds the best possible chance to avoid cancellation for nonpayment. Waiving late fees, nonsufficient fund fees, installment fees and penalties should be considered, as should payment plans.

March 24 – Bill SD 2888 was proposed to the legislature stating that every insurance policy providing property damage, regardless of terms and exclusions in the policy, that provides business interruption coverage, will be construed to provide coverage for interruption directly or indirectly resulting from COVID-19. Carriers may not deny a claim for loss of use or occupancy and business interruption on account of COVID-19 being a virus, even if the policy excludes viruses, and even if there is no physical damage to the policy. The coverage will apply subject to policy limits until the emergency declaration is lifted. This applies only to insureds with 150 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, and whose policies are in force on the effective date of this act, or become effective before the date executive order 591 is rescinded by the Governor.

Insurers that provide such coverage may apply to the Commissioner for relief and reimbursement from funds collected for such purpose. The Commissioner will establish procedures for the submission of such claims. The Commissioner is authorized to make one or more assessments against insurers selling business interruption coverage as necessary to recover the amounts paid to insurers for these claims.

April 3 – The department states that insurance licenses in good standing as of the date of the emergency order that expire during the state of emergency are extended and will remain valid for ninety days following the termination of the state of emergency. Any license that lapsed before March 10, 2020 whether due to failure to complete CE requirements or otherwise is not in good standing and is not extended. Licensees are encouraged to submit renewal applications corresponding to the original renewal date.

For CE, the department has approved many online (self-study) classes, eliminating the need for in-person attendance. A list of approved courses is available through Prometric. Proctoring requirements are also being waived. CE providers are encouraged to provide online options for those classes currently approved for classroom credit. They do not have to be refiled for approval.

April 29 – The department will issue temporary producer licenses for new applicants who are unable to obtain a license due to COVID-19. Applicants must be residents of Massachusetts, must be appointed by a sponsoring insurer who assumes responsibility for all acts of the applicant.

The temporary licenses will expire on the earlier of ninety days after the State of Emergency is terminated or 180 days from the date of issue. A temporary license is not renewable. Producers with a temporary license are subject to cancellation or revocation if the licensee violates the insurance laws or the interests of the public or insureds are endangered. Temporary producers are not eligible for nonresident licenses in other states.

A temporary license is convertible to a traditional license by completion of all prerequisites of a license for the desired lines of insurance, including meeting all exam and background qualification requirements before the temporary license expires. No additional fee will be required for the issuance of the regular producer license.

Applicants are to submit a hard-copy Uniform Application for Individual Producer License/Registration with a check via United States mail for $225 (if applying for casualty, property, and/or personal lines, must submit an additional $75 fee for lead paint surcharge). Also a hard-copy appointment/sponsor form completed by the sponsoring insurer with the fee of $75 per applicant. Forms may be found here: Massachusetts Temporary Insurance Producer Licenses.

To expedite the process, sponsoring insurers should mail the completed producer application, appointment/sponsor form, and required fees in one package. The department is working with NIPR to enable electronic applications.

Sponsoring insurers must maintain records of all producers operating under a temporary license and business transacted by them. They should assist producers moving through the exam and background check process more quickly once the State of Emergency is lifted. The sponsoring insurer must ensure that the temporary producer's sales activities and training are coordinated by a licensed producer in good standing.

Remote testing is not currently available, although the department is working on making that available.

Ohio

March 24 – The Department of Insurance issued a bulletin requiring carriers to not cancel, nonrenew, or refuse to issue an automobile policy or deny a claim solely because the driver or other family member has an expired license since the Governor's declaration of emergency on March 9. This declaration closed all but five Bureau of Motor Vehicles which are to processing commercial driver licenses. Since citizens cannot renew their licenses when due, insurers are not to punish them. Likewise, premium amounts for new or renewed policies must not be calculated in a way that will be detrimental to those unable to renew their licenses. Carriers do not have to submit filings in order to provide policyholders with this flexibility.

March 30 – A bulletin issued by the department today advises carriers that they must provide their insureds with at least a sixty-day grace period to pay insurance premiums or submit information. Insurers should offer payment accommodations, such as allowing consumers to defer payments at no cost, extend payment due dates, or waive late or reinstatement fees, when consumers are unable to make timely payments of premiums or fees due to COVID-19 related disruptions. The department anticipates that failure to pay premiums by the end of the grace period may subject the policy to retroactive cancellation, in accordance with the policy terms.

The superintendent also orders carriers to provide a sixty-day grace period for any policy provision that imposes a time limit on an insured or claimant to perform any act, including the submission of information or funds, with respect to an insurance contract. The bulletin will expire on the expiration of the state of emergency as declared by the governor.

March 31 – Licenses that expire during the state of emergency will remain valid and may be renewed until no later than ninety days after the state of emergency ends or December 1, 2020 whichever comes first. Late fees will be waived, license holders do not need to take any actions to receive the extension. Expiration dates will periodically be adjusted within the department's computer system and NIPR. Expiration dates will continually be adjusted until the extension granted through H.B. 197 ends. Likewise deadlines for continuing education credits are extended. Agents are encouraged to complete as much as possible during the state of emergency to prevent the system from being overwhelmed when the emergency is lifted.

Any person whose prelicense course completion certificate expired during the closure of examination centers and for two weeks after centers open again will have their certificate extended for thirty days after the centers open again.

April 10 – Because insurers have stated that they are having fewer claims which supports a short-term reduction in premiums, the department has issued the following guidelines:

• These filings must be filed in SERFF so the department can expeditiously review them; while normally actuarial justification is required, the department recognizes the lack of historical data for this situation and acknowledges that insurers must set forth assumptions being used to justify the adjustments. Insurers must explain whether the adjustment is being applied uniformly and if not justify different treatment, explain the mechanism for providing adjustments (credits, payment to insureds, etc.), provide descriptions of notifications to be sent to insureds, and provide data about the number of residents being provided relief and the expected aggregate amount of adjustment in Ohio.
• The department will consider these filings file and use: insurers are encouraged to remember that the department will review the filings and build that into their anticipated effective date and work with the department to ensure an expedited review. The department is not requiring premium refunds; these guidelines are for carriers wishing to adjust premiums, and are not the only way to provide relief to insureds.

April 15 – Temporary resident agent licenses will be issued during the Stay at Home order. Temporary licenses will be issued to major line applicants without examination or criminal records checks as long as: the individual has submitted a license application through NIPR and paid the submission fee; the person is not eligible for a nonresident license in another state; the individual meets all other requirements for licensure and has not previously failed a licensing exam or been denied a license due to a criminal records check; the individual must be sponsored by an insurer.

The sponsoring insurer must complete and submit the "Insurer Sponsor Acknowledgement" form to the department; assume responsibility for all acts and omissions of the temporary license holder; must maintain a record of all sponsored temporary license holders and the business transacted by each; must assure each temporary license holder is employed by an agent, broker or insurer and is properly supervised by a licensed agent in good standing or a registered principal licensed by FINRA; must notify the department in writing if the sponsored temporary license holder is no longer employed under the insurer sponsor and shall disclose details as to circumstances of termination; must ensure that the scope of the temporary license holder's duties do not exceed temporary license authority; should assist temporary license holders in efforts to obtain permanent license by helping them through exam and background check processes; will be deemed to have appointed the temporary license holder and the appointment will be for the duration of the temporary license.

A temporary license expires when the license holder has been issued or denied a major line resident license or sixty calendar days after expiration or termination of the Stay at Home order, whichever comes first. No temporary license will be in effect for longer than 180 days. The temporary license is only intended to provide relief during the Stay at Home order and does not guarantee the issuance of a major line agent license. The temporary license may be rescinded if the department determines that the interests of insureds or public are endangered.

To request a license an application must be submitted through NIPR and the fee must be paid. Upon receipt of confirmation of the submission a written request for a temporary license must be submitted to the department of insurance by email at [email protected]. The transaction number and the NIPR number must be included. The applicant must also ensure that his sponsor has submitted a completed "Insurer Sponsor Agreement" to the department at the same email. Temporary licenses will be issued only after the department is satisfied that the applicant has submitted a complete application with the sponsor statement and meets all of the temporary license conditions.

October 2 – The department issued a bulletin encouraging insurers to provide insureds with a grace period to make premium payments as many may have difficulty due to the pandemic. Insurers may offer payment accommodations such as allowing consumers to defer payments at no cost, extend due dates, or waive late or reinstatement fees for those unable to make timely payments due to COVID-19 related disruptions.

