(215 ILCS 5/Art. IX heading)
(215 ILCS 5/132) (from Ch. 73, par. 744)
Sec. 132. Market conduct and non-financial examinations.
(1) The Director, for the purposes of ascertaining the non-financial business practices, performance, and operations of any company, may make examinations of:
(2) Every company or person being examined and its officers, directors, and agents must provide to the Director convenient and free access at all reasonable hours at its office or location to all books, records, documents, and any or all papers relating to the business, performance, operations, and affairs of the company. The officers, directors, and agents of the company or person must facilitate the examination and aid in the examination so far as it is in their power to do so.
The Director and any authorized examiner have the power to administer oaths and examine under oath any person relative to the business of the company being examined.
(3) The examiners designated by the Director under Section 402 must make a full and true report of every examination made by them, which contains only facts ascertained from the books, papers, records, or documents, and other evidence obtained by investigation and examined by them or ascertained from the testimony of officers or agents or other persons examined under oath concerning the business, affairs, conduct, and performance of the company or person. The report of examination must be verified by the oath of the examiner in charge thereof, and when so verified is prima facie evidence in any action or proceeding in the name of the State against the company, its officers, or agents upon the facts stated therein.
(4) The Director must notify the company or person made the subject of any examination hereunder of the contents of the verified examination report before filing it and making the report public of any matters relating thereto, and must afford the company or person an opportunity to demand a hearing with reference to the facts and other evidence therein contained.
The company or person may request a hearing within 10 days after receipt of the examination report by giving the Director written notice of that request, together with a statement of its objections. The Director must then conduct a hearing in accordance with Sections 402 and 403. He must issue a written order based upon the examination report and upon the hearing within 90 days after the report is filed or within 90 days after the hearing.
If the examination reveals that the company is operating in violation of any law, regulation, or prior order, the Director in the written order may require the company or person to take any action he considers necessary or appropriate in accordance with the report of examination or any hearing thereon. The order is subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review Law. The Director may withhold any report from public inspection for such time as he may deem proper and may, after filing the same, publish any part or all of the report as he considers to be in the interest of the public, in one or more newspapers in this State, without expense to the company.
(5) Any company which or person who violates or aids and abets any violation of a written order issued under this Section shall be guilty of a business offense and may be fined not more than $5,000. The penalty shall be paid into the General Revenue fund of the State of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 87-108.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.1)
Sec. 132.1. Purpose. The purpose of Sections 132.1 through 132.7 of this Code is to provide an effective system for the financial examination of the activities, operations, financial condition, and affairs of all persons transacting the business of insurance in this State and all persons otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Director. The provisions are intended to enable the Director to adopt a flexible system of examinations that directs resources as may be deemed appropriate and necessary for the administration of the insurance and insurance related laws of this State.
(Source: P.A. 87-108.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.2) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.2)
Sec. 132.2. Definitions. As used in Sections 132.1 through 132.7, the terms set forth in this Section have the following meanings:
"Company" means any person engaging in or proposing or attempting to engage in any transaction or kind of insurance or surety business and any person or group of persons who may otherwise be subject to the administrative, regulatory, or taxing authority of the Director.
"Examiner" means any individual or firm having been authorized by the Director to conduct an examination under this Code.
"Insurer" means any company licensed or authorized by the Director to provide any insurance contracts, whether by indemnity, guaranty, suretyship, or otherwise; including, but not limited to, those companies licensed or authorized by the Director under the following Acts:
"Person" means any individual, aggregation of individuals, trust, association, partnership, or corporation, or any affiliate thereof.
(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.3) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.3)
Sec. 132.3. Authority, scope, and scheduling of examinations.
(a) The Director or any of his examiners may conduct an examination of any company as often as the Director, in his sole discretion, deems appropriate, but shall, at a minimum, conduct an examination of every insurer authorized or licensed in this State not less frequently than once every 5 years. In scheduling and determining the nature, scope, and frequency of the examinations, the Director shall consider the results of financial statement analyses and ratios, changes in management or ownership, actuarial opinions, reports of independent certified public accountants and other criteria set forth in the Examiners' Handbook adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and in effect when the Director exercises discretion under this subsection.
(b) For purposes of completing an examination of any company, the Director may examine or investigate any person, or the business of any person, insofar as the examination or investigation is, in the sole discretion of the Director, necessary or material to the examination of the company.
(c) In lieu of an examination of any foreign or alien insurer authorized or licensed in this State, the Director may accept an examination report on the company as prepared by the insurance department for the company's state of domicile or port-of-entry state until January 1, 1994. Thereafter, those reports may only be accepted if (1) the insurance department was at the time of the examination accredited under the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation Program, (2) the examination is performed under the supervision of an accredited insurance department or with the participation of one or more examiners who are employed by an accredited state insurance department, and who, after a review of the examination work papers and report, state under oath that the examination was performed in a manner consistent with the standards and procedures required by their insurance department, or (3) the Director otherwise determines that the examination was performed in a manner substantially similar to the standards and procedures required by Sections 132.1 through 132.6 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.4) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.4)
Sec. 132.4. Conduct of examinations.
(a) Upon determining that an examination should be conducted, the Director or his designee shall issue an examination warrant appointing one or more examiners to perform the examination and instructing them as to the scope of the examination. In conducting the examination, the examiner shall observe those guidelines and procedures set forth in the Examiners' Handbook adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Director may also employ other guidelines or procedures as the Director may deem appropriate.
(b) Every company or person from whom information is sought and its officers, directors, and agents must provide to the examiners appointed under subsection (a) timely, convenient, and free access, at all reasonable hours at its offices, to all books, records, accounts, papers, documents, and any or all computer or other recordings relating to the property, assets, business, and affairs of the company being examined. The officers, directors, employees, and agents of the company or person must facilitate the examination and aid in the examination so far as it is in their power to do so. The refusal of any company or its officers, directors, employees, and agents to submit to examination or to comply with any reasonable written request of the examiners shall be grounds for suspension, refusal, or nonrenewal of any license or authority held by the company to engage in an insurance or other business subject to the Director's jurisdiction. Any proceedings for suspension, revocation, or refusal of any license or authority shall be conducted under the procedures set forth in Section 401.1 of this Code. Evidence of refusal to submit to examination or to comply with reasonable written requests of examiners shall establish a rebuttable presumption that the conduct of the company's business and affairs is hazardous to its policyholders and the public and may cause irreparable loss and injury to others so long as the refusal to submit or to comply with the examination continues.
(c) The Director or any of his examiners shall have the power to issue subpoenas, to administer oaths, and to examine under oath any person as to any matter pertinent to the examination. Subpoenas may be enforced under the provisions of Section 403 of this Code.
(d) When making an examination, the Director may retain, in consultation with the company being examined, attorneys, appraisers, independent actuaries, independent certified public accountants, or other professionals and specialists as examiners, the cost of which shall be borne by the company that is the subject of the examination.
(e) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to limit the Director's authority to terminate or suspend any examination in order to pursue other legal or regulatory action under the insurance laws of this State. Findings of fact and conclusions made in the course of any examination shall be prima facie evidence in any legal or regulatory action.
(f) Nothing contained in this Code shall be construed to limit the Director's authority to use and, if appropriate, to make public any final or preliminary examination report, any examiner or company work papers or other documents, or any other information discovered or developed during the course of any examination in the furtherance of any legal or regulatory action that the Director may, in his sole discretion, deem appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 87-108.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.5) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.5)
Sec. 132.5. Examination reports.
(a) General description. All examination reports shall be comprised of only facts appearing upon the books, records, or other documents of the company, its agents, or other persons examined or as ascertained from the testimony of its officers, agents, or other persons examined concerning its affairs and the conclusions and recommendations as the examiners find reasonably warranted from those facts.
(b) Filing of examination report. No later than 60 days following completion of the examination, the examiner in charge shall file with the Department a verified written report of examination under oath. Upon receipt of the verified report, the Department shall transmit the report to the company examined, together with a notice that affords the company examined a reasonable opportunity of not more than 30 days to make a written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters contained in the examination report.
(c) Adoption of the report on examination. Within 30 days of the end of the period allowed for the receipt of written submissions or rebuttals, the Director shall fully consider and review the report, together with any written submissions or rebuttals and any relevant portions of the examiners work papers and enter an order:
(d) Order and procedures. All orders entered under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) shall be accompanied by findings and conclusions resulting from the Director's consideration and review of the examination report, relevant examiner work papers, and any written submissions or rebuttals. The order shall be considered a final administrative decision and may be appealed in accordance with the Administrative Review Law. The order shall be served upon the company by certified mail, together with a copy of the adopted examination report. Within 30 days of the issuance of the adopted report, the company shall file affidavits executed by each of its directors stating under oath that they have received a copy of the adopted report and related orders.
Any hearing conducted under paragraph (3) of subsection (c) by the Director or an authorized representative shall be conducted as a nonadversarial confidential investigatory proceeding as necessary for the resolution of any inconsistencies, discrepancies, or disputed issues apparent upon the face of the filed examination report or raised by or as a result of the Director's review of relevant work papers or by the written submission or rebuttal of the company. Within 20 days of the conclusion of any hearing, the Director shall enter an order under paragraph (1) of subsection (c).
The Director shall not appoint an examiner as an authorized representative to conduct the hearing. The hearing shall proceed expeditiously with discovery by the company limited to the examiner's work papers that tend to substantiate any assertions set forth in any written submission or rebuttal. The Director or his representative may issue subpoenas for the attendance of any witnesses or the production of any documents deemed relevant to the investigation, whether under the control of the Department, the company, or other persons. The documents produced shall be included in the record, and testimony taken by the Director or his representative shall be under oath and preserved for the record. Nothing contained in this Section shall require the Department to disclose any information or records that would indicate or show the existence or content of any investigation or activity of a criminal justice agency.
The hearing shall proceed with the Director or his representative posing questions to the persons subpoenaed. Thereafter the company and the Department may present testimony relevant to the investigation. Cross-examination shall be conducted only by the Director or his representative. The company and the Department shall be permitted to make closing statements and may be represented by counsel of their choice.
(e) Publication and use. Upon the adoption of the examination report under paragraph (1) of subsection (c), the Director shall continue to hold the content of the examination report as private and confidential information for a period of 35 days, except to the extent provided in subsection (b). Thereafter, the Director may open the report for public inspection so long as no court of competent jurisdiction has stayed its publication.
Nothing contained in this Code shall prevent or be construed as prohibiting the Director from disclosing the content of an examination report, preliminary examination report or results, or any matter relating thereto, to the insurance department of any other state or country or to law enforcement officials of this or any other state or agency of the federal government at any time, so long as the agency or office receiving the report or matters relating thereto agrees in writing to hold it confidential and in a manner consistent with this Code.
In the event the Director determines that regulatory action is appropriate as a result of any examination, he may initiate any proceedings or actions as provided by law.
(f) Confidentiality of ancillary information. All working papers, recorded information, documents, and copies thereof produced by, obtained by, or disclosed to the Director or any other person in the course of any examination must be given confidential treatment, are not subject to subpoena, and may not be made public by the Director or any other persons, except to the extent provided in subsection (e). Access may also be granted to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Those parties must agree in writing before receiving the information to provide to it the same confidential treatment as required by this Section, unless the prior written consent of the company to which it pertains has been obtained.
This subsection (f) applies to market conduct examinations described in Section 132 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.6) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.6)
Sec. 132.6. Conflict of interest.
(a) No examiner may be appointed by the Director if that examiner, either directly or indirectly, has a conflict of interest, is affiliated with the management of, or owns a pecuniary interest in any person subject to examination. This Section shall not be construed to automatically preclude an examiner from being:
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, the Director may retain from time to time, on an individual basis, qualified actuaries, certified public accountants, or other similar individuals who are independently practicing their professions, even though those persons may from time to time be similarly employed or retained by persons subject to examination under this Code.
(Source: P.A. 87-108.)
(215 ILCS 5/132.7) (from Ch. 73, par. 744.7)
Sec. 132.7. Immunity from liability.
(a) No cause of action shall arise nor shall any liability be imposed against the Director, the Director's authorized representatives, or any examiner appointed by the Director for any statements made or conduct performed in good faith while carrying out the provisions of this Code.
(b) No cause of action shall arise, nor shall any liability be imposed against any person for the act of communicating or delivering information or data to the Director or the Director's authorized representative or examiner in the course of an examination if the act of communication or delivery was performed in good faith and without fraudulent intent or the intent to deceive.
(c) This Section does not abrogate or modify in any way any common law or statutory privilege or immunity heretofore enjoyed by any person identified in subsection (a).
