HB-5891, As Passed House, September 27, 2012
SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 5891
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled
"The insurance code of 1956,"
by amending sections 2112, 2116, 3109, and 3109a (MCL 500.2112,
500.2116, 500.3109, and 500.3109a), sections 2112 and 2116 as
amended by 1980 PA 461.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2112. (1) At least annually, in conjunction with a
renewal notice, a bill, or other notice of payment due issued to a
policyholder
in conjunction with an automobile and or home
insurance
contracts contract, an insurer shall send to each the
policyholder
a written notice of that all of the following
information is available and will be provided to the policyholder
on request:
(a) A description of the specific rating classifications by
which the rates and premiums for the policy have been determined.
The notice shall be of sufficient detail and clarity so that the
policyholder can reasonably verify the applicability and accuracy
of the rating classifications.
(b) A general explanation of the extent to which rates or
premiums
vary among insureds policyholders
on the basis of the
rating classifications used by the insurer.
(c)
Sources and reasonable procedures by which the individual
policyholder can obtain from the insurer additional information
sufficient
for the individual policyholder
to calculate and confirm
the accuracy of his or her specific premium.
(d)
Relevant information regarding the rights of an insured
the policyholder, under sections 2113 and 2114, to appeal the
application of the insurer's rating plan in determining his or her
premium, to obtain documentation from the insurer regarding the
determination of the rate, to appeal the application of the
insurer's
underwriting rules to the person policyholder, to request
an informal conference with the insurer, and to file with the
commissioner a complaint as an aggrieved person.
(e) A description of all of the insurer's underwriting rules
based
upon on insurance eligibility points and a description of
all
of
the underwriting rules of the insurer's affiliates based upon on
insurance eligibility points.
(f)
A suggestion that the insured policyholder
contact his or
her agent to determine if he or she is eligible for insurance from
an affiliate of the insurer or under a different rating plan of the
insurer
which that would provide to the insured policyholder
insurance at a more favorable premium.
(2) In a written notice provided under subsection (1), the
insurer shall provide the policyholder with a telephone number and
an internet address, by either of which the policyholder may
contact the insurer to request the information listed in subsection
(1). On request of the policyholder, the insurer shall provide the
policyholder with the requested information in either a written or
electronic format, as requested by the policyholder.
Sec. 2116. (1) A duly licensed insurance agent licensed to
represent 1 or more insurers shall, as a condition of licensure, do
all of the following:
(a) Provide each eligible person seeking automobile insurance
or
home insurance the lowest available a premium quotation for the
forms
or types of insurance coverages which that are offered by the
insurers
represented by the agent and which that are sought by the
eligible person.
(b) Inform the eligible person of the number of insurers that
he or she represents. If the agent represents additional insurers
from which the eligible person may obtain insurance, the agent
shall
may provide additional premium quotations as requested
by the
eligible person.
(c) Not attempt to channel an eligible person away from an
insurer or insurance coverage with the purpose or effect of
avoiding an agent's obligation to submit an application or an
insurer's obligation to accept an eligible person.
(d)
Upon On request, submit an application of the eligible
person for automobile insurance or home insurance to the insurer
selected by the eligible person.
(e) For automobile insurance only, at least annually, supply,
with
the renewal of a policy, to each insured, unless such the
information has been provided by the insurer, all of the following:
(i) An explanation of the insurance eligibility point system.
(ii) A statement that if the insured is an eligible person he
or she may qualify for insurance from more than 1 insurer, and
possibly at a lower rate.
(iii) A statement that the agent will, upon on request,
furnish
to the insured a set of quotations from insurers represented by the
agent from whom the insured may obtain insurance, as required in
this subsection.
(2) With respect to automobile insurance or home insurance, an
insurer shall not penalize an individual agent by paying less than
normal commissions or normal compensation or salary because of the
expected or actual experience produced by the agent's business or
because of the geographic location of business written by the
agent.
Sec. 3109. (1) Benefits provided or required to be provided
under the laws of any state or the federal government shall be
subtracted from the personal protection insurance benefits
otherwise payable for the injury under this chapter.
(2) An injured person is a natural person suffering accidental
bodily injury.
(3) An insurer providing personal protection insurance
benefits under this chapter may offer, at appropriately reduced
premium
rates, a deductible of a specified dollar amount. which
does
not exceed $300.00 per accident. This
deductible may be
applicable to all or any specified types of personal protection
insurance benefits, but shall apply only to benefits payable to the
person named in the policy, his or her spouse, and any relative of
either
domiciled in the same household. Any other deductible
provisions
require the prior approval of the commissioner.
Sec. 3109a. An insurer providing personal protection insurance
benefits
shall under this chapter
may offer, at appropriately
reduced premium rates, deductibles and exclusions reasonably
related
to other health and accident coverage on the insured. The
Any
deductibles and exclusions required
to be offered by under
this
section
shall be are subject to prior approval by the commissioner
and shall apply only to benefits payable to the person named in the
policy, the spouse of the insured, and any relative of either
domiciled in the same household.