Likewise insurers are encouraged to provide a grace period to any policy provision that imposes a time limit on insured's or claimants to perform any act, including the submission of information or funds. Insurers are not prohibited from cancelling or nonrenewing policies for any lawful reason. This bulletin expires when the governor's state of emergency order from March 9 expires.

November 24 – The governor has signed a bill extending the expiration dates of driver licenses, id cards and vehicle registrations beyond December 31, 2020. If an individual's expiration date on their drivers license, identification card, or vehicle registration is from March 9, 2020, to April 1, 2021, the expiration date has been automatically extended and will remain valid until July 1, 2021.

Washington

On March 24 the Insurance Commissioner issued an emergency order requiring carriers provide grace periods for payment of insurance premiums and performance of other duties by insureds, as well as temporary postponement of cancellations and nonrenewals to last until May 23, 2020.

March 25 – between March 25 and May 9, 2020 all carriers are to provide grace periods for nonpayment of premiums and waive other charges and fees associated with nonpayments, such as late and reinstatement fees. Also no policies will be cancelled during that time for nonpayment of premium unless specifically directed to do so by the insured.

A claims advisory was also issued, whereby the Commissioner states that he expects carriers to follow the minimum claims handling regulations found in Washington statutes. If a claim is denied the carrier will provide written notice to the insured that cites the specific policy provision, condition or exclusion that is the basis of denial. Accepted claims are to be paid promptly as soon as the carrier knows a payment is owed under the policy.

March 27 – The commissioner urged all auto carriers to immediately extend auto coverage for personal delivery drivers to aid people temporarily assigned this duty during the pandemic and state of emergency. The commissioner said he would expedite review and approval of endorsement filings so that drivers could quickly have coverage. The endorsement would apply only to drivers for retail and service operations during the pandemic and stay-at-home order. It does not apply to ridesharing or other commercial delivery businesses.

April 7 – The commissioner urged all insurers to consider refunding auto insurance premiums as most insureds are driving less because of the stay at home order which runs through May 4. Traffic is down as much as 50 percent. Insurers that want to refund premiums for a certain time period must submit a rate filing, and the department is expediting reviews for approval.

April 28 – Producer licensing renewal dates have been extended to July 31, 2020 for those producers whose licenses expire between March 1 and June 30 and who have experienced a hardship related to COVID-19. The licensee must submit a request for an extension by email to  [email protected]. Producers who paid a late fee for a license renewal during this period may be eligible for a refund of the fee. Requests for an extension or late-fee refund must be submitted via a webform.

The twenty-day waiting period for education providers to convert classroom training to online training has been waived. Providers are to submit a written request and a description of how the course will comply with requirements applicable to a webinar course.

Exam expiration dates for prelicensing and insurance test results have been expanded through July 31 for producers whose exam expiration dates are from March 23 to June 30, 2020.

April 30 – The department is requiring insurers that have deadlines requiring policyholders to report completed repairs in order to claim withheld depreciation payments that will expire between April 27 and June 26, 2020 to extend these deadlines to at least sixty days after June 26, 2020 or the expiration of the governor's emergency proclamation 20-25 Stay Home – Stay Healthy and any subsequent amendments or extensions, whichever comes first.

June 25 – An emergency order issued on April 26th requiring insurers to extend deadlines relating to withheld depreciation for insureds in the process of completing home or building repairs related to a property damage claim has been extended to July 26.

Arkansas

Issued a bulletin March 23 imposing a sixty-day moratorium on cancellation or nonrenewal of policies for nonpayment for those diagnosed with COVID-19. Policyholders must request the extension from their carriers, it is not automatic. For those with automatic bank drafts, those payments may be processed as usual.

April 14 – The governor suspended certain provisions of Arkansas Code related to workers compensation coverage. Suspended provisions are those: that require a contagious or infectious disease be contracted in or in immediate connection to a hospital or sanatorium, to allow first responders and front-line health care workers to seek workers comp for exposure to COVID-19 in the line of duty outside of those settings, and that bar compensation for a disease to which the general public is exposed to allow first responders and front-line healthcare workers to receive workers comp for exposure in the line of duty. Exposure to COVID-19 is defined as an "unusual and unpredicted incident" under code as it pertains to pulmonary and respiratory accidents that are a major cause of injury, illness, or death to first responders or front-line healthcare workers for the duration of the declared emergency, and first responders and front-line healthcare workers who test positive for COVID-19 may be eligible for workers comp if they can demonstrate a causal connection between diagnosis and exposure related to their employment or occupation. Lastly, claims for workers comp due to exposure to COVID-19 must be actually incurred due to one's employment and not due to exposure outside the line of duty.

Pennsylvania

A bulletin was issued March 20 encouraging insurers to be consistent with prudent insurance practices, relax due dates for premium payments, extend grace periods, waive late fees and penalties, and allow payments plans to avoid a lapse in coverage. Also carriers should consider cancelling or nonrenewing a policy only after exhausting all other methods to continue coverage.

March 30 – The commissioner reminded insurance licensees that in-person sales and brokerage are prohibited by the governor's order closing all nonlife-sustaining businesses. The governor's orders were issued March 23 and the department will issue violation letters to licensees found conducting in-person sales or brokering in violation of the governor's orders. The violation will be forwarded to the state police for further prosecution. Continued violation of the governor's order may be considered by the department in evaluating a licensee's worthiness to hold a license and will result in immediate administrative prosecution by the department. Penalties may include civil monetary penalties and revocation of insurance licenses.

March 31 – A notice was issued to all carriers providing personal or commercial auto insurance to apply policy provisions consistent with PennDOT guidance regarding license expiration dates, and encourages flexibility in meeting the needs of policyholders. PennDOT extended drivers licenses that were set to expire from March 16 to April 30 until May 31, and insurers are expected to apply procedures to be consistent with that change.

April 22 – Because testing centers are closed in the state, the department will issue temporary producer licenses to those who qualify and wish to become Pennsylvania resident producers. Prerequisites are that an insurance company holding an active certificate of authority must sponsor the individual, and the individual must be appointed to represent the sponsoring insurer, and that insurer must write the line of business to which the applicant is applying. The appointment is in effect only as long as the temporary license is valid. Temporary licensees may only hold an appointment with one sponsoring insurer, and only the sponsoring insurer may submit applications on behalf of individuals for temporary licensure. The individual must complete twenty-four credit hours of prelicensing education before the temporary license may be issued. If the individual cannot find web-based prelicensing classes through a provider, the sponsoring insurer must certify that the individual completed twenty-four hours of its own prelicensing education.

The individual seeking temporary licensure must complete the fingerprinting/background check through the department. An application fee of $55 applies unless the licensee passes the exam before the temporary license expires; if so the fee to become a fully-licensed producer will be waived without an additional application or fingerprinting/background check. If the applicant passes the exam within six months after the temporary license expires, the licensee must complete fingerprinting/background check through the department, no additional fee or application is required. The sponsoring insurer will confirm that the licensee's sales activities and training are coordinated by a fully-licensed Pennsylvania residence producer in good standing.

The temporary license allows the individual to operate in Pennsylvania as a resident temporary producer; individuals are not eligible for non-resident licenses in other states; the temporary license is valid for no more than 180 days from the date of issuance; the license is nontransferable and cannot be renewed; each licensee can only have one sponsoring insurer and appointment; the department will provide the licensee with all restrictions, entitlements, date of expiry and directions on printing the license; licenses may be revoked if it is deemed in the public interest; violations of Pennsylvania insurance law may result in immediate revocation; licenses may be converted to permanent license by completion of all requirements; and sponsoring insurers must keep track of which licensees have been given a temporary license in order to quickly move them through the testing process once testing centers are open.

To apply sponsoring insurers must submit applications for temporary license through www.sircon.com through a subscriber account. The insurer must be a Sircon account holder. The department anticipates beginning the temporary producer licensing process by the end of April. The application process will take twenty to twenty-five days from prelicensing education to issuance of the license. This includes COVID-19 related delays in background checks; if those delays are alleviated processing may be faster.

May 11 – The commissioner reminded businesses that they should comply with the governor and secretary's business closure orders and that many policies contain provisions that exclude coverage for illegal acts or conduct.

