Chapter 279

2005 -- H 5494 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/16/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT

Introduced By: Representatives Moura, Corvese, Schadone, Long, and McCauley

Date Introduced: February 15, 2005

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

      SECTION 1. Section 27-9.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-9.1 entitled

"Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

27-9.1-4. "Unfair claims practices" defined. -- Any of the following acts by an insurer,

if committed in violation of section 27-9.1-3, constitutes an unfair claims practice:

      (1) Misrepresenting to claimants and insured relevant facts or policy provisions relating

to coverage at issue;

      (2) Failing to acknowledge and act with reasonable promptness upon pertinent

communications with respect to claims arising under its policies;

      (3) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation and

settlement of claims arising under its policies;

      (4) Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of

claims submitted in which liability has become reasonably clear;

      (5) Compelling insured, beneficiaries, or claimants to institute suits to recover amounts

due under its policies by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in suits

brought by them;

      (6) Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation;

      (7) Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after having

completed its investigation related to the claim or claims;

      (8) Attempting to settle or settling claims for less than the amount that a reasonable

person would believe the insured or beneficiary was entitled by reference to written or printed

advertising material accompanying or made part of an application;

      (9) Attempting to settle or settling claims on the basis of an application that was

materially altered without notice to, or knowledge or consent of, the insured;

      (10) Making claims payments to an insured or beneficiary without indicating the

coverage under which each payment is being made;

      (11) Unreasonably delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring both a

formal proof of loss form and subsequent verification that would result in duplication of

information and verification appearing in the formal proof of loss form;

      (12) Failing in the case of claims denials or offers of compromise settlement to promptly

provide a reasonable and accurate explanation of the basis of those actions;

      (13) Failing to provide forms necessary to present claims within ten (10) calendar days

of a request with reasonable explanations regarding their use;

      (14) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards to assure that the repairs of a

repairer owned by or required to be used by the insurer are performed in a workmanlike manner;

      (15) Misleading a claimant as to the applicable statute of limitations; or

      (16) Failing to respond to a claim within thirty (30) days, unless the insured shall agree

to a longer period.;

(17) Engaging in any act or practice of intimidation, coercion, threat or

misrepresentation of consumers rights, for or against any insured person or entity to use a

particular rental car company for motor vehicle replacement services or products; provided,

however, nothing shall prohibit any insurance company, agent or adjuster from providing to such

insured person or entity the names of a rental car company with which arrangements have been

made with respect to motor vehicle replacement services; provided, that the rental car company is

licensed pursuant to Rhode Island general laws section 31-5-33; or

(18) Refusing to honor a "direction to pay" executed by an insured indicating that the

insured wishes to have the insurance company directly pay his or her motor vehicle replacement

vehicle rental benefit to the rental car company of the consumer's choice; provided, that the rental

car company is licensed pursuant to Rhode Island general laws section 31-5-33. Nothing in this

section shall be construed to prevent the insurance company's ability to question or challenge the

amount charged, in accordance with its policy provisions, and the requirements of the department

of business regulations.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.     

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LC00169/SUB A

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