(d) Persons identified in subsection (a) shall be entitled to an award of attorney's fees and costs if they are a prevailing party in a civil action for libel, slander, or any other relevant tort arising out of their activities in carrying out the provisions of this Code and the party bringing the action was not substantially justified in doing so. For purposes of this Section a proceeding is "substantially justified" if it has a reasonable basis in law or fact at the time that it was initiated.
(Source: P.A. 87-108.)
(215 ILCS 5/133) (from Ch. 73, par. 745)
Sec. 133. Books, records, accounts and vouchers.
(1) Every domestic company shall keep its books, records, documents, accounts and vouchers in such manner that its financial condition, affairs and operations can be ascertained and so that its financial statements filed with the Director can be readily verified and its compliance with the law determined and may cause any or all such books, records, documents, accounts and vouchers to be photographed or reproduced on film. Any such photographs, microphotographs, optical imaging, or film reproductions of any original books, records, documents, accounts and vouchers shall for all purposes be considered the same as the originals thereof and a transcript, exemplification or certified copy of any such photograph, microphotograph, optical imaging, or film reproduction shall for all purposes be deemed to be a transcript, exemplification or certified copy of the original. Any original so reproduced may thereafter be disposed of or destroyed if provision is made for preserving and examining such reproductions.
(2) All such original books, records, documents, accounts and vouchers, or such reproductions thereof, of the home office of any domestic company or of any principal United States office of a foreign or alien company located in this State shall be preserved and kept available in this State for the purpose of examination and until authority to destroy or otherwise dispose of such records is secured from the Director. Such original records may, however, be kept and maintained outside this State if, according to a plan adopted by the company's board of directors and approved by the Director, it maintains suitable records in lieu thereof. Every domestic company shall keep its securities within the State of Illinois except where:
(3) Any domestic company may maintain with a corporation, qualified to administer trusts in this State under the Corporate Fiduciary Act and that has an office in this State at which the account is maintained, for its securities, a limited agency, custodial or depository account, or other type of account for the safekeeping of those securities, collecting the income from those securities and providing supportive accounting services relating to such safekeeping and collection, provided, the domestic company maintains full investment discretion over those securities. Such a corporation in safekeeping such securities shall have all the powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as it has for holding securities in its fiduciary accounts under the Securities in Fiduciary Accounts Act.
(4) Any director, officer, agent or employee of any company who destroys any such books, records or documents without the authority of the Director in violation of this section or who fails to keep the books, records, documents, accounts and vouchers required by this section shall be guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not more than $5000.00.
(Source: P.A. 88-364; 89-437, eff. 12-15-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/134) (from Ch. 73, par. 746)
Sec. 134. Falsification of Records-Sentence.
Any officer, director, agent or employee of any company who makes or causes to be made any false entry in any book, report or statement of such company with intent to injure or defraud such company, or any other company or person, or to deceive any officer of such company, or the Director or any agent or examiner appointed to examine the affairs of such company and any person who with like intent aids or abets any officer, director, agent or employee in any violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
(Source: P.A. 77-2830.)
(215 ILCS 5/136) (from Ch. 73, par. 748)
Sec. 136. Annual statement.
(1) Every company authorized to do business in this State or accredited by this State shall submit to the Director by March 1st in each year its financial statement for the year ending December 31st immediately preceding in such manner and in such form as prescribed by the Director, which shall conform substantially to the form of statement adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Unless the Director provides otherwise, the annual statement is to be prepared in accordance with the annual statement instructions and the Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Director shall have power to make such modifications and additions in this form as he may deem desirable or necessary to ascertain the condition and affairs of the company. The Director shall have authority to extend the time for filing any statement by any company for reasons which he considers good and sufficient. In every statement the admitted assets shall be shown at the actual values as of the last day of the preceding year, in accordance with Section 126.7. The statement shall be verified by oaths of the president and secretary of the company or, in their absence, by 2 other principal officers. In addition, any company may be required by the Director, when he considers that action to be necessary and appropriate for the protection of policyholders, creditors, shareholders, or claimants, to file, within 60 days after mailing to the company a notice that such is required, a supplemental summary statement as of the last day of any calendar month occurring during the 100 days next preceding the mailing of such notice designated by him on forms prescribed and furnished by the Director. The Director may require supplemental summary statements to be certified by an independent actuary deemed competent by the Director or by an independent certified public accountant.
(2) The statement of an alien company shall embrace only its condition and transactions in the United States and shall be verified by the oaths of its resident manager or principal representative in the United States, except that in the case of any life company organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof, the statement may be verified by the oaths of any of its principal officers designated for that purpose by its board of directors.
(3) For the information of the public generally the Director shall cause an abstract of the information contained in the annual statement to be made available to the public as soon as practicable after filing with the Department, by printing those abstracts in pamphlet tabular form for free general distribution by the Department, or by such other publication in the city of Springfield or in the city of Chicago as may be reasonably necessary more fully to inform the public of the financial condition of companies transacting business in this State.
(4) Each domestic, foreign, and alien insurer authorized to do business in this State or accredited by this State shall participate in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Insurance Regulatory Information System, including the payment of all fees and charges of the system. Each company shall, on or before March 1 of each year, file with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners a copy of its annual financial statement along with any additional filings prescribed by the Director for the preceding year. The statement filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shall be in the same format and scope as that required by this Code and shall include a signed jurat page and actuarial certification. Any amendments and addendums to the annual statement shall also be filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Each company shall also file with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners annual and quarterly financial statement information in computer readable format as required by the Insurance Regulatory Information System. Failure of a company to file financial statement information in computer readable format shall subject the company to the provisions of Section 139.
(5) All financial analysis ratios and examination synopsis concerning insurance companies that are submitted to the Director by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Insurance Regulatory Information System are confidential and may not be disclosed by the Director.
(6) Every property and casualty insurance company doing business in this State, unless otherwise exempted by the Director, shall annually submit the opinion of an appointed actuary entitled "Statement of Actuarial Opinion". This opinion shall be filed in accordance with the appropriate National Association of Insurance Commissioners Property and Casualty Annual Statement Instructions.
(215 ILCS 5/137) (from Ch. 73, par. 749)
Sec. 137. Every Insurance Company doing business in this state which is required to file a statement or report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall at the request of the Director, file a copy of such statement or report with the Department.
(Source: P.A. 80-514.)
(215 ILCS 5/139) (from Ch. 73, par. 751)
Sec. 139. Penalties for late or false annual statement.
(1) Any company failing, without just cause, to file its financial statements as required in this Code shall be required, after notice and hearing, to pay a penalty of up to $1,000 for each day's delay, to be recovered by the Director of Insurance of the State of Illinois using the notice and hearing procedure in subsection (2) of Section 403A of this Code, and the penalty so recovered shall be paid into the General Revenue fund of the State of Illinois. The Director may reduce the penalty if the company demonstrates to the Director that the imposition of the penalty would constitute a financial hardship to the company.
Any statement which is not materially complete when filed shall not be considered to have been properly filed until those deficiencies which make the filing incomplete have been corrected and filed.
(2) Any director, officer, agent or employee of any company, who subscribes to, makes or concurs in making or publishing any annual or other statement required by law, knowing the same to contain any material statement which is false shall, after notice and hearing, be guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not more than $50,000.
The penalty shall be paid into the General Revenue fund of the State of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 98-910, eff. 7-1-15.)
(215 ILCS 5/140) (from Ch. 73, par. 752)
Sec. 140. Vouchers for disbursements.
No domestic company shall make any disbursement of one hundred dollars or more unless the same be evidenced by a voucher or receipt signed or check endorsed by or on behalf of the person receiving the money and describing the consideration for the payment, and if the expenditure be in connection with any matter pending before any legislative or public body or before any department or officer of any state or government the voucher shall describe the nature of the matter and the interest of the company therein, or if such voucher cannot be obtained, the expenditure shall be evidenced by affidavit describing its character and object and stating the reasons for not obtaining such voucher, receipt or check.
(Source: Laws 1937, p. 696.)
(215 ILCS 5/141) (from Ch. 73, par. 753)
Sec. 141. Agency contracts. (1) Any domestic company which contracts with any person (different legal entities, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the same person shall be considered as a person within the meaning of this Section) whereby such person is granted the right or privilege to solicit, procure, write or produce a major part of the insurance business for such company and collect premiums therefor shall file such contract with the Director within 15 days from the execution of such contract or within 60 days following the end of any calendar quarter in which such person produces a major portion of the company's insurance business. For purposes of this Section, any person who produces in excess of five percent (5%) of a company's insurance premium volume during any one calendar quarter shall be deemed as having been granted the privilege of producing a major portion of such company's business. Failure of the Director to disapprove any such contract within thirty days after the same shall be filed with him, shall constitute his approval thereof. A company may continue to accept business from such person until such contract is disapproved by the Director. Such disapproval shall be in writing, stating the reasons therefor and a copy thereof delivered to the company.
(2) The Director shall not approve any such contract which
(a) subjects the company to excessive charges for expenses or commissions;
(b) vests in the agent or agency company any control over the management of the affairs of the insurance company to the exclusion of the board of directors of the insurance company;
(c) gives to such person, the right to solicit, procure, write or produce a major part of the insurance business for such insurance company and collect and hold the premiums for such unreasonable period as may jeopardize the security of policyholders; or
(d) fails to require such person to make available to the Director or his designees all books, records and documents pertaining to such person's insurance business.
(3) The Director shall not approve any contract with any person if such person or its officers and directors are of known bad character or have been affiliated directly or indirectly through ownership, control, management, reinsurance transactions or other insurance or business relationships with any person or persons known to have been involved in the improper manipulation of assets, accounts or reinsurance.
(4) The Director, for the purpose of ascertaining the assets, conditions and affairs of any person having a contract as provided in subsection (1), may examine the books, records, documents and assets of such person.
(5) The Director may, after a hearing held pursuant to Section 401, withdraw his approval of any agency contract theretofore approved by him, if he finds that the basis of his original approval no longer exist, or that the contract has, in actual operation, shown itself to be subject to disapproval on any of the grounds referred to in subsections (2) and (3) above.
(Source: P.A. 84-714.)
(215 ILCS 5/141a) (from Ch. 73, par. 753a)
Sec. 141a. Managing general agents and retrospective compensation agreements.
(a) As used in this Section, the following terms have the following meanings:
"Actuary" means a person who is a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries.
"Gross direct written premium" means direct premium including policy and membership fees, net of returns and cancellations, and prior to any cessions.
"Insurer" means any person duly licensed in this State as an insurance company pursuant to Articles II, III, III 1/2, IV, V, VI, and XVII of this Code.
"Managing general agent" means any person, firm, association, or corporation, either separately or together with affiliates, that:
Notwithstanding the provisions of items (1) through (5), the following persons shall not be considered to be managing general agents for the purposes of this Code:
"Retrospective compensation agreement" means any arrangement, agreement, or contract having as its purpose the actual or constructive retention by the insurer of a fixed proportion of the gross premiums, with the balance of the premiums, retained actually or constructively by the agent or the producer of the business, who assumes to pay therefrom all losses, all subordinate commission, loss adjustment expenses, and his profit, if any, with other provisions of the arrangement, agreement, or contract being auxiliary or incidental to that purpose.
"Underwrite" means to accept or reject risk on behalf of the insurer.
(b) Licensure of managing general agents.
(c) No person, firm, association, or corporation acting in the capacity of a managing general agent shall place business with an insurer unless there is in force a written contract between the parties that sets forth the responsibilities of each party, that, if both parties share responsibility for a particular function, specifies the division of responsibility, and that contains the following minimum provisions:
(d) Insurers shall have the following duties:
(e) The acts of a managing general agent are considered to be the acts of the insurer on whose behalf it is acting. A managing general agent may be examined in the same manner as an insurer.
(f) Retrospective compensation agreements for business written under Section 4 of this Code in Illinois and outside of Illinois by an insurer domiciled in this State must be filed for approval. The standards for approval shall be as set forth under Section 141 of this Code.
(g) Unless specifically required by the Director, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to arrangements between a managing general agent not underwriting any risks located in Illinois and a foreign insurer domiciled in an NAIC accredited state that has adopted legislation substantially similar to the NAIC Managing General Agents Model Act. "NAIC accredited state" means a state or territory of the United States having an insurance regulatory agency that maintains an accredited status granted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
(h) If the Director determines that a managing general agent has not materially complied with this Section or any regulation or order promulgated hereunder, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the Director may order a penalty in an amount not exceeding $100,000 for each separate violation and may order the revocation or suspension of the producer's license. If it is found that because of the material noncompliance the insurer has suffered any loss or damage, the Director may maintain a civil action brought by or on behalf of the insurer and its policyholders and creditors for recovery of compensatory damages for the benefit of the insurer and its policyholders and creditors or other appropriate relief. This subsection (h) shall not be construed to prevent any other person from taking civil action against a managing general agent.