Delaware

March 24 – The Governor modified an earlier notice and states that no insurer, without a court order, may lapse, terminate or cause to be forfeited a covered insurance policy due to nonpayments during the declared state of emergency.

South Carolina

March 25 – The Insurance Department issued a bulletin stating that carriers are expected to work with individuals and businesses directly impacted by the COVID-19 state of emergency by various actions including but not limited to extending premium payment deadlines, additional time before cancellations/nonrenewals become effective, extension of proof of loss deadlines, waivers of fees, penalties or other charges relating to an insured's temporary inability to pay on time. Any of these or other actions taken to provide relief to consumers will not be considered unfairly discriminatory if it is applied equally among all affected by the pandemic.

April 2 – In light of the state of emergency and that third-party vendors handling producer examinations and fingerprinting have suspended operations, the department will issue temporary producer licenses. Temporary licenses will be issued for up to 180 days and will expire thirty days after the state of emergency is lifted and third-party vendors are able to resume operations. The license allows licensees to operate as resident temporary producers but they cannot obtain nonresident licenses in other states. Violation of the insurance laws or acting against the interests of the insured makes the licensee subject to cancellation or revocation of the license. The licensee must be appointed by a sponsoring insurer who assumes responsibility for acts of the licensee, ensures the licensee is trained by a licensed producer in good standing, and the appointment must coincide with the duration of the license. Records of the temporary producer's actions must be maintained by the sponsoring company. The insurers should help producers move through the exam and background check process once the exam and fingerprint vendors are back in operation. These temporary licenses may be converted to a regular license by completion of all prerequisites and examination and fingerprint requirements according to the statutes. No additional fees will be required. Currently temporary applications and payment must be submitted by mail to the department, but the department is working with NIPR to get applications online.

Upcoming license renewals, including March and April, have been extended ninety days.  March licenses will expire June 30, April July 31, May August 31, and June September 30. If a license is not renewed by these dates, the license expires as of that date. Deadlines for complying with CE requirements match the renewal deadlines. In-person proctoring requirements are being waived until the state of emergency is over.

April 24 – The department is allowing insurers additional time to complete and submit certain NAIC filings as listed in the bulletin. To receive additional time a notice for late filing must be submitted to the department. Some filings are extended thirty days and others sixty days. NAIC filings due May 15 have been extended to June 15. A list of the filings can be found here: Bulletin 2020-05 Filing Requirement Extensions. Electronic signatures may be used on filings submitted to the department as long as the signature complies with the requirements of the South Carolina Uniform Electronic Signatures Act (SCUETA). Companies submitting electronic filings are expected to keep the original filing and list of all filings made electronically. Once the State of Emergency is lifted, companies will have sixty days to submit the hard copies.

The department will conduct examinations electronically instead of on-site. The department may need to request more information in electronic form.

Oklahoma

March 26 – Allstate has notified the insurance department that in light of COVID-19 they are modifying their coverage to eliminate any terms, conditions or exclusions that might apply during the state of emergency that affects delivery drivers.

The Insurance Department has made temporary producer and apprentice adjuster licenses available due to the closing of Prometric testing centers due to COVID-19. Applications for temporary licenses must be completed, printed, and mailed to the department with the $20 fee. Applicants will be notified when the application is approved or if additional information is needed. Temporary licenses are in effect for thirty days, and applicants will be reminded when the license is expiring.

April 6 – The department issued a bulletin directing all P&C carriers to review internal processes and continuity operations, including telecommuting, so that insureds can be served with timely access to all services. Carriers are to continually assess and make adjustments as needed. Carriers are to inform insureds of available benefits specifically related to business interruption insurance, quickly respond to inquiries, and consider revisions needed to streamline responses and benefits to insureds. Carriers shall make all necessary and useful information available on their websites and are to staff help lines appropriately.

Grace periods for nonpayment of premiums are to be extended by forty-five days, and this applies to premium financing arrangements also. Claims reporting deadlines are to be suspended for the duration of the emergency declaration and policyholder rights or benefits related to the deadlines are to be extended until ninety days after the state of emergency ends.

In discussing medical professional liability with various carriers, the department reports that coverage limitations regarding state licenses have been generally relaxed to provide coverage in states other than the physician's principle licensor state, subject to state or federal waivers. The department requests that all providers of medical professional liability coverage follow this initiative.

April 8 – The department is willing to allow carriers an additional thirty or sixty days to complete most filings. The department must receive a request for late filing and reserves the right to reject such request based on the financial condition and circumstances of the carrier. Carriers are to contact the department to request a filing extension. Filings with a potential thirty-day delay are: May 1, Combined Annual Statement Filing and Combined Insurance Expense Exhibit, both property; June 1, Accountant's Letter of Qualifications – property, life/fraternal, health & title; August 15, PBR Exemption Filing due to State 7/1 and to NAIC 8/15 – life/fraternal.

Filings with a potential sixty-day delay: June 1 Audited Financial Report – property, life/fraternal, health, title; August 1 Communication of Internal Control Related Matters Noted in Audit – property, life/fraternal, health, title; June 1 Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure, October 31 Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) summary report, May 1 Form B Registration Statement & Related Form C, Risk Assessment Report Form F.

Filing deadlines for the components of 2019 annual filings that, if applicable, should be submitted only to an insurer's state of domicile are: April 30 Actuarial Memorandum Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVIII 8D life/fraternal, August 1 Management's Report of Internal Control over Financial Reporting – property, life/health, title.

Filings with a potential sixty-day delay are NAIC filing deadlines and requirements for 2020 quarterly electronic filings are all due May 15, 2020:

• Quarterly Statement Filing as of March 31, 2020 (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title)
• Trusteed Surplus Statement – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property, Life/Fraternal)
• Supplement A to Schedule T (Medical Professional Liability Supplement) – Quarter Ending
• March 31, 2020 (Property)
• Medicare Part D Coverage Supplement – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health)
• Merger/history quarterly form, if applicable (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title) (electronic text file only)
• Reasonableness of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXV – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness and Consistency of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXV – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness of Assumptions Certification for Implied Guaranteed Rate Method Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVI – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness and Consistency of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVI (Updated Average Market Value) – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness and Consistency of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVI (Updated Market Value) – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Director and Officer Insurance Coverage Supplement – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property)

Requirements for hard copy with original signature, in some cases sent certified and with notary requirements  are waived although companies are expected to keep a list of all filings that were made electronically instead of via hard copy, and hard copies are to be filed within sixty days of when the state has returned to work.

On-site exams will not be conducted if they are contrary to the spirit of any public health directives. In light of this the department may request more information electronically. The department acknowledges that company response times may be slower due to the current situation.

April 27 – A bulletin from the department advises that insureds with auditable policies have the right to demand the carrier permit the insured to conduct a one-time, mid-term self-audit of the policy, and that carriers who receive such a demand shall honor it and assist in the audit being conducted by the insured. The right to complete the self-audit is valid up to the termination of the policy. Once complete the results of the audit are to be sent to the carrier. If the audit shows the rate is now too high, carriers will adjust the premium within ten days of completion of the audit. An overpayment of premium will result in the carrier making a refund within ten days of completion of the audit. Carriers have the right to conduct a physical audit of insureds who conducted a mid-term self-audit. Results of this audit will immediately be sent to the insured.

April 29 – Updates have been made to earlier bulletins. The department expects that all carriers and premium finance companies will afford the extended grace period for consumers to pay their premiums. If the premium or premium finance installment payment isn't subsequently paid, the policy is cancelled back to the original due date.

Property and casualty and other entities regulated by the department shall accept as valid and binding any claim or claim related document bearing an e-signature or e-notary as otherwise authorized by Oklahoma law.

May 1 – Prometric opened four of five testing centers with enhanced procedures that will implement social distancing as recommended by the CDC and additional sanitation. Candidates will be required to wear a face mask at the centers. Questions regarding the exam process should be directed to Prometric at 1.888.597.8223 or by reviewing their website at www.Prometric.com.

The department and Prometric will continue to monitor the situation, and the department will continue to accept and process temporary applications until May 14, 2020 when the department will reevaluate and determine whether to continue accepting temporary applications.

May 15 – As testing centers open seating is quite limited; therefore the department will continue accepting and processing temporary applications for licenses and will provide notice when temporary applications will discontinue. The department encourages all temporary license holders to schedule and prepare for their examinations.

