Sunday, August 27, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Texas Department of Insurance Bulletins

The Texas Department of Insurance (“TDI”) issued the following bulletins pertaining to Hurricane Harvey on August 26, 2017, many of which apply to property and casualty insurers. They can be accessed by clicking the highlighted links below.

The bulletins most directly relevant to P&C insurers are as follows:
  • Premium Payments Grace Period – encourages insurers to suspend (but not forgive) premium payments.
  • Recommending Building and Repair Contractors – reminds insurers that homeowners are entitled to have their property repaired by a contractor of their choice.
  • Claims Adjusters and Adjusting – reminds insurers that they are authorized to use non-resident and emergency adjusters; that roofing contractors are prohibited from adjusting claims; and that public adjusters must be licensed in Texas.
  • Rating and Underwriting – opines that it is inappropriate for insurers to re-rate, cancel, non-renew, or refuse to provide coverage due solely to a policyholder's status as a victim or evacuee of Hurricane Harvey.
  • Denial of Wind Losses – encourages insurers who deny coverage for wind losses to inform policyholders of potential coverage under the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) if the loss occurred in the TWIA coverage area.
  • Vacancy Provisions - encourages insurers to provide relief to those residents and policyholders who have been temporarily displaced, including the suspension of any vacancy provision in the policy, to allow continuing insurance coverage.
  • Credit Scoring and Credit Information – reminds insurers to follow the guidelines of §559.103 of the Texas Insurance Code. 

We will update as additional bulletins are issued. 

Posted by Thomas Cook

TDI Catastrophe Bulletins Issued August 26, 2017


2017

Bulletin Number

Date Issued

Reference

Subject


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Premium Payments Grace Period

Property and Casualty


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Recommending Building and Repair Contractors

Property and Casualty


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Medical Equipment and Services

Life and Health


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Claims Adjusting and Adjusters

Financial


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Preauthorized Health Care, Referrals, Notification of Hospital Admissions, and Medical Necessity Reviews

Life and Health


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Commercial Automobile Insurance

Property and Casualty


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Prescription Medication Coverages

Life and Health


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Property and Casualty Rating and Underwriting

Property and Casualty


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Credit Scoring and Credit Information

Property and Casualty


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Denial of Wind Losses

Property and Casualty


August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey – Vacancy Provisions

Property and Casualty