(i) If an Order of Rehabilitation or Liquidation is entered under Article XIII and the receiver appointed under that Order determines that the managing general agent or any other person has not materially complied with this Section or any regulation or Order promulgated hereunder and the insurer suffered any loss or damage therefrom, the receiver may maintain a civil action for recovery of damages or other appropriate sanctions for the benefit of the insurer.
Any decision, determination, or order of the Director under this subsection shall be subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review Law.
Nothing contained in this subsection shall affect the right of the Director to impose any other penalties provided for in this Code.
Nothing contained in this subsection is intended to or shall in any manner limit or restrict the rights of policyholders, claimants, and auditors.
(j) A domestic company shall not during any calendar year write, through a managing general agent or managing general agents, premiums in an amount equal to or greater than its capital and surplus as of the preceding December 31st unless the domestic company requests in writing the Director's permission to do so and the Director has either approved the request or has not disapproved the request within 45 days after the Director received the request.
No domestic company with less than $5,000,000 of capital and surplus may write any business through a managing general agent unless the domestic company requests in writing the Director's permission to do so and the Director has either approved the request or has not disapproved the request within 45 days after the Director received the request.
(Source: P.A. 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)
(215 ILCS 5/141b)
Sec. 141b. Third party access to files. Any contract with a third party ("administrator") to provide claim services for a property and casualty company must contain the following provisions:
The provisions of this Section shall apply to all contracts entered into after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, and any existing contracts shall have one year to come into compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-410, eff. 8-25-17.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.01) (from Ch. 73, par. 753.01)
Sec. 141.01. No company authorized to do business in Illinois shall cancel, terminate or refuse to renew any policy on the ground that the company's contract with the agent through whom such policy was obtained has been terminated. This provision shall not alter any contract between the agent and the company regarding ownership of expirations where the agent is able to place the policy with another insurer with similar coverage to the satisfaction of the insured.
(Source: P.A. 80-1374.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.02) (from Ch. 73, par. 753.02)
Sec. 141.02. (1) Definitions. For purposes of this Section an independent insurance agent is any licensed agent representing an insurance company on an independent contractor basis and not as an employee. This term shall include only those agents not obligated by contract to place insurance accounts with any insurance company or group of companies. This Section shall only apply to contracts which have been effective for more than one year between an independent insurance agent and any company authorized in this State for the purpose of transacting the kind or kinds of business enumerated in Class 2 or Class 3 of Section 4 of this Code, except accident and health insurance.
(2) Rehabilitation. In an effort to avoid termination, the company and agent may endeavor to reach mutual agreement on a written plan for rehabilitation for a period of time agreed by them. Any written plan agreed upon shall identify the problem areas and specify what the agent must do in an effort to avoid termination.
(3) Notice of Termination. Contracts between the independent insurance agent and any company shall not be terminated by the company except by signed mutual agreement at the time of written termination notice or unless the company provides 180 days written notice to the independent insurance agent prior to the effective date of termination. The effective date of termination shall be 180 days from the date of mailing of the termination notice. The company must maintain proof of mailing of the termination notice on a recognized U.S. Post Office form.
(4) Renewals following termination. A. During the 180 days notice or other mutually agreed time period the independent insurance agent shall not write or bind any new business on behalf of the terminating company without specific written approval.
B. The terminating company shall, following the date of termination, renew all policies written by the independent insurance agent for one policy term or for a period of one year if the policy period is longer than one year unless:
(a) the policies do not meet the insurer's underwriting standards; or
(b) the independent insurance agent notifies the insurer in writing that the policy has been placed with another insurer.
C. If a renewal policy does not meet the underwriting requirements, the terminating insurer must give the independent insurance agent 60 days notice of its intention not to renew.
D. The rate of commission and renewal terms shall be in accordance with those in effect immediately prior to termination. The commission must be paid only through the first renewal subsequent to the effective date of the termination.
(5) Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this Section shall not apply to terminations for abandonment, insolvency of the terminating company, gross and willful misconduct, refusal, suspension, revocation or termination of the agent's license by the Director of Insurance, sale or material change of ownership of agency, fraud, material misrepresentation or failure to pay such independent insurance agent's account less the independent insurance agent's commission and any disputed items within 30 days after written demand by the company.
(Source: P.A. 85-334.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.03) (from Ch. 73, par. 753.03)
Sec. 141.03. Insurance companies authorized to do business in this State shall not refuse to do business with an independent insurance agent representing an insurance company as an independent contractor and not as an employee solely on account of the volume of insurance written by that agent prior to affiliation with such company.
(Source: P.A. 84-742.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 753.1)
Sec. 141.1. Management contracts and service agreements. All agreements or contracts under which any person, organization or corporation is delegated management duties or control of any domestic company, or which transfer a substantial part of any major function of a domestic company such as adjustment of losses, production of business, investment of assets or general servicing of the company's business must be filed with the Department on or before the effective date of such contract or agreement. The Director may upon notice review these arrangements entered by foreign companies.
There shall be exempted from the filing requirement of this Section contracts by groups of affiliated companies on a "pooled" funds basis or service company management basis, where costs to the individual member companies are charged on an actually incurred or closely estimated basis. However, these contracts must be reduced to written form.
Sections 141.1, 141.2, and 141.3 shall not apply to any power of attorney or other authority authorized by Section 67 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.2) (from Ch. 73, par. 753.2)
Sec. 141.2. Grounds for disapproval.
The Director must disapprove any such management contract or service agreement if, at any time, he finds:
(1) that the service or management charges are based upon criteria unrelated either to the managed company's profits or to the reasonable customary and usual charges for such services or are based on factors unrelated to the value of such services to the company; or
(2) that management personnel or other employees of the insurance company are to be performing management functions and receiving any remuneration therefor through the management or service contract in addition to the compensation by way of salary received directly from the insurance company for their services; or
(3) that the contract would transfer substantial control of the company or any of the powers vested in the board of directors, by statute, articles of incorporation or by-laws, or substantially all of the basic functions of the insurance company management; or
(4) that the contract contains provisions which would be clearly detrimental to the best interests of policyholders, stockholders or members of the company; or
(5) that the officers and directors of the management firm are of known bad character or have been affiliated, directly or indirectly, through ownership, control, management, reinsurance transactions or other insurance or business relations with any person or persons known to have been involved in the improper manipulation of assets, accounts or reinsurance.
If the Director disapproves of any management contract or service agreement, notice of such action shall be given to the company assigning the reasons therefor in writing. The Director shall grant any party to the contract a hearing upon request according to Article XXIV of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 77-1040.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.3) (from Ch. 73, par. 753.3)
Sec. 141.3. Supplement to annual statement.
Any company which has a management contract shall file with its annual statement a supplement on forms prescribed by the Director which discloses the following: Salaries, commissions, or any valuable consideration paid to each officer and director of the management company or to any shareholder who owns, directly or indirectly, 10% of the shares of either the managed insurance company or the management company.
Any changes in the officers or directors of the managing company are to be reported to the Director in accordance with Section 155.04.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 1818.)
(215 ILCS 5/141.4)
Sec. 141.4. Disclosure of material transactions.
(a) An insurer domiciled in this State shall file a report with the Director disclosing material acquisitions and dispositions of assets or material nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions of ceded reinsurance agreements unless the acquisitions and dispositions of assets or the material nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions of ceded reinsurance agreements have been otherwise submitted to the Director for review, approval, or information purposes. The report must be filed no later than 15 days after the end of the calendar month in which a reportable transaction occurs. A copy of the report, including any exhibits or other attachments filed as a part of the report, shall be filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. All reports obtained by or disclosed to the Director under this Section shall be given confidential treatment and shall not be subject to subpoena and shall not be made public by the Director, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or any other person, except to insurance departments of other states, without the prior written consent of the insurer to which it pertains unless the Director, after giving the insurer who would be affected notice and an opportunity to be heard, determines that the interests of policyholders, shareholders, or the public will be served by publication, in which event the Director may publish all or any part in the manner the Director may deem appropriate.
(b) Asset acquisitions or dispositions that are not material do not have to be reported under this Section. For purposes of this Section, a material acquisition (or the aggregate of any series of related acquisitions during any 30 day period) or disposition (or the aggregate of any series of related dispositions during any 30 day period) is one that is nonrecurring and not in the ordinary course of business and involves more than 5% of the reporting insurer's total admitted assets as reported in its most recent statutory financial statement filed with the Director. Asset acquisitions subject to this Section include, but are not limited to, every purchase, lease, exchange, merger, consolidation, succession, or other acquisition other than the construction or development of real property by or for the reporting insurer or the acquisition of materials for that purpose. Asset dispositions subject to this Section include, but are not limited to, every sale, lease, exchange, merger, consolidation, mortgage, hypothecation, assignment (whether for the benefit of creditors or otherwise), abandonment, destruction, or other disposition. All of the following information shall be disclosed in the report of a material acquisition or disposition of assets:
Insurers shall report acquisitions and dispositions on a nonconsolidated basis unless the insurer is part of a consolidated group of insurers that utilizes a pooling arrangement or a 100% reinsurance agreement that affects the solvency and integrity of the insurer's reserves and the insurer ceded substantially all of its direct and assumed business to the pool. An insurer is deemed to have ceded substantially all of its direct and assumed business to a pool if the insurer has less than $1,000,000 total direct plus assumed written premiums during a calendar year that are not subject to a pooling arrangement and the net income of the business not subject to the pooling arrangement represents less than 5% of the insurer's capital and surplus.
(c) Ceded reinsurance agreement nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions that are not material do not have to be reported under this Section. For purposes of this Section, a material nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision is one that affects:
With respect to property and casualty business, including accident and health business written by a property and casualty insurer, no filing shall be required if the insurer's total ceded written premium represents, on an annualized basis, less than 10% of its total written premium for direct and assumed business. With respect to life, annuity, and accident and health business, no filing shall be required if the total reserve credit taken for business ceded represents, on an annualized basis, less than 10% of the statutory reserve requirement prior to any cession.
All of the following information shall be disclosed in the report of a material nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision of ceded reinsurance agreements:
Insurers shall report all material nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions of ceded reinsurance agreements on a nonconsolidated basis unless the insurer is part of a consolidated group of insurers that utilizes a pooling arrangement or 100% reinsurance agreement that affects the solvency and integrity of the insurer's reserves and the insurer ceded substantially all of its direct and assumed business to the pool. An insurer is deemed to have ceded substantially all of its direct and assumed business to a pool if the insurer has less than $1,000,000 of total direct plus assumed written premiums during a calendar year that are not subject to the pooling arrangement and the net income of the business not subject to the pooling arrangement represents less than 5% of the insurer's capital and surplus.
(Source: P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/142) (from Ch. 73, par. 754)
Sec. 142. Notice of amendment or change in by-laws. Subject to the provisions of section 292.1 applicable to fraternal benefit societies, notice of any amendment or change in a company's by-laws setting forth such amendment or change, certified by its president, secretary, or officer corresponding thereto, shall be delivered to the Director within thirty days after such amendment or change.
(Source: P.A. 86-753.)
(215 ILCS 5/143) (from Ch. 73, par. 755)
Sec. 143. Policy forms.
(1) Life, accident and health. No company transacting the kind or kinds of business enumerated in Classes 1 (a), 1 (b) and 2 (a) of Section 4 shall issue or deliver in this State a policy or certificate of insurance or evidence of coverage, attach an endorsement or rider thereto, incorporate by reference bylaws or other matter therein or use an application blank in this State until the form and content of such policy, certificate, evidence of coverage, endorsement, rider, bylaw or other matter incorporated by reference or application blank has been filed electronically with the Director, either through the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF) or as otherwise prescribed by the Director, and approved by the Director. Any such endorsement or rider that unilaterally reduces benefits and is to be attached to a policy subsequent to the date the policy is issued must be filed with, reviewed, and formally approved by the Director prior to the date it is attached to a policy issued or delivered in this State. It shall be the duty of the Director to withhold approval of any such policy, certificate, endorsement, rider, bylaw or other matter incorporated by reference or application blank filed with him if it contains provisions which encourage misrepresentation or are unjust, unfair, inequitable, ambiguous, misleading, inconsistent, deceptive, contrary to law or to the public policy of this State, or contains exceptions and conditions that unreasonably or deceptively affect the risk purported to be assumed in the general coverage of the policy. In all cases the Director shall approve or disapprove any such form within 60 days after submission unless the Director extends by not more than an additional 30 days the period within which he shall approve or disapprove any such form by giving written notice to the insurer of such extension before expiration of the initial 60 days period. The Director shall withdraw his approval of a policy, certificate, evidence of coverage, endorsement, rider, bylaw, or other matter incorporated by reference or application blank if he subsequently determines that such policy, certificate, evidence of coverage, endorsement, rider, bylaw, other matter, or application blank is misrepresentative, unjust, unfair, inequitable, ambiguous, misleading, inconsistent, deceptive, contrary to law or public policy of this State, or contains exceptions or conditions which unreasonably or deceptively affect the risk purported to be assumed in the general coverage of the policy or evidence of coverage.