June 2 – Prometric opened all testing centers on June 1, 2020 and seats are opened for scheduling. The department is encouraging all temporary license holders to schedule their test as soon as possible. The department will monitor capacity and reevaluate the need for continuing temporary licensing. Notice will be provided when temporary licenses will expire. The department website has study material available for purchase www.licensing.oid.ok.gov and materials from the most recent Licensing Information Bulletin for the Exam Vendor which includes outlines for each exam. Exam centers are adhering to CDC guidelines and students are to wear masks at the testing centers.

June 18 – The department has announced that Effective June 25, 2020, it will no longer accept temporary producer and apprentice adjuster license applications. Applications received before then will still be processed. All temporary and apprentice adjuster licenses shall expire on September 1, 2020. A reminder will be emailed to temporary license holders before the expiration date. Temporary licensees are encouraged to schedule their exams.

June 19 – The department announced that as certain provisions of earlier bulletins expire, some things will continue. E-signatures will be valid and binding for any claim or claim related document. The term of extended grace periods will be allowed to expire upon reaching the end of the extension, insureds request for midterm audit of policies as a result of change of risk/premium will be continued through the end of 2020, the term of extended claim reporting periods will be allowed to expire upon reaching the end of the extension period.

Maine

March 25 – Insurance continuing education classes previously approved for classroom delivery may be offered via webinar without the provider having to refile. Providers are required to provide a list of classroom courses that will be conducted via webinar with an explanation of how attendance will be recorded. Proctoring requirements remain in force, although Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and similar products may be used for remote proctoring. Those whose continuing education compliance period expires March 31 and April 30 will be granted an extension until May 31, 2020. No fines will be assessed as long as the license is renewed before May 31, 2020.

January 15,  2021- Maine's temporary producer licensing program in connection with the coronavirus pandemic is being discontinued effective February 1, 2021. As Pearson VUE has resumed administering exams and the bureau expects that online deliver will be available within the next 45 days, the program is being discontinued. Applications for temporary licenses must be submitted before 4:00 p.m. on January 29 in order to be processed. Any temporary licenses issued on or after the date of this bulletin will expire as of March 15, 2021.

June 30, 2021 – In light of the governor's ending the State of Civil Emergency effective June 30, 2021 the insurance commissioner rescinds the following orders:

Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

Supplemental Order Regarding Credentialing

Supplemental Order Regarding Continuation of Group Health Coverage

Supplemental Order Regarding Deferral of Premium Deadlines

Supplemental Order Regarding Roster Billing

The following bulletins are rescinded as well:  446, 447, 452, 453, and 455 effective midnight June 30, 2021.

Tennessee

March 24 – Carriers across all lines of business are requested to work with policyholders who have concerns about paying their premiums on time to ensure that their coverage can be maintained. Upon request carriers should explain options to maintain coverage and grace periods. Carriers should explore ways to eliminate late, nonsufficient fund and installment fees. Carriers should also work with policyholders to delay cancellations for nonpayment and streamline administrative processes and paperwork to facilitate continuous coverage and ease policyholder burdens.

March 27 – The Department of Insurance requests that insurance companies work with restaurants and employees now engaged in delivering food options during the pandemic are fully insured either under the restaurant's commercial policy or the employees' personal auto policy.

The Department requests that carriers add delivery coverage to personal auto policies for employees engaged in delivering food on behalf of a restaurant impacted by the mandated changes in operation; the Department will approve riders or endorsements based on this request within one business day. Carriers are requested to allow a restaurant to retroactively add additional employees not previously named on the commercial auto policy if the employee is covered by the policy within the scope of her employment. Carriers who provide general liability coverage to restaurants are to notify their insureds that commercial auto coverage is available if requested. If the restaurants requests commercial auto coverage, the Department requests the carrier, either by rider or stand-alone policy provide such coverage to any insured restaurant. These changes are to begin as of March 26, although carriers may begin coverage retroactively to the date of the Executive Order, March 22, 2020. Coverage is to apply until restaurants are no longer subject to the restrictions due to the Executive Order.

April 24 – Because of the closing of third-party vendors that provide producer exams, the department has set up parameters for the issuance of temporary producer licenses. Temporary producer licenses will be issued for life, accident and health, property, casualty and personal lines subject to the following:

• Licenses will expire in 180 days, and producers completing the exam within 180 days will have the license changed to a regular license without new application or fees. If the applicant has not passed an exam after 180 days the license will expire. Applicants must contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for fingerprinting. Temporary licenses are subject to cancellation or revocation at the discretion of the commissioner according to the Tennessee code. The temporary license allows the producer to operate in Tennessee as as resident temporary producer; temporary producers may not obtain nonresident licenses in other states. Sponsoring insurers must assure the temporary producer's sales activities and training are overseen by a licensed producer in good standing. Temporary licenses may be converted to permanent licenses by completion of all prerequisites of a license for the desired line of insurance, including all exam requirements before the expiration of the temporary license. Notification of passing exams should be sent to the Agent Licensing section at: [email protected]. Recipients of temporary licenses will be subject to any and all limitations on the authority of temporary licenses pursuant to Tennessee law. As soon as producer exams are available the issuance of temporary licenses will discontinue.
• To apply for a temporary license an applicant must submit an application via NIPR, submit an $50 application fee, complete fingerprinting and background check.

Louisiana

March 25 – Temporary producer licenses are available for those who have completed prelicensing courses no more than twelve months prior to the emergency order and who would be eligible to sit for the exam were the testing centers open. Individuals may apply for licenses for the lines of business they have met prelicense education requirements for. Applications must be submitted through NIPR and the fee paid; applicants will then submit a written request to the department for a temporary license via email, and the request must include the transaction number received from NIPR. The temporary licenses will expire May 15 unless extended by Order of the Commissioner. Temporary licenses may be converted into permanent licenses upon completion of the required exam and submission of fingerprints prior to the expiration of the temporary license.

March 27 – Emergency rule 40 was issued and suspends any notice of cancellation, nonrenewal, nonreinstatement of any policy that was in effect as of March 12, 2020 and any such notices shall be null and void. Cancellations and nonrenewals shall not be allowed until after the expiration of Emergency Rule 40. No policies shall be cancelled or nonrenewed solely because of a claim that was filed during the COVID-19 emergency. Only cancellations relating to fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact may proceed.

All policies subject to renewal after the effective date of Emergency Rule 40 shall continue in full force at the previously established premium until Emergency Rule 40 expires.

April 4 – The department has rescinded Emergency Rule 42 regarding Premium Tax Reporting during the Coronavirus crisis.

April 6 – Emergency rule 43 was issued to address the impact of stay at home orders on adjuster licensing. This rule applies to those applying for adjuster licenses. A temporary license may be requested and applied for by using the NIPR website and payment of the appropriate fees upon submission of the application. Once confirmation has been received through NIPR, the applicant will submit a written request for a temporary license to the department via email. The written request must include the NIPR transaction number. Applicants must not have committed a felony or be licensed as a public adjuster. Temporary licenses will expire on May 15, 2020 unless the term is extended by the commissioner. Temporary licenses may be converted into permanent licenses by completion of all prerequisites of a license including passing required exams and submitting fingerprints before expiration of the temporary license. Additional fees are not required if the requirements are met before the temporary license expires. The Commissioner may refuse to issue, may suspend or revoke any temporary license in accordance with existing statutes.

April 7 – The commissioner approved Allstate's emergency auto rate reduction filing of 15 percent and calls on other carriers to provide similar premium returns since due to the stay at home order fewer people are on the road and the overall decline in traffic results in fewer accidents.

April 17 – Emergency rule 44 provides for extension of renewal dates for producers and adjusters. Producers and adjusters with a license renewal date of April 30, 2020 is extended until May 12, 2020. All continuing education for producers and adjusters should be completed and a renewal application and payment submitted before 11:59 p.m. on May 12, 2020. Such renewals will not be subject to a late fee. Subsequent renewals will return to the last date of the birth month of the individual for the renewal period following this extension. A producer or adjuster's license will remain valid subject to the emergency rule unless the license is surrendered, suspended or revoked. This is effective as of 12:01 a.m. on April 17, 2020 and continues until the earlier of 11:59 p.m. on May 12 or the date the governor lifts the state of emergency.

May 5 – The commissioner is asking insurers to review the past ninety days of claims to determine if a premium refund is in order, similar to what is happening in personal lines due to COVID-19. The stay-at-home orders are resulting in fewer accidents and claims.

May 15 – Temporary licenses shall continue in force and maintain the effective date of issuance and have an initial expiration date of sixty days from that date unless extended by the commissioner. Those with temporary licenses who pass the appropriate exams and comply with the fingerprinting requirements may have his license changed from temporary to permanent without new application or fees. If fingerprinting services are not reasonably available to an individual, the commissioner may issue a permanent license upon receipt of a written request from the individual to comply with the fingerprinting requirements within thirty days of when those services become available. Failure to complete fingerprinting with subject the permanent license to department action.

Extension of temporary licenses may be requested by sending an email to : [email protected]. Issuance of temporary licenses will cease May 31, 2020.

Michigan

March 24 – CE classroom courses may be converted to webinar format by submitting a copy of the Certificate of Registration for the classroom course with verification of compliance with the web-based CE course guidelines, including procedures: for conducting the course in real-time in all locations, verifying identity and  license numbers of participants, verifying attendance, sign-in/out, maintenance of attendance records, affidavits verifying identity and participation; describe the software/provider for delivering web-based program, policy for: use of polling questions and/or attendance verification codes, identifying inactive participants, deeming a participant inactive and denying course credit; procedure to allow participants to ask questions, guidelines for course participation and distribution to participants.

Exams may be proctored remotely; the provider must submit specifics of the remote proctoring system. Virtually proctoring will be considered, again the specifics of the system must be submitted to the department for consideration. CE providers may also accept self-attestation of the completion of CE final exams and online courses. Reporting deadlines have not been extended.

Insurance company examinations will be conducted remotely; critical functions which are impossible to conduct remotely may be rescheduled for later in the year. Carriers that want to apply for licensure or expand authority are to use the NAIC Uniform Certificate of Authority Application process.

Connecticut

March 26 – The commissioner has called on insurers to institute an extension of coverage for individuals using their personal vehicles to provide delivery services. Policies normally exclude such use, but in light of the pandemic, this will ensure workers have adequate coverage for deliveries of food or medicine. The department is strongly urging adopting of an endorsement wherever necessary, broadening coverage by modifying terms, conditions and exclusions that normally leaves drivers without such coverage. This does not apply to drivers who otherwise have coverage for deliveries or drivers working for transportation network companies.

April 2 – The Governor mandated that all insurance companies provide policyholders with a sixty-day grace period for premium payments. The period begins April 1 and extends to June 1. Policyholders must contact their broker, agent, and insurers to provide additional information in order for this to apply.

April 6 – The department issued a bulletin requesting all carriers offering auto and motorcycle liability coverage to work to ensure premiums reflect the reduced risk of driving during the shelter-in-place orders. The request extends to personal auto carriers and credits could be made to policies immediately with a filing made after the fact, and no penalty would assessed.

Commercial carriers are also encouraged to assist business owners, especially restaurants who have started providing deliveries, by affording them coverage for hired and nonowned coverage to protect the business until the emergency order has been lifted.

May 18 – The department has issued a notice reminding businesses of the importance of checking their insurance coverage as things may have changed due to the shut-down and reopening guidelines, and the upcoming  hurricane season. Any businesses or residents with questions should reach out to their agent, broker or carrier.

North Dakota

March 25 – The governor signed an executive order extending workers compensation benefits to first responders and health care providers who contract COVID-19 on the job. Up to fourteen days medical and wage replacement benefits are available to those who are quarantined. If a worker tests positive for COVID-19 and it is determined they contracted the virus on the job, they are eligible for full workers compensation benefits. Coverage is backdated to March 13, when the governor declared a state of emergency.

March 30 – The department urged all insurers to provide flexibility and possible relief from certain insurance requirements to consumers and businesses affected by the pandemic. Such relief includes extension of premium payment deadlines, extension of grace periods, additional time before nonrenewals or cancellations become effective, extension of proof of loss deadlines, waiver of fees or penalties for late payments, development of payment plans for those facing financial hardship. This or any other such relief will not be considered discriminatory if the relief is focused on providing additional consumer protections and it reasonably applied to all insureds, claimants or covered persons affected by the crisis.

Indiana  

March 27 – The insurance department requests that all insurance companies and HMOs institute a moratorium on policy cancellations and nonrenewals of any insurance policy, and allow a grace period of sixty-days for any premium payments due from March 19 to May 18, 2020. The moratorium only applies to cancellations and nonrenewals for nonpayment of premiums during the designated sixty-day period. The department is modifying its own procedures regarding renewals and cancellations for all licensees, certificate holders and registrants, including premium tax and surplus lines premium tax filings. Penalties assessed due to late payment during this time will be waived.

May 7 – The department issued a bulletin extending the moratorium on cancellations and nonrenewals until May 31, 2020.

Nevada

Due to the closing of Pearson VUE centers, approved classroom courses can be offered as virtual classroom/webinars. Providers who need to change the courses are directed to contact Pearson VUE by email. Regardless of presentation method, providers are required to monitor attendance and completion of courses.

If you have not completed your fingerprints or licensing tests, the department requests that you do not apply for a license at this time since applications cannot be processed with all necessary requirements.

Colorado

March 26 – The Division of Insurance issued a bulletin declaring that restaurants that maintain a named driver commercial auto policy that provides coverage to all employees regardless of whether that employee typically delivers food as part of his job duties that the commercial policy will be primary over any personal auto coverage of the employee. This does not apply to regular deliverers who deliver as part of their employment. If claims are made involving an employee delivering food to restaurant patrons, if all of certain conditions are met, the insurer will waive or suspend the commercial use exclusion/exception from a personal auto policy. The conditions are as follows:

1. The employee was driving their personal auto or a nonowned auto with permission of the named insured and is not specifically excluded. 2. The employee was directly delivering or returning from delivering food to a customer. 3. The employee was operating in the course of his employment even though delivery is not a normal part of his duties but has become part of his duties because of the emergency COVID-19 order. 4. Coverage for the employee is not available under a restaurant's commercial auto policy. If an employee is driving a nonowned auto with express permission of the named owners, coverage may be reduced to minimum limits of liability per regulations.

March 22, 2021 – Emergency regulation 21-E-05 is ordered to ensure restaurant employees are continue working by using their personal autos for commercial food delivery during the pandemic and through the period of time when Public Health Order 20-36, or subsequent orders that restrict or limit restaurant occupancy, in-person dining or on-premise consumption is in effect. The division of insurance finds that immediate adoption of this order is imperatively necessary for the preservation of public health, safety or welfare.

For restaurants that maintain a named driver commercial auto policy this regulation applies to all insurers that issue or renew the named driver commercial auto policy. If the restaurant has a commercial auto policy that provides coverage for all employees whether that employee typically delivers food or not, the commercial policy will become primary over any personal auto policy of the employee. This does not apply to persons regularly delivering food as part of the employment, those working for food delivery services, catering services or other services not impacted by the Public Health order 20-36 or subsequent orders. A full text of the order can be found here.

Montana

March 26 – The commissioner sent a letter to carriers with a number of recommendations for carriers to consider due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations include flexible payment solutions for all insureds including additional time to make payments and grace periods to delay premium payments; suspending premium billing for small businesses whose operations have been shut down or had operations severely reduced, for a certain number of days or billing cycles; waiving late fees for all insureds; pausing cancellations of coverage for motorists due to temporary nonpayment and policy expiration; expediting/expanding auto coverage to allow personal vehicles to be covered while delivering food, medicine, or other essential provisions for commercial purposes; streamline administrative processes and paperwork to ease insured's burdens and facilitate continuous coverage.

Alaska

March 20 – Insurers are encouraged to allow policyholders with exposure bases that include miles driver, sales revenue, receipts, and payroll to self-audit and self-report changes in their exposures and adjust premiums accordingly. Insurers are encouraged to allow self-auditing and self-reporting for policies that are subject to audit to the extent that physical audits are impracticable.

Prospective reductions in premium or retroactive refunds made pursuant to this bulletin will not be considered a rebate or unfair discrimination as long as they are reasonable and consistently applied. This bulletin is in effect until June 1, 2020.