If a previously approved policy, certificate, evidence of coverage, endorsement, rider, bylaw or other matter incorporated by reference or application blank is withdrawn for use, the Director shall serve upon the company an order of withdrawal of use, either personally or by mail, and if by mail, such service shall be completed if such notice be deposited in the post office, postage prepaid, addressed to the company's last known address specified in the records of the Department of Insurance. The order of withdrawal of use shall take effect 30 days from the date of mailing but shall be stayed if within the 30-day period a written request for hearing is filed with the Director. Such hearing shall be held at such time and place as designated in the order given by the Director. The hearing may be held either in the City of Springfield, the City of Chicago or in the county where the principal business address of the company is located. The action of the Director in disapproving or withdrawing such form shall be subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review Law.
This subsection shall not apply to riders or endorsements issued or made at the request of the individual policyholder relating to the manner of distribution of benefits or to the reservation of rights and benefits under his life insurance policy.
(2) Casualty, fire, and marine. The Director shall require the filing of all policy forms issued or delivered by any company transacting the kind or kinds of business enumerated in Classes 2 (except Class 2 (a)) and 3 of Section 4 in an electronic format either through the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF) or as otherwise prescribed and approved by the Director. In addition, he may require the filing of any generally used riders, endorsements, certificates, application blanks, and other matter incorporated by reference in any such policy or contract of insurance. Companies that are members of an organization, bureau, or association may have the same filed for them by the organization, bureau, or association. If the Director shall find from an examination of any such policy form, rider, endorsement, certificate, application blank, or other matter incorporated by reference in any such policy so filed that it (i) violates any provision of this Code, (ii) contains inconsistent, ambiguous, or misleading clauses, or (iii) contains exceptions and conditions that will unreasonably or deceptively affect the risks that are purported to be assumed by the policy, he shall order the company or companies issuing these forms to discontinue their use. Nothing in this subsection shall require a company transacting the kind or kinds of business enumerated in Classes 2 (except Class 2 (a)) and 3 of Section 4 to obtain approval of these forms before they are issued nor in any way affect the legality of any policy that has been issued and found to be in conflict with this subsection, but such policies shall be subject to the provisions of Section 442.
(3) This Section shall not apply (i) to surety contracts or fidelity bonds, (ii) to policies issued to an industrial insured as defined in Section 121-2.08 except for workers' compensation policies, nor (iii) to riders or endorsements prepared to meet special, unusual, peculiar, or extraordinary conditions applying to an individual risk.
(Source: P.A. 97-486, eff. 1-1-12; 98-226, eff. 1-1-14.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.01) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.01)
Sec. 143.01. (a) A provision in a policy of vehicle insurance described in Section 4 excluding coverage for bodily injury to members of the family of the insured shall not be applicable when a third party acquires a right of contribution against a member of the injured person's family.
(b) A provision in a policy of vehicle insurance excluding coverage for bodily injury to members of the family of the insured shall not be applicable when any person not in the household of the insured was driving the vehicle of the insured involved in the accident which is the subject of the claim or lawsuit.
This subsection (b) applies to any action filed on or after its effective date.
(Source: P.A. 83-1132.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.1)
Sec. 143.1. Periods of limitation tolled. Whenever any policy or contract for insurance, except life, accident and health, fidelity and surety, and ocean marine policies, contains a provision limiting the period within which the insured may bring suit, the running of such period is tolled from the date proof of loss is filed, in whatever form is required by the policy, until the date the claim is denied in whole or in part.
(Source: P.A. 82-352.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.10) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.10)
Sec. 143.10. No company shall cancel or refuse to issue or renew a policy on the sole basis that the insured or applicant for such policy was previously refused issuance or renewal of a policy by any insurer, or such insured's policy was cancelled on a prior date by any insurer.
(Source: P.A. 80-1374.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.10a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.10a)
Sec. 143.10a. Loss Information.
(1) All companies issuing policies to which Section 143.11 of this Code applies, except for those defined in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 143.13 of this Code and to which subsection (o) of Section 19 of the Workers' Compensation Act applies, shall on or after January 1, 1987, provide the following loss information for the 3 previous policy years to the first named insured within 30 days of the insured's request. At the written request of the insured, the company shall send the loss information directly to the insured's producer. In addition, the company shall also send the loss information at the same time as any notice of cancellation or nonrenewal, except where the policy has been cancelled for nonpayment of premium, material misrepresentations or fraud on the part of the insured:
(2) Should a named insured be required by a prospective insurer to provide detailed loss information in addition to that required under subsection (1) of this Section, the named insured may mail or deliver a written request to the insurer for such additional information, including specific loss reserves. No prospective insurer shall request, however, more detailed information than required by it to underwrite the same line or class of insurance. The insurer shall provide such information to the first named insured as soon as possible, but in no event later than 20 days of receipt of such request. Coverage under the existing policy shall automatically be extended at the same terms and conditions by the same number of days it takes the insurer to provide the insured with this additional information.
(3) The Director may promulgate regulations to exclude the automatic providing of the loss information at the time of cancellation or renewal as outlined in subsection (1) of this Section for any line or class of insurance where it can be shown that the information is not needed for that line or class of insurance.
(4) If a company fails to provide the information as required by this Section with such frequency so as to indicate a practice of refusing to provide such information, such failure shall constitute an unfair trade practice as defined in Section 424 and subject to those hearing and penalty provisions as set forth in Sections 425 through 434.
(5) Information provided under subsection (2) of this Section shall not be subject to discovery by any party other than the insured, the insurer, and the prospective insurer.
(Source: P.A. 93-155, eff. 7-10-03.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.10b) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.10b)
Sec. 143.10b. Loss information, private passenger automobile.
(1) All companies issuing a "policy of automobile insurance" as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 143.13 of this Code shall, on or after January 1, 1990, provide the following loss information for the 5 previous policy years to the named insured within 30 days of the insured's written request:
(2) If a company fails to provide the information as required by this Section with such frequency so as to indicate a practice of refusing to provide such information, such failure shall constitute an unfair trade practice as defined in Section 424 and subject to those hearing and penalty provisions as set forth in Sections 425 through 434 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 90-196, eff. 1-1-98.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.10c) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.10c)
Sec. 143.10c. No insurance company that is authorized to do business in this State and which issues policies for personal multiperil property coverage, commonly known as homeowners insurance, may refuse to issue or renew a homeowners insurance policy to the owner or tenant of any single family dwelling, or to any owner of or tenant residing in a multi-unit residential dwelling which contains from 2 to 4 units in a single building, solely on the grounds that a space heater is being used inside the dwelling.
For purposes of this Section space heater means a heat radiating device used to warm rooms of a house or apartment and which is approved by Underwriters' Laboratories and uses gas, electricity or oil as its primary source of energy.
(Source: P.A. 86-174; 86-1028.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.10d)
Sec. 143.10d. Claim information for a dog-related incident.
(a) An insurance company offering homeowner's insurance coverage or renter's insurance coverage that issues a policy or contract insuring against liability for injury to a person or injury to or destruction of property arising out of the ownership, lease, or rental of residential property shall, to the best of their ability, for any claim involving a dog-related incident, record circumstances relating to the incident, including, but not limited to:
(b) This information shall be collected for a 2-year period beginning on January 1, 2022 and shall be reported annually to the Department. The Department shall make the information available on the Department's website by July 1, 2023 and shall update the information each July 1 through July 1, 2024. The information or data collected by the Department shall not be released or published in any way that violates the confidentiality or proprietary status or nature of the data.
(Source: P.A. 102-328, eff. 1-1-22.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.11) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.11)
Sec. 143.11. Cancellation Provisions. All companies authorized to transact in this State the kinds of business enumerated in Section 4 of the "Illinois Insurance Code" shall include in their policies, except life, accident and health, fidelity and surety, and ocean marine policies, a cancellation provision setting out the manner in which such policies may be cancelled. However, nothing contained in Section 143.12 through Section 143.24 shall apply to contracts of reinsurance or to contracts procured by agents under the authority of Section 445.
(Source: P.A. 80-1365.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.11a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.11a)
Sec. 143.11a. Termination of Lines of Business. No company authorized to transact, in this State, the kinds of business enumerated in Section 4 of this Code, except life, accident and health, fidelity and surety, and ocean marine policies, may terminate any line of insurance without notifying the Director of the action as well as reasons for the action, 90 days before termination of any policy is effective. The notice shall include all data relied upon by the company as the basis for such action and shall disclose whether the company offers and will continue to offer such kinds of insurance in any other State. For the purposes of this Section, termination of a line of insurance shall mean cancellation or non-renewal of a substantial portion of any type of business for the purpose of withdrawing from the market.
(Source: P.A. 84-1431.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.11b)
Sec. 143.11b. Assignment or transfer of property and casualty policies. An assignment or transfer of a policy of insurance to which Section 143.11 applies among or between insurers within an insurance holding company system or insurers under common management or control, or as a result of a merger, acquisition, or restructuring of an insurance company, is not a nonrenewal for purposes of the notification requirements under Sections 143.12 through 143.24. However, in the event of an increase in the renewal premium of 30% or more, change in deductibles or change in coverage that materially alters any policy to which subsection b of Section 143.17a applies, the company shall adhere to the provisions set forth in subsection b of Section 143.17a. A company making an assignment or transfer of a policy among or between insurers within an insurance holding company system or insurers under common management or control, or as a result of a merger, acquisition, or restructuring of an insurance company, shall have delivered to the named insured notice of such assignment or transfer at least 60 days prior to the renewal date. An exact and unaltered copy of the notice shall also be sent to the insured's producer, if known, and agent of record. The assignment or transfer of a policy or policies of insurance among or between insurers shall not occur without the producer or agent of record, or both, having a signed agency contract with the entity to which the policy or policies are to be assigned or transferred. If there is not a signed agency contract, all of the notice requirements of Sections 143.17 and 143.17a shall apply. Nothing in this Section shall contravene any existing producer and company contract rights. For purposes of this Section, the insured's producer, if known, and agent of record may opt to accept notification of assignment or transfer of policies electronically.
(Source: P.A. 93-713, eff. 1-1-05.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.12) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.12)
Sec. 143.12. "Short rate" cancellation. Notice required. No agent, broker or other representative or employee of any insurance company shall recommend, advise, suggest or require the cancellation of any insurance policy of the insurer which he represents, or of any other insurer at any time other than the policy anniversary or expiration date, unless he informs the insured in writing of the additional cost of such cancellation before the insured is requested or required to take action to cancel or terminate the policy which is then in force.
(Source: P.A. 79-686.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.12a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.12a)
Sec. 143.12a. Automobile insurance; pro rata refund of unearned premium.
(a) In the event of the cancellation of a policy of automobile insurance, as defined in Section 143.13, by either the company or the policyholder, the company shall refund the unearned premium pro rated to the date of cancellation. In no event may the refund of unearned premium be computed by use of a short rate table. Refund of the premium shall be without prejudice to any claim arising prior to the cancellation.
(b) The refund shall be made by the company within 30 days from the following:
(Source: P.A. 86-1408.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.13) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.13)
Sec. 143.13. Definition of terms used in Sections 143.11 through 143.24.
(a) "Policy of automobile insurance" means a policy delivered or issued for delivery in this State, insuring a natural person as named insured or one or more related individuals resident of the same household and under which the insured vehicles therein designated are motor vehicles of the private passenger, station wagon, or any other 4-wheeled motor vehicle with a load capacity of 1500 pounds or less which is not used in the occupation, profession or business of the insured or not used as a public or livery conveyance for passengers nor rented to others. Policy of automobile insurance shall also mean a named non-owner's automobile policy.
Policy of automobile insurance does not apply to policies of automobile insurance issued under the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan, to any policy covering garages, automobile sales agencies, repair shops, service stations or public parking place operation hazards. "Policy of automobile insurance" does not include a policy, binder, or application for which the applicant gives or has given for the initial premium a check or credit card charge that is subsequently dishonored for payment, unless the check or credit card charge was dishonored through no fault of the payor.
(b) "Policy of fire and extended coverage insurance" means a policy delivered or issued for delivery in this State, that includes but is not limited to, the perils of fire and extended coverage, and covers real property used principally for residential purposes up to and including a 4 family dwelling or any household or personal property that is usual or incidental to the occupancy to any premises used for residential purposes.
(c) "All other policies of personal lines" means any other policy of insurance issued to a natural person for personal or family protection.