Alabama

March 25 – Initial license applications will take approximately 3 weeks for review; Certificates of Completion for any prelicensing course that expires in March or April 2020 is extended sixty-days past the listed expiration date; Prelicensing Providers whose primary contact is working from home may forgo the notarization of their signature on the Certificate of Completion; continuing education classroom providers can offer these classes as webinars as long as a list of offered webinars with webinar security information is sent to the licensing division;  and proctoring for self-study exams is waived until the end of April 2020.

March 30 – Insurers are encouraged to consider the following actions for policies in force as of March 13: relax premium payment due dates, extend grace periods, waive late fees and penalties, allow premium payment plans which will avoid a lapse in coverage, and expand auto coverage to allow personal vehicles to be covered while delivering food, medicine, or other essential services for commercial purposes.

Likewise carriers should consider cancellation or nonrenewal of policies only after all efforts to work with insureds has been exhausted. Policies may be cancelled for recognized reasons other than late or failure to pay premiums. The commissioner also requests those collecting premium payments to consider alternative methods of payment so that they are consistent with safe social distancing standards, including online or other electronic fund transfers.

Insurance companies, underwriters, producers, claims, agency services and related financial services are deemed essential services and operations. Employees should seek to work remotely or behind closed doors when possible and should follow all CDC recommendations for social distances and good hygiene when in-person meeting in necessary.

April 8 – Insurers hiring new producers are advised that it may be to their advantage to use temporary producer licenses for those individuals. Individuals qualified to be licensed as an insurance producer except for having passed the exam can be licensed to work as long as they work under the supervision of an insurance company as a temporary producer. Temporary Producer Requirements. 

The commissioner is urging all auto carriers to consider offering an immediate reduction in auto premiums to reflect the reduced exposure. This can be accomplished by issuing premium credit or return of premium and may be implemented immediately. An information rate filing should be submitted through SERFF to include the timeframe, individual premium impact, and whether the action applies to new and/or renewal business. The filing fee will be waived. These reductions or returns of premium will not be considered unfair discrimination as long as they are reasonable and consistently applied.

April 29 – New information has been released and some modifications have been made to earlier bulletins related to COVID-19. Initial resident license applications will take three weeks for review. The Certificate of Completion for any prelicensing course that expires in March, April or May 2020 is extended ninety days past the expiration date listed on the certification. Limits on repeat exams are still in effect. A prelicensing provider whose primary contact is working from home may forego the requirement for a notarized signature on a Certificate of Completion through the end of May 2020.

Approved classroom CE providers may convert those classes to webinar format. To do so a list of the courses to be offered as webinars and the webinar security information must be sent to the licensing division. Proctoring for self-study CE exams will be waived through the end of May 2020.

To contact the licensing department, the internet chat is recommended between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at www.aldoi.gov, or email anytime to: [email protected]. Calls are accepted only between 8 a.m. and noon at 334-241-4126 through May 1.

If an insured is unaware of a loss or unable to provide notice of a claim due to factors beyond their control directly as a result of COVID-19, the department requests insurers to be lenient in the application of the policy language requiring proof of loss and consider whether late notice was preventable and if the late notice actually prejudiced the insurer's ability to adjust the claim.

Sworn State Proof of Loss notices are usually required within sixty days of the insurer's request and include a witness signature or notary stamp. In light of social distancing, illness and other issues related to COVID-19 the commissioner requests that such proof of loss statements be used only when necessary and relax the completion deadline of necessary to accommodate COVID-19 circumstances. Insurers may choose to accept electronic signatures consistent with the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act for these forms.

Insurers are reminded that repairs to damaged property may be delayed due to COLVID-19 and that additional living expenses/loss of use/rental reimbursement may be needed longer than normal and that these delays are likely outside the insured's control and insured's should not be penalized for such delays.

Examinations under oath normally taken in person may be taken remotely whenever possible, and that if such technology is not available that insurers should consider delaying an EUO until social distancing protocols are relaxed. In-person EUOS should only be taken with the consent of all parties and with strict adherence to distancing protocols established by the CDC and ADPH.

The commissioner requests insurers to give consideration to delays due to COVID-19 by extending the allowable time for insureds to notify the insurer of the intent to recover withheld depreciation, and to extend the time frame to request withheld depreciation. While each insurer may establish an extended timeline, it will not be less than an additional twelve months.

July 30 – Applicants for resident licenses can expect it to take three weeks for applications to be reviewed. Expiration dates for certificates of completion for prelicensing courses are extended as follows:

Expiration date:                                           Extended:

March 2020                                                   120 days

April or May 2020                                         90 days

June 2020                                                       60 days

July 2020                                                        30 days

Prelicensing providers working from home may forego having their signature notarized on a Certificate of Completion through the end of August 2020. Approved classroom courses may be changed to webinars as long as the courses offered along with the webinar security information is sent to the department. For self-study classes, the department is waiving the proctoring requirement for exams through the end of August 2020. To contact the department, it is advised that using the Chat function on the website or email be used.

August 31 – Prelicensing providers whose primary contact is working from home may forego requirements that their signature be notarized on a Certificate of Completion issued through the end of September 2020. Classroom CE providers can present the approved courses as webinar after sending a list of the courses to be offered with their webinar security information to the licensing division. For self-study CE classes, exam proctoring requirements are waived through the end of September 2020. To contact the department, please use the chat line at www.aldoi.gov  or email the department at [email protected].

October 9 – Licensing exams may now be taken in an online format. The Division is using OnVue operated by Pearson Vue. Candidates can now take their tests anywhere reliable internet access is available.

December 23 – Prelicensing providers whose main contact is working from home may forego the requirement for a notarized signature on the Certificate of Completion until March 31, 2021. For self-study CE classes, exam proctoring requirements are waived through March 31, 2021. To contact the department, it is recommended that the chat line available at www.aldoi.gov be used Monday – Friday between 8:00 – 5:00, or email the department at [email protected].

April 1, 2021 – Dates have been extended again on prelicensing notary requirements, CE classroom to webinar requirements, self-study exam requirements. Prelicensing providers whose primary contact is working from home may forego requirements that their signature be notarized on a Certificate of Completion issued through May 31, 2021. Classroom CE providers can present the approved courses as webinar after sending a list of the courses to be offered with their webinar security information to the licensing division. For self-study CE classes, exam proctoring requirements are waived through May 31, 2021. To contact the department, please use the chat line at www.aldoi.gov or email the department at [email protected].

May 21, 2021 – Prelicensing providers whose primary contact is working from home can forego the requirement for a notarized signature on a Certificate of Completion issued through June 30, 2021. Continuing education providers can offer approved classroom courses as webinars, and for self-study CE courses exam proctoring is waived through June 30, 2021. To contact producer licensing, use the chatline at www.aldoi.gov or email [email protected]

Nebraska

March 27 – In light of questions received from insurers regarding relaxation of certain requirements such as notice of loss requirements, premium payment provisions, cancellation and nonrenewal time frames, and whether such actions would be considered unfair trade practices, the department has stated that as long as these changes are administered on a fair and consistent basis they do not violate trade or claims practices acts or regulations. Amendatory filings and prior approvals are not required for these accommodations, however the department should be notified of these actions via email.

April 17 – The department has an option for candidates to take remotely-proctored exams called ProProctor through Prometric. Capacity is limited and there is an influx of candidates. For information, go here: Prometric Nebraska Insurance.

May 1 – Prometric centers are reopening and enhanced measures will be put in place for the safety of test takers. Information about those measures can be found here:  www.prometric.com/corona-virus-update. As of May 1, temporary licenses are no longer being issued.

December 17 – The waiver of proctor requirements for continuing education self-study online courses have been extended from December 31, 2020 until further notice. If educators need to change a classroom course into a webinar, if the class is already approved for credit the department may be able to add a webinar option. A request should be sent to [email protected] for review and approval.

FEMA

FEMA is extending the grace period for policy renewals from thirty days to 120 days for renewals between February 13 – June 15 2020. FEMA recognizes that because of the financial disruption due to COVID-19, insureds may not be able to meet the standard renewal deadline.

North Carolina

March 29 – All carriers doing business in the state were ordered to defer premium payments under an emergency declaration by the insurance commissioner. State law allows the commissioner to make such a declaration once the president issues a major disaster declaration. The order applies to all carriers, as well as collection agencies, motor clubs and premium finance companies. Statutory time requirements and notices of cancellation are also deferred. The order does not include an expiration date.