(d) "Renewal" or "to renew" means (1) any change to an entire line of business in accordance with subsection b-5 of Section 143.17 and (2) the issuance and delivery by an insurer of a policy superseding at the end of the policy period a policy previously issued and delivered by the same insurer or the issuance and delivery of a certificate or notice extending the term of a policy beyond its policy period or term; however, any successive policies issued by the same insurer to the same insured, for the same or similar coverage, shall be considered a renewal policy.
Any policy with a policy period or term of less than 6 months or any policy with no fixed expiration date shall be considered as if written for successive policy periods or terms of 6 months for the purpose of "renewal" or "to renew" as defined in this paragraph (d) and for the purpose of any non-renewal notice required by Section 143.17 of this Code.
(e) "Nonpayment of premium" means failure of the named insured to discharge, when due, any of his obligations in connection with the payment of premiums or any installment of such premium that is payable directly to the insurer or to its agent. Premium shall mean the premium that is due for an individual policy which shall not include any membership dues or other consideration required to be a member of any organization in order to be eligible for such policy. The term "nonpayment of premium" does not include a check, credit card charge, or money order that an applicant gives or has given to any person for the initial premium payment for a policy, binder, or application and that is subsequently dishonored for payment, and any policy, binder, or application in connection therewith is void and of no effect and not subject to the cancellation provisions of this Code.
(f) "A policy delivered or issued for delivery in this State" shall include but not be limited to all binders of insurance, whether written or oral, and all applications bound for future delivery by a duly licensed resident agent. A written binder of insurance issued for a term of 60 days or less, which contains on its face a specific inception and expiration date and which a copy has been furnished to the insured, shall not be subject to the non-renewal requirements of Section 143.17 of this Code.
(g) "Cancellation" or "cancelled" means the termination of a policy by an insurer prior to the expiration date of the policy. A policy of automobile or fire and extended coverage insurance which expires by its own terms on the policy expiration date unless advance premiums are received by the insurer for succeeding policy periods shall not be considered "cancelled" or a "cancellation" effected by the insurer in the event such premiums are not paid on or before the policy expiration date.
(h) "Commercial excess and umbrella liability policy" means a policy written over one or more underlying policies for an insured:
6-28-01.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.13a)
Sec. 143.13a. Coverage for permissive drivers. Any policy of private passenger automobile insurance must provide the same limits of bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury, and medical payments coverage to all persons insured under that policy, whether or not an insured person is a named insured or permissive user under the policy. If the policy insures more than one private passenger automobile, the limits available to the permissive user shall be the limits associated with the vehicle used by the permissive user when the loss occurs.
(Source: P.A. 95-395, eff. 1-1-08.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.14) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.14)
Sec. 143.14. Notice of cancellation.
(a) No notice of cancellation of any policy of insurance, to which Section 143.11 applies, shall be effective unless mailed by the company to the named insured at the last mailing address known by the company. The company shall maintain proof of mailing of such notice on a recognized U.S. Post Office form or a form acceptable to the U.S. Post Office or other commercial mail delivery service. Notification shall also be sent to the insured's broker if known, or the agent of record, if known, and to the mortgagee or lien holder listed on the policy. For purposes of this Section, the mortgage or lien holder, insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record may opt to accept notification electronically.
(b) Whenever a financed insurance contract is cancelled, the insurer shall return whatever gross unearned premiums are due under the insurance contract or contracts not to exceed the unpaid balance due the premium finance company directly to the premium finance company effecting the cancellation for the account of the named insured. The return premium must be mailed to the premium finance company within 60 days. The request for the unearned premium by the premium finance company shall be in the manner of a monthly account, current accounting by producer, policy number, unpaid balance and name of insured for each cancelled amount. In the event the insurance contract or contracts are subject to audit, the insurer shall retain the right to withhold the return of the portion of premium that can be identified to the contract or contracts until the audit is completed. Within 30 days of the completion of the audit, if a premium retained by the insurer after crediting the earned premium would result in a surplus, the insurer shall return the surplus directly to the premium finance company. If the audit should result in an additional premium due the insurer, the obligation for the collection of this premium shall fall upon the insurer and not affect any other contract or contracts currently being financed by the premium finance company for the named insured.
(c) Whenever a premium finance agreement contains a power of attorney enabling the premium finance company to cancel any insurance contract or contracts in the agreement, the insurer shall honor the date of cancellation as set forth in the request from the premium finance company without requiring the return of the insurance contract or contracts. The insurer may mail to the named insured an acknowledgment of the notice of cancellation from the premium finance company but the named insured shall not incur any additional premium charge for any extension of coverage. The insurer need not maintain proof of mailing of this notice.
(d) All statutory regulatory and contractual restrictions providing that the insurance contract may not be cancelled unless the required notice is mailed to a governmental agency, mortgagee, lienholder, or other third party shall apply where cancellation is effected under a power of attorney under a premium finance agreement. The insurer shall have the right for a premium charge for this extension of coverage.
(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.15) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.15)
Sec. 143.15. Mailing of cancellation notice. All notices of cancellation of insurance as defined in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 143.13 must be mailed at least 30 days prior to the effective date of cancellation to the named insured; however, if cancellation is for nonpayment of premium, the notice of cancellation must be mailed at least 10 days before the effective date of the cancellation to the last mailing address known to the company. All notices of cancellation to the named insured shall include a specific explanation of the reason or reasons for cancellation. For purposes of this Section, the mortgagee or lien holder, if known, may opt to accept notification electronically.
(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.16) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.16)
Sec. 143.16. Mailing of cancellation notice. All notices of cancellation of insurance to which Section 143.11 applies, except for those defined in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 143.13 must be mailed at least 30 days prior to the effective date of cancellation during the first 60 days of coverage. After the coverage has been effective for 61 days or more, all notices must be mailed at least 60 days prior to the effective date of cancellation. However, where cancellation is for nonpayment of premium, the notice of cancellation must be mailed at least 10 days before the effective date of the cancellation. All such notices shall include a specific explanation of the reason or reasons for cancellation and shall be mailed to the named insured at the last mailing address known to the company. For purposes of this Section, the mortgagee or lien holder, if known, may opt to accept notification electronically.
(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.16a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.16a)
Sec. 143.16a. Cancellation of Casualty policies. No policy to which Section 143.11 applies, except for those defined in subsection (a) or (b) of Section 143.13, that has been in effect for 60 days may be cancelled except for one of the following reasons:
(a) Nonpayment of premium;
(b) The policy was obtained through a material misrepresentation;
(c) Any insured violated any of the terms and conditions of the policy;
(d) The risk originally accepted has measurably increased;
(e) Certification to the Director of the loss of reinsurance by the insurer which provided coverage to the insurer for all or a substantial part of the underlying risk insured; or
(f) A determination by the Director that the continuation of the policy could place the insurer in violation of the insurance laws of this State.
(Source: P.A. 84-1005.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.16b) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.16b)
Sec. 143.16b. Premium Refunds for Drought Insurance. Whenever a person has submitted payment of premium for the purchase of drought insurance described in clause (b) of Class 3 of Section 4 of this Code to an insurer or one of its subsidiaries, employees, agents, or producers, the insurer shall have a duty, within 10 business days of receipt of such premium payment, to either:
(a) refund the premium payment in full; or
(b) accept the premium payment, and provide to the person who has offered such payment policy coverage in full conformity with representations of any application, declaration, binder, or contract of policy coverage issued by the insurer or one of its subsidiaries, employees, agents or producers.
This Section shall not apply to insurance provided, guaranteed or reinsured pursuant to the Federal Crop Insurance Program.
(Source: P.A. 86-285.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.17) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.17)
Sec. 143.17. Notice of intention not to renew.
a. No company shall fail to renew any policy of insurance, as defined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13, to which Section 143.11 applies, unless it shall send by mail to the named insured at least 30 days advance notice of its intention not to renew. The company shall maintain proof of mailing of such notice on a recognized U.S. Post Office form or a form acceptable to the U. S. Post Office or other commercial mail delivery service. The nonrenewal shall not become effective until at least 30 days from the proof of mailing date of the notice to the name insured. Notification shall also be sent to the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record, if known, and to the last known mortgagee or lien holder. For purposes of this Section, the mortgagee or lien holder, insured's broker, or the agent of record may opt to accept notification electronically. However, where cancellation is for nonpayment of premium, the notice of cancellation must be mailed at least 10 days before the effective date of the cancellation.
b. This Section does not apply if the company has manifested its willingness to renew directly to the named insured. Such written notice shall specify the premium amount payable, including any premium payment plan available, and the name of any person or persons, if any, authorized to receive payment on behalf of the company. If no person is so authorized, the premium notice shall so state.
b-5. This Section does not apply if the company manifested its willingness to renew directly to the named insured. However, no company may impose changes in deductibles or coverage for any policy forms applicable to an entire line of business enumerated in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13 to which Section 143.11 applies unless the company mails to the named insured written notice of the change in deductible or coverage at least 60 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date. Notice shall also be sent to the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record.
c. Should a company fail to comply with (a) or (b) of this Section, the policy shall terminate only on the effective date of any similar insurance procured by the insured with respect to the same subject or location designated in both policies.
d. Renewal of a policy does not constitute a waiver or estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation which existed before the effective date of such renewal.
e. In all notices of intention not to renew any policy of insurance, as defined in Section 143.11 the company shall provide the named insured a specific explanation of the reasons for nonrenewal.
f. For purposes of this Section, the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record and the mortgagee or lien holder may opt to accept notification electronically.
(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.17a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.17a)
Sec. 143.17a. Notice of intention not to renew.
(a) A company intending to nonrenew any policy of insurance to which Section 143.11 applies, except for those defined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13, must mail written notice to the named insured at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the current policy. The notice to the named insured shall provide a specific explanation of the reasons for nonrenewal. A company may not extend the current policy period for purposes of providing notice of its intention not to renew required under this subsection (a).
(b) A company intending to renew any policy of insurance to which Section 143.11 applies, except for those defined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13, with an increase in premium of 30% or more or with changes in deductibles or coverage that materially alter the policy must mail or deliver to the named insured written notice of such increase or change in deductible or coverage at least 60 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date. If a company has failed to provide notice of intention to renew required under this subsection (b) at least 60 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date, but does so no less than 31 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date, the company may extend the current policy at the current terms and conditions for the period of time needed to equal the 60 day time period required to provide notice of intention to renew by this subsection (b). The increase in premium shall be the renewal premium based on the known exposure as of the date of the quotation compared to the premium as of the last day of coverage for the current year's policy, annualized. The premium on the renewal policy may be subsequently amended to reflect any change in exposure or reinsurance costs not considered in the quotation.
(c) A company that has failed to provide notice of intention to nonrenew under subsection (a) of this Section and has failed to provide notice of intention to renew as prescribed under subsection (b) of this Section must renew the expiring policy under the same terms and conditions for an additional year or until the effective date of any similar insurance is procured by the insured, whichever is earlier. The company may increase the renewal premium. However, such increase must be less than 30% of the expiring term's premium and notice of such increase must be delivered to the named insured on or before the date of expiration of the current policy period.
(d) Under subsection (a), the company shall maintain proof of mailing of the notice of intention not to renew to the named insured on one of the following forms: a recognized U.S. Post Office form or a form acceptable to the U.S. Post Office or other commercial mail delivery service. Under subsections (b) and (c), proof of mailing or proof of receipt of the notice of intention to renew to the named insured may be proven by a sworn affidavit by the company as to the usual and customary business practices of mailing notice pursuant to this Section or may be proven consistent with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 236. For all notice requirements under this Section, notice shall also be sent to the named insured's producer, if known, or the producer of record. Notification shall also be sent to the mortgagee or lien holder listed on the policy.
(e) Renewal of a policy does not constitute a waiver or estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation that existed before the effective date of such renewal.
(f) For purposes of this Section, the named insured's producer, if known, or the producer of record and the mortgagee or lien holder may opt to accept notification electronically.
(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.18) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.18)
Sec. 143.18. Liability of Company or Agents Regarding Statements Made In Notices Or Information. There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against any company, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any firm, person or corporation furnishing to the company information as to reasons for cancellation, or nonrenewal, for any statement made by any of them in any written notice of cancellation or nonrenewal, or any other communications, oral or written, specifying the reasons for cancellation or nonrenewal, or for the providing of information pertaining thereto.
(Source: P.A. 79-686.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.19) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.19)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 101-652)
Sec. 143.19. Cancellation of automobile insurance policy; grounds. After a policy of automobile insurance as defined in Section 143.13(a) has been effective for 60 days, or if such policy is a renewal policy, the insurer shall not exercise its option to cancel such policy except for one or more of the following reasons:
Nothing in this Section shall apply to nonrenewal.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 101-652)
Sec. 143.19. Cancellation of automobile insurance policy; grounds. After a policy of automobile insurance as defined in Section 143.13(a) has been effective for 60 days, or if such policy is a renewal policy, the insurer shall not exercise its option to cancel such policy except for one or more of the following reasons:
Nothing in this Section shall apply to nonrenewal.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 101-652, eff. 1-1-23.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.19.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.19.1)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 101-652)
Sec. 143.19.1. Limits on exercise of right of nonrenewal. After a policy of automobile insurance, as defined in Section 143.13, has been effective or renewed for 5 or more years, the company shall not exercise its right of non-renewal unless:
a. The policy was obtained through a material misrepresentation; or
b. Any insured violated any of the terms and conditions of the policy; or
c. The named insured failed to disclose fully his motor vehicle accidents and moving traffic violations for the preceding 36 months, if such information is called for in the application; or
d. Any insured made a false or fraudulent claim or knowingly aided or abetted another in the presentation of such a claim; or
e. The named insured or any other operator who either resides in the same household or customarily operates an automobile insured under such a policy:
f. The insured automobile is:
g. The notice of the intention not to renew is mailed to the insured at least 60 days before the date of nonrenewal as provided in Section 143.17.
(Source: P.A. 89-669, eff. 1-1-97.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 101-652)
Sec. 143.19.1. Limits on exercise of right of nonrenewal. After a policy of automobile insurance, as defined in Section 143.13, has been effective or renewed for 5 or more years, the company shall not exercise its right of non-renewal unless:
a. The policy was obtained through a material misrepresentation; or
b. Any insured violated any of the terms and conditions of the policy; or
c. The named insured failed to disclose fully his motor vehicle accidents and moving traffic violations for the preceding 36 months, if such information is called for in the application; or
d. Any insured made a false or fraudulent claim or knowingly aided or abetted another in the presentation of such a claim; or
e. The named insured or any other operator who either resides in the same household or customarily operates an automobile insured under such a policy:
f. The insured automobile is:
g. The notice of the intention not to renew is mailed to the insured at least 60 days before the date of nonrenewal as provided in Section 143.17.
(Source: P.A. 101-652, eff. 1-1-23.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.19.2)
Sec. 143.19.2. Volunteer driver protection.
(a) For the purpose of this Section, "volunteer driver" means a person who transports by vehicle individuals or goods without compensation above reimbursement for expenses, where the driving services are performed for a nationally affiliated charitable nonprofit organization operating in Area Agencies on Aging areas number 3 or 12, as designated by the Department on Aging, that allows older individuals to transfer their automobiles to the organization in exchange for personal transportation services.
(b) An insurer may not refuse to issue vehicle insurance to a person solely because the applicant is a volunteer driver. An insurer may not impose a surcharge or otherwise increase the rate for a vehicle policy solely on the basis that the named insured or any member of the insured's household or a person who customarily operates the insured's vehicle is a volunteer driver. This Section shall not prohibit an insurer from taking any actions upon factors other than the volunteer status of the insured driver.
(Source: P.A. 97-285, eff. 8-9-11.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.19.3)
Sec. 143.19.3. Prohibition of rate increase for persons involved in emergency use of vehicles.
(a) No insurer authorized to transact or transacting business in this State, or controlling or controlled by or under common control by or with an insurer authorized to transact or transacting business in this State, that sells a personal policy of automobile insurance in this State shall increase the policy premium, cancel the policy, or refuse to renew the policy solely because the insured or any other person who customarily operates an automobile covered by the policy has had an accident while operating an automobile in response to an emergency when the insured was responding to a call to duty as a volunteer EMS provider, as defined in Section 1-220 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) also apply to all personal umbrella policies.
(Source: P.A. 100-657, eff. 8-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.19a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.19a)
Sec. 143.19a. No policy of insurance as defined in subsection a. of Section 143.13 of this Act may be cancelled where the sole basis for such cancellation is the payment by the insurance company of a claim or claims against such policy.
(Source: P.A. 80-1127.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.19b) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.19b)
Sec. 143.19b. No policy of insurance as defined in subsection (a) of Section 143.13 of this Code may be nonrenewed where the sole basis for nonrenewal was the reporting of a claim or claims against such policy and such claim or claims were closed without payment.
(Source: P.A. 86-437.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.20) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.20)
Sec. 143.20. Notice to Insured as to Eligibility of Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan.
When a policy of automobile insurance is cancelled other than for nonpayment of premium or in the event of the renewal of a policy of automobile insurance to which Section 143.17 applies, the company shall notify the named insured of his possible eligibility for insurance through the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan. Such notice shall accompany or be included in the notice of cancellation or in the notice of intent not to renew.
(Source: P.A. 80-1136.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.20a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.20a)
Sec. 143.20a. Cancellation of Fire and Marine Policies. (1) Policies covering property, except policies described in Section 143.13b, of this Code, issued for the kinds of business enumerated in Class 3 of Section 4 of this Code may be cancelled 10 days following receipt of written notice by the named insureds if the insured property is found to consist of one or more of the following:
(a) Buildings to which, following a fire loss, permanent repairs have not commenced within 60 days after satisfactory adjustment of loss, unless such delay is a direct result of a labor dispute or weather conditions.
(b) Buildings which have been unoccupied 60 consecutive days, except buildings which have a seasonal occupancy and buildings which are undergoing construction, repair or reconstruction and are properly secured against unauthorized entry.
(c) Buildings on which, because of their physical condition, there is an outstanding order to vacate, an outstanding demolition order, or which have been declared unsafe in accordance with applicable law.
(d) Buildings on which heat, water, sewer service or public lighting have not been connected for 30 consecutive days or more.
(2) All notices of cancellation under this Section shall be sent by certified mail and regular mail to the address of record of the named insureds.
(3) All cancellations made pursuant to this Section shall be on a pro rata basis.
(Source: P.A. 86-437.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.21) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.21)
Sec. 143.21. Cancellation of Fire and Extended Coverage Policy - Grounds. After a policy of fire and extended coverage insurance, as defined in paragraph (b) of Section 143.13, has been effective for 60 days, or if such policy is a renewal policy, the company shall not exercise its right to cancel except for one or more of the following reasons:
a. For nonpayment of premium;
b. When a policy was obtained by misrepresentation or fraud; or
c. For any act which measurably increases the risk originally accepted.
(Source: P.A. 86-437.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.21.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.21.1)
Sec. 143.21.1. After a policy of fire and extended coverage, as defined in Section 143.13, has been effective or renewed for 5 or more years, the company shall not exercise its right of non-renewal unless:
1. The policy was obtained by misrepresentation or fraud; or
2. The risk originally accepted has measurably increased; or
3. The insured has received 60 days notice of the intention of the company not to renew as provided in Section 143.17.
(Source: P.A. 80-1126.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.21a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.21a)
Sec. 143.21a. Nonrenewal of Fire and Extended Coverage Policy - Grounds. A policy of fire and extended coverage insurance, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 143.13, may not be nonrenewed for any of the following reasons:
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.21b) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.21b)
Sec. 143.21b. No policy of insurance as defined in subsection b. of Section 143.13 of this Act may be cancelled where the sole basis for such cancellation is the payment by the insurance company of a claim or claims against such policy.
(Source: P.A. 80-1364.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.21c) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.21c)
Sec. 143.21c. Earthquake insurance; notice. In response to all applications for homeowners insurance, pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 143.13 of this Act, received by the insurance company for coverage on property located in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, as defined by the United States Geological Survey in Illinois, susceptible to Modified Mercalli intensity VII or greater damage, information shall be provided by the insurance company to the applicant regarding the availability of insurance for loss caused by earthquake.
(Source: P.A. 86-1197; 87-322.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.22) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.22)
Sec. 143.22. Notice to Insured as to Eligibility of Illinois Fair Plan Association. When a policy containing fire and extended coverage insurance is cancelled or nonrenewed other than for nonpayment of premium or evidence of incendiarism and if the location of the insured property is within the State of Illinois the company shall notify the named insured of his eligibility for the FAIR Plan and shall explain the procedure to make application to the FAIR Plan. Such notice shall accompany or be included in the notice of cancellation or the notice of intent not to renew.
(Source: P.A. 86-437.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.23) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.23)
Sec. 143.23. Cancellation and Nonrenewal Policies - Hearing. A named insured who wishes to appeal the reasons for cancellation or nonrenewal pursuant to Sections 143.16a and 143.19 through 143.24, shall at least 20 days prior to the effective date of cancellation or nonrenewal, mail or deliver to the Director of Insurance a written request for a hearing which shall clearly state the basis for the appeal. This Section does not apply to cancellation in the case of nonpayment of premium. The notice of cancellation or nonrenewal to which this Section applies shall advise the named insured of his right to appeal and the procedure to follow for such appeal.
Within 10 days after receipt of request for a hearing and upon 10 days notice to the parties, the Director shall call a hearing. Within 20 days of conclusion of the hearing, the Director shall issue his written findings to the parties. The policy will remain in force until such time as the Director has given his findings. If the Director finds for the named insured, he shall order the insurer to rescind its notice of cancellation, or in the case of a nonrenewal order the notice of nonrenewal withdrawn. If the Director finds for the Company he shall order that the cancellation or nonrenewal be effective at least 30 days from the date of his order. The company is entitled to a premium for any extension of coverage and such extension may be contingent upon the payment of the premium.
Costs of the hearing may be assessed against the losing party but shall not exceed $100.
(Source: P.A. 86-437; 87-757.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.23a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.23a)
Sec. 143.23a. When any person has filed a complaint with the Director alleging cancellation, non-renewal or refusal to issue a fire and extended coverage policy, as defined in Section 143.13 of this Code, by any insurer, such person, upon written request to the insurer, to which the insurer shall respond within 21 days, shall have access to the complete file of such insurer pertaining to such person's application or policy. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action shall rise against, any insurer or authorized representative, or its agents or employees, or the director or his authorized representative for any statement made by them or any information contained in the files revealed in compliance with the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 80-1374.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.24) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.24)
Sec. 143.24. Limited Nonrenewal of Automobile Insurance Policy. A policy of automobile insurance, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 143.13, may not be nonrenewed for any of the following reasons:
a. Age;
b. Sex;
c. Race;
d. Color;
e. Creed;
f. Ancestry;
g. Occupation;
h. Marital Status;
i. Employer of the insured;
j. Physical disability as defined in Section 143.24a of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.24a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.24a)
Sec. 143.24a. (a) No insurer, licensed to issue a policy of automobile insurance, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 143.13, shall fail or refuse to accept an application from a person with a physical disability for such insurance, refuse to issue such insurance to an applicant with a physical disability therefor solely because of a physical disability, or issue or cancel such insurance under conditions less favorable to persons with physical disabilities than persons without physical disabilities; nor shall a physical disability itself constitute a condition or risk for which a higher premium may be required of a person with a physical disability for such insurance.
(b) As used in this Section, "physical disability" refers only to an impairment of physical ability because of amputation or loss of function which impairment has been compensated for, when necessary, by vehicle equipment adaptation or modification; or an impairment of hearing which impairment has been compensated for, when necessary, either by sensory equipment adaptation or modification, or an impairment of speech; provided, that the insurer may require an applicant with a physical disability for such insurance on the renewal of such insurance to furnish proof that he or she has qualified for a new or renewed drivers license since the occurrence of the disabling condition.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.24b) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.24b)
Sec. 143.24b. Any insurer insuring any person or entity against damages arising out of a vehicular accident shall disclose the dollar amount of liability coverage under the insured's personal private passenger automobile liability insurance policy upon receipt of the following: (a) a certified letter from a claimant or any attorney purporting to represent any claimant which requests such disclosure and (b) a brief description of the nature and extent of the injuries, accompanied by a statement of the amount of medical bills incurred to date and copies of medical records. The disclosure shall be confidential and available only to the claimant, his attorney and personnel in the office of the attorney entitled to access to the claimant's files. The insurer shall forward the information to the party requesting it by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 30 days of receipt of the request.
(Source: P.A. 85-1209.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.24c)
Sec. 143.24c. Hate crimes; coverage refusal.
(a) This Section applies to policies of insurance if the insured or proposed insured is (1) an individual, (2) a religious organization described in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 170 of Title 26 of the United States Code, (3) an educational organization described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 170 of Title 26 of the United States Code, or (4) any other nonprofit organization described in clause (vi) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 170 of Title 26 of the United States Code that is organized and operated for religious, charitable, or educational purposes.
(b) An insurer issuing policies subject to this Section may not cancel, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the policy solely on the basis that one or more claims have been made against any policy during the preceding 60 months for a loss that is the result of a hate crime committed against the person or property insured if the insured provides evidence to the insurer that the act causing the loss is identified as a hate crime on a police report.