April 3 – The department cannot issue temporary licenses or add new lines of authority due to the closing of testing centers and inability to meet fingerprinting requirements; the Agent Services Division is unable to waive the statutory requirements for fingerprints for new applicants.

An extension is granted for producers and adjusters whose CE compliance period ends in March, April or May. The extension is through June 30, 2020. Classroom classes can be delivered via webinar without the provider having to refile the class. The provider must assume full responsibility to monitor attendance.

Adjusters who do not currently hold a license in North Carolina are not allowed to perform emergency adjustment work.

April 9 – The department is working with carriers to allow them to provide financial assistance to consumers. While many carriers are announcing rebates, rebates are not allowed in North Carolina and discounts must be filed in advance with the department for approval. The commissioner has developed a filing mechanism that will quickly allow carriers to legally offer discounts to help insureds. Insurers are to contact the department in order to offer such discounts.

April 21 – As of April 27, orders to allow payment deferrals, extended time for claim filing, and other assistance to insureds impacted by COVID-19 are extended for thirty days beyond April 27.

Idaho

April 6 – Provisional resident producer licenses are being implemented. Provisional resident producer license is valid for up to six months and do not renew automatically at the end of the license period. Provisional producers cannot serve as the designated responsible producers for an agency. Applicants for provisional licenses must use paper applications, and do not have to submit a set of fingerprints with the application. Applicants are to disclose their criminal history and the department may conduct alternative background checks as needed. Provisional licenses use an alternative licensing exam and information is found on the department's website. Applicants must obtain a suitable sponsor who is a licensed producer and who assumes responsibility for all actions of the provisional producer. Holders of provisional licenses may apply for producer licenses by providing the department with a copy of their pass slip from their PSI exam and fingerprints within thirty days of the withdrawal of this bulletin.

April 15 – In light of the health department's March 25 stay-at-home order, the department is notifying insurers that it will not regard certain activities as unfair trade practices or unfair competition, and is encouraging insurers to implement such activities during this state of emergency. These activities include but are not limited to: waiver of fees, penalties, or other charges related to an insured's inability to make premium payments or respond to insurer inquiries; extension of grace periods for premium payments; additional time before nonrenewals or cancellations become effective; extension of proof of loss deadlines; allowance of self-audits and self-reporting in lieu of physical audits when physical audits are impracticable; encouraging insureds to use electronic payments when possible; and expanding personal auto coverages to allow for delivery of food, medicine and other essential services for commercial and charitable services.

The department will consider specific proposals from insurers designed to quickly adjust to changes in the insurer's risk exposure. The department may waive enforcement of relevant provisions of law and rule and may allow insurers to deviate from filed rates or contractual language as long as such actions are applied uniformly and without prejudice to all similarly affected insureds, and the insurer has notified the director in writing of the specific proposal and justifications.

April 22 – This bulletin is to advise carriers of flexibility regarding compliance with regulatory requirements during the COVID-19 emergency. While carriers are still required to make all required electronic filings with the NAIC, upon request the department may allow additional time to complete certain filings as listed below. Requests for extended deadlines should be sent to Nathan Faragher and Weston Trexler at the Department at [email protected] and [email protected].

April 27 – The department has accepted the NCCI April 21, 2020 filing, revising the Basic Manual and Statistical Plan as related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carriers are advised to review the revisions and many any necessary system changes. The revisions are effective March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The bulletin provides changed portions of the manual. Idaho Bulletin 20-09. 

Filings with a Potential Thirty-day Extension

• May 1, 2020 – Combined Annual Statement Filing (Property)
• May 1, 2020 – Combined Insurance Expense Exhibit (Property)
• June 1, 2020 – Accountant's Letter of Qualifications (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title)
• Aug. 15, 2020 – PBR Exemption filing due to state 7/1 and to NAIC 8/15 (Life/Fraternal)

Filings with a Potential Sixty-day Extension

• June 1, 2020 – Audited Financial Report (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title)
• Aug. 1, 2020 – Communication of Internal Control Related Matters Noted in Audit (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title)
• June 1, 2020 – Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure (CGAD)
• December 31, 2020 – Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) Summary Report
• June 1, 2020 – Form B Registration Statement & Related Form C
• June 1, 2020 – Risk Assessment Report (Form F) The filing deadlines for the components of the 2019 annual filings that, if applicable, should be submitted only to an insurer's state of domicile are as follows:
  • Apr. 30, 2020 – Actuarial Memorandum Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVIII 8D (Life/Fraternal)
  • Aug. 1, 2020 – Management's Report of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title)

Filings with a Potential Thirty-day Extension

The NAIC filing deadlines and requirements for the 2020 quarterly electronic filings are as follows, all due May 15, 2020:

• Quarterly Statement Filing as of March 31, 2020 (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title)
• Trusteed Surplus Statement – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property, Life/Fraternal)  3
• Supplement A to Schedule T (Medical Professional Liability Supplement) – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property)
• Medicare Part D Coverage Supplement – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health)
• Merger/history quarterly form, if applicable (Property, Life/Fraternal, Health, Title) (electronic txt file only)
• Reasonableness of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXV – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness and Consistency of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXV – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness of Assumptions Certification for Implied Guaranteed Rate Method Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVI – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Reasonableness and Consistency of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVI (Updated Average Market Value) – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal
• Reasonableness and Consistency of Assumptions Certification Required by Actuarial Guideline XXXVI (Updated Market Value) – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Life/Fraternal)
• Director and Officer Insurance Coverage Supplement – Quarter Ending March 31, 2020 (Property)

Requirements for hard copy, original signature and related filing requirements are currently waived. Companies are required to keep a list of all filings made electronically in lieu of hard copy so that all hard copies can be filed within 60 days of when the state allows people to return to work.

The department is not conducting any on-site exams that conflict with public health directives. As a result the department may request more information electronically.

April 27 – The department has accepted the NCCI April 21 filing, which revises their Basic Manual and statistical Plan as related to COVID-19. The filing is accessible as SERFF tracking number NCCI-132346714. Revisions are effective from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Rules related to definitions, treatment, and reporting of payments made by an employer to employees who are furloughed as a result of federal, state or local emergency orders related to COVID-19 which impact an employer's staffing or business operations, claims attributable to paid furlough employees and reporting final premium for employers affected by COVID-19  have been established. These rules include clarifying that idle time is paid downtime and distinct from paid furloughed employees; payments made to furloughed employees are excluded from premium calculations; payments made to furloughed employees should be properly tracked and assigned Code 0012; and claims cannot be reported to Statistical Code 0012. The manual should be consulted for details of these provisions.

December 18 – Effective December 16, remote proctored exams for licensing are available. Visit the PSI website online registration page for testing options https://www.psiexams.com/idin. For questions about producer licensing in Idaho, please contact [email protected]. On-site exams are still an option, but the expansion to online proctored exams allows broader accommodations for those needing to take licensing exams.

Minnesota

April 7 – Bill 4537 amends the definition of "occupational disease" to state that an employee who contracts COVID-19 is presumed to have an occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment if the employee was a licensed peace officer; firefighter; paramedic; nurse or health care worker; correctional officer or security counselor employed by the state or a political subdivision at a corrections, detention or secure treatment facility; emergency medical technician; health care provider, nurse or assistive employee employed in a health care, home care, or long term setting with direct COVID-19 patient care or ancillary work in COVID-19 units; and workers providing child care to first responders and health care workers.

The contraction of COVID-19 must be confirmed by a positive laboratory test or, if a test was not available, as diagnosed and documented by the employee's licensed physician, physician's assistant or advanced practice registered nurse based on the employee's symptoms. A copy of the test or diagnosis shall be provided to the employer or insurer. The presumption can only be rebutted if the employer or insurer shows the employment was not a direct cause of the disease. The date of injury is the date the employee was unable to work due to a diagnosis of COVID-19 or due to symptoms that were later diagnosed as COVID-19, whichever occurred first.

An employee who has contracted COVID-19 but who is not entitled to the presumption under this paragraph is not prohibited from claiming and occupational disease as provided in other sections of this subdivision or from claiming a personal injury.

The commissioner will provide a detailed report on COVID-19 workers compensation claims to the Workers Compensation Advisory Council, and chairs and ranking members of the House of Representatives and senate committee with jurisdiction over workers compensation. This is effective until May 1, 2021.

April 30 – The commissioner sent a letter to home and auto carriers urging them to provide relief to policyholders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The commissioner encourages carriers to ensure that additional flexibilities offered now will not negative impact insureds in the future. Insureds who need extra time now to pay premiums should not receive a rate increase at renewal because of this additional time.

Carriers are also encouraged to carefully pay attention to social distancing guidelines when adjusting claims. Claims must be handled in a way safe for both employee and insureds.

Kentucky

April 13 – An order was signed by the governor on April 10 allowing grocery store workers to receive workers compensation benefits if they acquire COVID-19. They are entitled to temporary total disability payments during a quarantine period, even if the employer ultimately denies liability for the claim. Workers must show a causal connection between the work conditions and COVID-19 exposure, and the removal of the employee from work must be at the orders of a physician. Employees entitled to these benefits include grocery store workers, postal service workers, child-care workers and state community based-workers as well as health care workers, first responders, corrections officers, military, activated National Guard, and shelter and crisis center workers.

May 28 – The department has announced that in-person exams will resume at the Frankfort Office on June 15, 2020. Exams must be scheduled through eServices. Exams are scheduled Monday through Friday at 8:30, 10:30, 1:00, and 3:00 with ten seats per time slot. Testers are asked to wear face masks, and stay in the vehicle until fifteen minutes before the exam. Testers will be escorted into the lobby by DOI staff and social distance will be monitored. All personal belongings are to be locked in the vehicle, including laptop, purse, cell phone, etc. Testers must bring driver's license or other government photo id into the building. A two-step health screening will be conducted, and if minimum safety requirements are not met, the tester will not be allowed to take the exam. Accommodations can be made for those with health concerns or who are not comfortable; requests must be made in advance.

Effective 4:30 p.m. July 31, 2020 temporary agent licenses will no longer be issued.

Illinois

April 13 – An emergency order was issued today stating that if the petitioner is a COVID-19 first responder or front-line worker, if the injury resulted from exposure to COVID-19 during a related state of emergency, the exposure will be presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment and will be presumed to be causally connected to the hazards of the petitioner's employment. COVID-19 first responders or front line workers are police, fire personnel, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, all individuals considered as first responders, health care providers engaged in patient care, and correction officers. Also included are crucial personnel under the following categories: stores that sell groceries and medicine; food, beverage, cannabis production and agriculture; organizations providing charitable or social services; gas stations, businesses needed for transportation, financial institutions, hardware and supplies stores, critical trades; mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services; educational institutions, laundry services, restaurants for consumption off-premises, supplies to work from home, supplies for essential businesses and operations, transportation, home-based care and services, residential facilities and shelters, professional services, day care centers for employees exempted by the executive order, manufacture, distribution, and supply chain for critical products and industries; critical labor union functions, hotels and motels, and funeral services.

Utah 

April 16 – H.B. 3007 was passed which provides that first responders who have contracted COVID-19 during the performance of their duties is presumed to have contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty if the person is diagnosed with COVID-19 while employed as a first responder or if the employment terminates within two weeks, if the disease appears within two weeks of termination. A first responder making a claim under this part will provide a copy of the positive lab test or written documentation of a physician's diagnosis to the employer or insurer.

For those filing a workers comp claim arising out of a first responder's employment, after March 21, 2020 and before June 1, 2021, the date of accident is presumed to be the earlier of when the first responder is diagnosed with COVID-19, the first responder is unable to work because of a symptom of a disease that is later diagnosed as COVID-19, or the responder's employment terminates if the responder was diagnosed with COVID-19 within two weeks after the day on which the employment terminated. Death benefits are payable only if a claimant establishes by competent evidence that death was a result of COVID-19. If a first responder refuses examination for COVID-19 or fails to be diagnosed with COVID-19 that person is not entitled to the presumption established under this part. The presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

For the purposes of receiving comp benefits, a first responder is considered an employee of an entity for whom the responder provides those services. Responders who only perform the services for minimal or no compensation or on a volunteer basis receives an amount of coverage based on the responder's primary employment if the responder is primarily employed other than as a responder, or that is the minimum benefit if the responder has no employment other than as a first responder. An entity for whom a first responder provides services for minimal or no compensation or on a volunteer basis shall pay any excess premium necessary for workers comp if the responder is employed other than as a first responder, and pay any necessary premium for workers comp if the responder has no employment other than as a responder. A responder is not precluded from using insurance a primary employer provides in addition to workers comp coverage.

April 21 – Because of social distancing restrictions  and closing of test centers from COVID-19, the department will issue temporary producer licenses to eligible applicants. Holders of these licenses are not eligible for non-resident licenses in another state.

Applications are available through SIRCON, applicants are to attach the following through SIRCON's attachment feature. Proof that the applicant will be sponsored by a licensed insurance company or licensed agency producer in good standing and is responsible for the applicant's acts during the licensure; proof that the applicant will be supervised on the job by a licensed producer in good standing and who is affiliated with the sponsoring company; proof that the applicant has completed forty hours of training in the lines of business for which the license is sought; proof that the sponsoring insurer or agency will immediately notify the department if the applicant's affiliation or sponsorship ends before the temporary license expires. These requirements can be satisfied by submitting a Certification of Compliance with Temporary License Requirements.

Applicants will be denied if they fail to submit proper proof as required, have a felony or misdemeanor conviction involving fraud, misrepresentation, theft, or dishonesty; or has a pending criminal proceeding in which the applicant is charged with a felony or a misdemeanor involving fraud, misrepresentation, theft, or dishonesty.

The license is valid for 180 days from date of issuance. If testing centers open sooner the commissioner may shorten the period, and inactivate the temporary license expires if an applicant obtains a two-year individual producer license.

A temporary licensee may only represent the sponsoring insurer and its affiliates or the agency and its insurers. A temporary license may be revoked if the licensee is no longer affiliated with the sponsoring insurer or agency, is not supervised by a licensed producer in good standing, has a felony or misdemeanor conviction, or a pending  criminal proceeding involving fraud, misrepresentation, theft, or dishonesty.

South Dakota

April 17 – Because of the closing of testing centers the department will issue temporary insurance producer licenses. Qualifications for temporary licenses are as follows:

Applications will be available April 20 and will be accepted until the emergency is over, and the applicant must be a resident of South Dakota otherwise qualified for a license if testing was available. The temporary producer license application must be completed and submitted with a completed Responsible Licensed Producer Form designating a licensed producer for the applicant's activities during the temporary license period, with a copy of the applicant's valid form of identification, $10 payment and any additional information as required by the application. Temporary license applicants may only apply for lines held by their Responsible Licensed Producer.

The temporary licenses will expire 180 days from the date of issue or sixty days after the COVID-19 emergency ends, whichever is sooner. No exceptions will be made. Temporary licenses are not renewable and do not qualify for reciprocity in other states. Temporary licensees may obtain company appointments and apply for a producer's license once vendors have reopened. If the temporary licensee passes the exam and the application is approved the temporary license will terminate. The department will contact applicants and licensees when the emergency is over and no further temporary licenses will be issued.

Arizona

March 11 – The governor ordered that any state agency that licenses individuals will defer requirements to renew licenses that have an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 by six months from the expiration date unless those requirements can be completed online. Requirements for continuing education will also be deferred by six months, unless they can be completed online or due to the nature of the license it is not practical. Rules preventing or limiting the amount of online or alternative learning hours permitted to issue or renew a license will be suspended, and the agency will make every attempt to implement electronic or remote format exams for licensure where feasible.

Unless prohibited by law, if an exam cannot be provided by electronic or remote format, the agency will issue a provisional license to an applicant who has met all other requirements but cannot take the exam due to the closure of exam sites and unavailability of remote testing as long as the applicant meets all other requirements, the provisional license is valid for six months from the date of issue, the provisional license will be suspended twenty days after the in-person testing centers open or exams are otherwise available unless the applicant passed the exam before the provisional license suspended. The provisional license becomes a regular license upon successful passage of the exams. Fees may be waived at the department's discretion.

June 1, 2021 – The department will quit accepting applications for provisional licenses effective June 7, 2021. Active provisional license holders will have until the license expires to pass the exam and complete fingerprint requirements as appropriate.

Virginia

May 20 – Starting June 1, Prometric will begin to administer insurance and public adjuster licensing exams. Testing centers will open in Bristol, Chesapeake, Falls  Church, Lynchburg, Richmond and Roanoke. Additional centers will be used as the sites become available.