(c) As it relates to this Section, if determined by a law enforcement agency, a "hate crime" may include any of the following:
(d) Nothing in this Section prevents an insurer subject to this Section from taking any of the actions specified in subsection (b) on the basis of criteria not otherwise made invalid by this Section or any other law or rule.
(Source: P.A. 92-669, eff. 1-1-03.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.24d)
Sec. 143.24d. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 98-864, eff. 1-1-15. Repealed by P.A. 100-439, eff. 8-25-17.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.25) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.25)
Sec. 143.25. The Director of insurance may order any of the following if it is determined to be in the public interest:
(a) Some or all companies issuing policies of insurance as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 143.13 annually disclose by postal zip code area the number of policies applied for, the number of policies issued including renewals, the number of policies cancelled or nonrenewed for some or all areas of the State, and loss data.
(b) The Illinois FAIR Plan created by Article XXXIII of the Code annually disclose by postal zip code area the number of policies it has written including renewals and cancellations for some or all areas of the State.
(c) The Illinois FAIR Plan created by Article XXXIII annually disclose by classification the earned premiums and losses of the Plan.
(Source: P.A. 81-217.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.25a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.25a)
Sec. 143.25a. Prior to the first renewal of any policy of automobile insurance as defined in subsection (a) of Section 143.13 of this Code, an insurance company shall notify an individual planning to purchase such renewal policy of the availability of higher deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage and that a premium savings could result if the higher deductibles were purchased.
(Source: P.A. 86-783.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.26) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.26)
Sec. 143.26. No company issuing policies of automobile insurance, as defined in Section 143.13 of this Code, in this State, and no officer, director, agent, clerk, employee or broker of such company shall cancel or refuse to issue or renew a policy of automobile insurance to any applicant for such insurance solely on the grounds that an agent or broker for such company is not located in geographical proximity to the residence of the applicant.
(Source: P.A. 80-1369.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.26a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.26a)
Sec. 143.26a. Automobile insurance sales requirements.
(a) Every company authorized to issue policies of automobile insurance as defined in Section 143.13 must, upon request, provide the names and addresses of its authorized producers reasonably determined to be located nearest to the residence of the person making the request.
(b) No company or authorized licensed producer may refuse to accept an application for automobile insurance from any applicant solely on the grounds that the applicant is eligible for placement only under the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan.
(Source: P.A. 86-1408.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.27) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.27)
Sec. 143.27. No insurance company may give to any named insured any notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of a policy of fire and extended coverage insurance, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 143.13, covering property which is capable of being rehabilitated, without allowing the named insured a reasonable period of time in which to repair defects in the insured property or relevant portion thereof, to an extent reasonably sufficient to facilitate continued coverage thereon. The time reasonably allowable therefor (which in no event shall exceed ninety days) and the degree of sufficiency of such rehabilitative efforts which insurance companies shall accept, may be determined by a certificate from a licensed contractor or architect and such rehabilitative efforts shall be in compliance with local municipal building codes. The notice of need for repair shall be from the insurance company, which may be sent to the insured at any time during the policy term, and which notice shall commence the time period established under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 81-857.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.28) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.28)
Sec. 143.28. The rates and premium charges for all policies of automobile insurance, as described in sub-section (a) of Section 143.13 of this Code, shall include appropriate reductions for insured automobiles which are equipped with anti-theft mechanisms or devices approved by the Director. To implement the provisions of this Section, the Director shall promulgate rules and regulations.
(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00; 92-125, eff. 7-20-01.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.29) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.29)
Sec. 143.29. (a) The rates and premium charges for every policy of automobile liability insurance shall include appropriate reductions as determined by the insurer for any insured over age 55 upon successful completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or a motor vehicle accident prevention course, including an eLearning course, that is found by the Secretary of State to meet or exceed the standards of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course's 8 hour classroom safety instruction program.
(b) The premium reduction shall remain in effect for the qualifying insured for a period of 3 years from the date of successful completion of the accident prevention course, except that the insurer may elect to apply the premium reduction beginning either with the last effective date of the policy or the next renewal date of the policy if the reduction will result in a savings as though applied over a full 3 year period. An insured who has completed the course of instruction prior to July 1, 1982 shall receive the insurance premium reduction for only the period remaining within the 3 years from course completion. The period of premium reduction for an insured who has repeated the accident prevention course shall be based upon the last such course the insured has successfully completed.
(c) Any accident prevention course approved by the Secretary of State under this Section shall be taught by an instructor approved by the Secretary of State, shall consist of at least 8 hours of classroom or eLearning equivalent instruction and shall provide for a certificate of completion. Records of certification of course completion shall be maintained in a manner acceptable to the Secretary of State.
(d) Any person claiming eligibility for a rate or premium reduction shall be responsible for providing to his insurance company the information necessary to determine eligibility.
(e) This Section shall not apply to:
(Source: P.A. 102-397, eff. 1-1-22.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.30) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.30)
Sec. 143.30. Selection of glass replacement or glass repair companies.
With reference to every policy of automobile insurance as defined in Section 143.13(a):
(a) An automobile insurer authorized to do business in this State shall not unreasonably restrict access to automobile glass repair or replacement facilities by its policyholders.
(b) An automobile insurer may enter into an agreement or agreements with automobile glass repair or replacement facilities for the purpose of containing the cost of automobile glass repair or replacement claims.
(c) An insurer, or a producer acting on its behalf, shall disclose to an insured, either orally or in writing, that the insured may freely choose an automobile glass repair or replacement facility.
(d) No such insurance company, producer, or adjuster may engage in any act or practice of intimidation, coercion, or threat against any insured person to use a particular facility to provide such services.
(e) If a policyholder selects an automobile glass repair or replacement facility, the insurer shall provide payment to the facility based on a competitive price, as established by that insurer through competitive bids or market surveys to determine a fair and reasonable market price for similar services. Reasonable deviation from this market price is allowed based on the facts in each case.
(Source: P.A. 87-1110.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.31)
Sec. 143.31. Uniform medical claim and billing forms.
(a) The Director shall prescribe by rule, after consultation with providers of health care or treatment, insurers, hospital, medical, and dental service corporations, and other prepayment organizations, insurance claim and billing forms that the Director determines will provide for uniformity and simplicity in insurance claims handling. The claim forms shall include, but need not be limited to, information regarding the medical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the patient, together with the details of charges incident to the providing of care, treatment, or services, sufficient for the purpose of meeting the proof requirements of an insurance policy or a hospital, medical, or dental service contract.
(b) An insurer or a provider of health care treatment may not refuse to accept a claim or bill submitted on duly promulgated uniform claim and billing forms. An insurer, however, may accept claims and bills submitted on any other form.
(c) Accident and health insurer explanation of benefits paid statements or claims summary statements sent to an insured by the accident and health insurer shall be in a format and written in a manner that promotes understanding by the insured by setting forth all of the following:
(d) The Director may issue an order directing an accident and health insurer to comply with subsection (c).
(e) An accident and health insurer does not violate subsection (c) by using a document that the accident and health insurer is required to use by the federal government or the State.
(f) The adoption of uniform claim forms and uniform billing forms by the Director under this Section does not preclude an insurer, hospital, medical, or dental service corporation, or other prepayment organization from obtaining any necessary additional information regarding a claim from the claimant, provider of health care or treatment, or certifier of coverage, as may be required.
(g) On and after January 1, 1996 when billing insurers or otherwise filing insurance claims with insurers subject to this Section, providers of health care or treatment, medical services, dental services, pharmaceutical services, or medical equipment must use the uniform claim and billing forms adopted by the Director under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.32)
Sec. 143.32. Replacement of child restraint systems. A policy of automobile insurance, as defined in Section 143.13, that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly must include coverage for replacement of a child restraint system that was in use by a child during an accident to which coverage is applicable. As used in this Section, "child restraint system" has the meaning given that term in the Child Passenger Restraint Act.
(Source: P.A. 91-749, eff. 6-2-00.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.33)
Sec. 143.33. Electronic posting of policies.
(a) Policies and endorsements used by a company for transacting insurance as classified in Class 2 and Class 3 of Section 4 of this Code that do not contain personally identifiable information may be mailed, issued, delivered, or posted on the insurer's Internet website. If the insurer elects to post the insurance policies and endorsements on its Internet website in lieu of mailing, issuing, or delivering them to the insured, then the insurer must comply with all of the following conditions:
(b) Nothing in this Section shall prevent an insurer that posts its policies and endorsements electronically in accordance with this Section from offering a discount to an insured who elects to receive notices and documents electronically in accordance with the provisions of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
(c) Nothing in this Section affects the timing or content of any disclosure or other document required to be provided or made available to any insured under any statute, rule, regulation, or rule of law.
(Source: P.A. 98-521, eff. 8-23-13.)
(215 ILCS 5/143.34)
Sec. 143.34. Electronic notices and documents.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Delivered by electronic means" includes:
"Party" means any recipient of any notice or document required as part of an insurance transaction, including, but not limited to, an applicant, an insured, a policyholder, or an annuity contract holder.
(b) Subject to the requirements of this Section, any notice to a party or any other document required under applicable law in an insurance transaction or that is to serve as evidence of insurance coverage may be delivered, stored, and presented by electronic means so long as it meets the requirements of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
(c) Delivery of a notice or document in accordance with this Section shall be considered equivalent to any delivery method required under applicable law, including delivery by first class mail; first class mail, postage prepaid; certified mail; certificate of mail; or certificate of mailing.
(d) A notice or document may be delivered by electronic means by an insurer to a party under this Section if:
(e) Delivery of a notice or document in accordance with this Section does not affect requirements related to content or timing of any notice or document required under applicable law.
(f) If a provision of this Section or applicable law requiring a notice or document to be provided to a party expressly requires verification or acknowledgment of receipt of the notice or document, the notice or document may be delivered by electronic means only if the method used provides for verification or acknowledgment of receipt.
(g) The legal effectiveness, validity, or enforceability of any contract or policy of insurance executed by a party may not be denied solely because of the failure to obtain electronic consent or confirmation of consent of the party in accordance with subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of this Section.
(h) A withdrawal of consent by a party does not affect the legal effectiveness, validity, or enforceability of a notice or document delivered by electronic means to the party before the withdrawal of consent is effective.
A withdrawal of consent by a party is effective within a reasonable period of time after receipt of the withdrawal by the insurer.
Failure by an insurer to comply with paragraph (4) of subsection (d) of this Section and subsection (j) of this Section may be treated, at the election of the party, as a withdrawal of consent for purposes of this Section.
(i) This Section does not apply to a notice or document delivered by an insurer in an electronic form before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly to a party who, before that date, has consented to receive notice or document in an electronic form otherwise allowed by law.
(j) If the consent of a party to receive certain notices or documents in an electronic form is on file with an insurer before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly and, pursuant to this Section, an insurer intends to deliver additional notices or documents to the party in an electronic form, then prior to delivering such additional notices or documents electronically, the insurer shall:
(k) An insurer shall deliver a notice or document by any other delivery method permitted by law other than electronic means if:
(l) A producer shall not be subject to civil liability for any harm or injury that occurs as a result of a party's election to receive any notice or document by electronic means or by an insurer's failure to deliver a notice or document by electronic means unless the harm or injury is caused by the willful and wanton misconduct of the producer.
(m) This Section shall not be construed to modify, limit, or supersede the provisions of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, as amended.
(n) Nothing in this Section shall prevent an insurer from posting on the insurer's Internet site any standard policy and any endorsements to such a policy that does not contain personally identifiable information, in accordance with Section 143.33 of this Code, in lieu of delivery to a policyholder, insured, or applicant for insurance by any other method.
(Source: P.A. 102-38, eff. 6-25-21.)
(215 ILCS 5/143a) (from Ch. 73, par. 755a)
Sec. 143a. Uninsured and hit and run motor vehicle coverage.
(1) No policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death suffered by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle that is designed for use on public highways and that is either required to be registered in this State or is principally garaged in this State shall be renewed, delivered, or issued for delivery in this State unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto, in limits for bodily injury or death set forth in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured motor vehicles and hit-and-run motor vehicles because of bodily injury, sickness or disease, including death, resulting therefrom. Uninsured motor vehicle coverage does not apply to bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death resulting therefrom, of an insured while occupying a motor vehicle owned by, or furnished or available for the regular use of the insured, a resident spouse or resident relative, if that motor vehicle is not described in the policy under which a claim is made or is not a newly acquired or replacement motor vehicle covered under the terms of the policy. The limits for any coverage for any vehicle under the policy may not be aggregated with the limits for any similar coverage, whether provided by the same insurer or another insurer, applying to other motor vehicles, for purposes of determining the total limit of insurance coverage available for bodily injury or death suffered by a person in any one accident. No policy shall be renewed, delivered, or issued for delivery in this State unless it is provided therein that any dispute with respect to the coverage and the amount of damages shall be submitted for arbitration to the American Arbitration Association and be subject to its rules for the conduct of arbitration hearings as to all matters except medical opinions. As to medical opinions, if the amount of damages being sought is equal to or less than the amount provided for in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, then the current American Arbitration Association Rules shall apply. If the amount being sought in an American Arbitration Association case exceeds that amount as set forth in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, then the Rules of Evidence that apply in the circuit court for placing medical opinions into evidence shall govern. Alternatively, disputes with respect to damages and the coverage shall be determined in the following manner: Upon the insured requesting arbitration, each party to the dispute shall select an arbitrator and the 2 arbitrators so named shall select a third arbitrator. If such arbitrators are not selected within 45 days from such request, either party may request that the arbitration be submitted to the American Arbitration Association. Any decision made by the arbitrators shall be binding for the amount of damages not exceeding $75,000 for bodily injury to or death of any one person, $150,000 for bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any one motor vehicle accident, or the corresponding policy limits for bodily injury or death, whichever is less. All 3-person arbitration cases proceeding in accordance with any uninsured motorist coverage conducted in this State in which the claimant is only seeking monetary damages up to the limits set forth in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall be subject to the following rules:
(2) No policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle shall be renewed, delivered, or issued for delivery in this State with respect to any private passenger or recreational motor vehicle that is designed for use on public highways and that is either required to be registered in this State or is principally garaged in this State and is not covered by collision insurance under the provisions of such policy, unless coverage is made available in the amount of the actual cash value of the motor vehicle described in the policy or $15,000 whichever is less, subject to a $250 deductible, for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured motor vehicles and hit-and-run motor vehicles because of property damage to the motor vehicle described in the policy.
There shall be no liability imposed under the uninsured motorist property damage coverage required by this subsection if the owner or operator of the at-fault uninsured motor vehicle or hit-and-run motor vehicle cannot be identified. This subsection shall not apply to any policy which does not provide primary motor vehicle liability insurance for liabilities arising from the maintenance, operation, or use of a specifically insured motor vehicle.
Each insurance company providing motor vehicle property damage liability insurance shall advise applicants of the availability of uninsured motor vehicle property damage coverage, the premium therefor, and provide a brief description of the coverage. That information need be given only once and shall not be required in any subsequent renewal, reinstatement or reissuance, substitute, amended, replacement or supplementary policy. No written rejection shall be required, and the absence of a premium payment for uninsured motor vehicle property damage shall constitute conclusive proof that the applicant or policyholder has elected not to accept uninsured motorist property damage coverage.
An insurance company issuing uninsured motor vehicle property damage coverage may provide that:
Any dispute with respect to the coverage and the amount of damages shall be submitted for arbitration to the American Arbitration Association and be subject to its rules for the conduct of arbitration hearings or for determination in the following manner: Upon the insured requesting arbitration, each party to the dispute shall select an arbitrator and the 2 arbitrators so named shall select a third arbitrator. If such arbitrators are not selected within 45 days from such request, either party may request that the arbitration be submitted to the American Arbitration Association. Any arbitration proceeding under this subsection seeking recovery for property damages shall be subject to the following rules:
(3) For the purpose of the coverage, the term "uninsured motor vehicle" includes, subject to the terms and conditions of the coverage, a motor vehicle where on, before or after the accident date the liability insurer thereof is unable to make payment with respect to the legal liability of its insured within the limits specified in the policy because of the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order of rehabilitation or liquidation by reason of insolvency on or after the accident date. An insurer's extension of coverage, as provided in this subsection, shall be applicable to all accidents occurring after July 1, 1967 during a policy period in which its insured's uninsured motor vehicle coverage is in effect. Nothing in this Section may be construed to prevent any insurer from extending coverage under terms and conditions more favorable to its insureds than is required by this Section.
(4) In the event of payment to any person under the coverage required by this Section and subject to the terms and conditions of the coverage, the insurer making the payment shall, to the extent thereof, be entitled to the proceeds of any settlement or judgment resulting from the exercise of any rights of recovery of the person against any person or organization legally responsible for the property damage, bodily injury or death for which the payment is made, including the proceeds recoverable from the assets of the insolvent insurer. With respect to payments made by reason of the coverage described in subsection (3), the insurer making such payment shall not be entitled to any right of recovery against the tortfeasor in excess of the proceeds recovered from the assets of the insolvent insurer of the tortfeasor.
(5) This amendatory Act of 1967 (Laws of Illinois 1967, page 875) shall not be construed to terminate or reduce any insurance coverage or any right of any party under this Code in effect before July 1, 1967. Public Act 86-1155 shall not be construed to terminate or reduce any insurance coverage or any right of any party under this Code in effect before its effective date.
(6) Failure of the motorist from whom the claimant is legally entitled to recover damages to file the appropriate forms with the Safety Responsibility Section of the Department of Transportation within 120 days of the accident date shall create a rebuttable presumption that the motorist was uninsured at the time of the injurious occurrence.
(7) An insurance carrier may upon good cause require the insured to commence a legal action against the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle before good faith negotiation with the carrier. If the action is commenced at the request of the insurance carrier, the carrier shall pay to the insured, before the action is commenced, all court costs, jury fees and sheriff's fees arising from the action.
The changes made by Public Act 90-451 apply to all policies of insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on and after January 1, 1998 (the effective date of Public Act 90-451).
(8) The changes made by Public Act 98-927 apply to all policies of insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on and after January 1, 2015 (the effective date of Public Act 98-927).
(Source: P.A. 98-242, eff. 1-1-14; 98-927, eff. 1-1-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)
(215 ILCS 5/143a-2) (from Ch. 73, par. 755a-2)
Sec. 143a-2. (1) Additional uninsured motor vehicle coverage. No policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death suffered by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle shall be renewed or delivered or issued for delivery in this State with respect to any motor vehicle designed for use on public highways and required to be registered in this State unless uninsured motorist coverage as required in Section 143a of this Code is included in an amount equal to the insured's bodily injury liability limits unless specifically rejected by the insured as provided in paragraph (2) of this Section. Each insurance company providing the coverage must provide applicants with a brief description of the coverage and advise them of their right to reject the coverage in excess of the limits set forth in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1990 apply to policies of insurance applied for after June 30, 1991.
(2) Right of rejection of additional uninsured motorist coverage. Any named insured or applicant may reject additional uninsured motorist coverage in excess of the limits set forth in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code by making a written request for limits of uninsured motorist coverage which are less than bodily injury liability limits or a written rejection of limits in excess of those required by law. This election or rejection shall be binding on all persons insured under the policy. In those cases where the insured has elected to purchase limits of uninsured motorist coverage which are less than bodily injury liability limits or to reject limits in excess of those required by law, the insurer need not provide in any renewal, reinstatement, reissuance, substitute, amended, replacement or supplementary policy, coverage in excess of that elected by the insured in connection with a policy previously issued to such insured by the same insurer unless the insured subsequently makes a written request for such coverage.
(3) The original document indicating the applicant's selection of uninsured motorist coverage limits shall constitute sufficient evidence of the applicant's selection of uninsured motorist coverage limits. For purposes of this Section any reproduction of the document by means of photograph, photostat, microfiche, computerized optical imaging process, or other similar process or means of reproduction shall be deemed the equivalent of the original document.
(4) For the purpose of this Code the term "underinsured motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle whose ownership, maintenance or use has resulted in bodily injury or death of the insured, as defined in the policy, and for which the sum of the limits of liability under all bodily injury liability insurance policies or under bonds or other security required to be maintained under Illinois law applicable to the driver or to the person or organization legally responsible for such vehicle and applicable to the vehicle, is less than the limits for underinsured coverage provided the insured as defined in the policy at the time of the accident. The limits of liability for an insurer providing underinsured motorist coverage shall be the limits of such coverage, less those amounts actually recovered under the applicable bodily injury insurance policies, bonds or other security maintained on the underinsured motor vehicle.
On or after July 1, 1983, no policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death suffered by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle shall be renewed or delivered or issued for delivery in this State with respect to any motor vehicle designed for use on public highways and required to be registered in this State unless underinsured motorist coverage is included in such policy in an amount equal to the total amount of uninsured motorist coverage provided in that policy where such uninsured motorist coverage exceeds the limits set forth in Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
The changes made to this subsection (4) by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly apply to policies issued or renewed on or after December 1, 2004.
(5) Scope. Nothing herein shall prohibit an insurer from setting forth policy terms and conditions which provide that if the insured has coverage available under this Section under more than one policy or provision of coverage, any recovery or benefits may be equal to, but may not exceed, the higher of the applicable limits of the respective coverage, and the limits of liability under this Section shall not be increased because of multiple motor vehicles covered under the same policy of insurance. Insurers providing liability coverage on an excess or umbrella basis are neither required to provide, nor are they prohibited from offering or making available coverages conforming to this Section on a supplemental basis. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, an insurer shall not be prohibited from solely providing a combination of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages where the limits of liability under each coverage is in the same amount.
(6) Subrogation against underinsured motorists. No insurer shall exercise any right of subrogation under a policy providing additional uninsured motorist coverage against an underinsured motorist where the insurer has been provided with written notice in advance of a settlement between its insured and the underinsured motorist and the insurer fails to advance a payment to the insured, in an amount equal to the tentative settlement, within 30 days following receipt of such notice.
(7) A policy which provides underinsured motor vehicle coverage may include a clause which denies payment until the limits of liability or portion thereof under all bodily injury liability insurance policies applicable to the underinsured motor vehicle and its operators have been partially or fully exhausted by payment of judgment or settlement. A judgment or settlement of the bodily injury claim in an amount less than the limits of liability of the bodily injury coverages applicable to the claim shall not preclude the claimant from making an underinsured motorist claim against the underinsured motorist coverage. Any such provision in a policy of insurance shall be inapplicable if the insured, or the legal representative of the insured, and the insurer providing underinsured motor vehicle coverage agree that the insured has suffered bodily injury or death as the result of the negligent operation, maintenance, or use of an underinsured motor vehicle and, without arbitration, agree also on the amount of damages that the insured is legally entitled to collect. The maximum amount payable pursuant to such an underinsured motor vehicle insurance settlement agreement shall not exceed the amount by which the limits of the underinsured motorist coverage exceed the limits of the bodily injury liability insurance of the owner or operator of the underinsured motor vehicle. Any such agreement shall be final as to the amount due and shall be binding upon both the insured and the underinsured motorist insurer regardless of the amount of any judgment, or any settlement reached between any insured and the person or persons responsible for the accident. No such settlement agreement shall be concluded unless: (i) the insured has complied with all other applicable policy terms and conditions; and (ii) before the conclusion of the settlement agreement, the insured has filed suit against the underinsured motor vehicle owner or operator and has not abandoned the suit, or settled the suit without preserving the rights of the insurer providing underinsured motor vehicle coverage in the manner described in paragraph (6) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93-762, eff. 7-16-04.)
(215 ILCS 5/143b) (from Ch. 73, par. 755b)
Sec. 143b. Any insurance carrier whose payment to its insured is reduced by a deductible amount under a policy providing collision coverage is subrogated to its insured's entire collision loss claim including the deductible amount unless the deductible amount has been otherwise recovered by the insured, but if the deductible amount has been otherwise recovered by the insured it shall not be included in the subrogated loss claim and shall be excluded from the amount of loss pleaded. If the deductible amount is included in the subrogated loss claim the insurance carrier shall pay the full pro rata deductible share to its insured out of the net recovery on the subrogated claim. Administrative expenses of the insurance carrier cannot be deducted from the gross recovery, and only incurred expenses of the carrier, such as attorney's fees, collection fees and adjuster's fees, may be deducted therefrom to determine the net recovery. When the insurance carrier is recovering directly from a third party a claim by means of installments, the insured shall receive his full pro rata deductible share as soon as such amount is collected and before any part of such recovery is applied to any other use.
(Source: P.A. 83-588.)
(215 ILCS 5/143c) (from Ch. 73, par. 755c)
Sec. 143c. No insurance policy authorized under Class 1, 2 or 3 of Section 4 of this Code shall be delivered in this State unless the policyholder or certificate holder is provided written notice of:
(1) the address of the complaint department of the insurance company; and
(2) the address of the Public Service Division of the Department of Insurance or its successor.
The Director may, by rule, exempt certain types of insurance policies from the provisions of this Section whenever the application of this Section in such cases would be unwarranted or unduly burdensome in view of any benefit to the public.
(Source: P.A. 80-823.)
(215 ILCS 5/143d) (from Ch. 73, par. 755d)
Sec. 143d. Customer affairs and information department.
(a) Every company licensed to issue policies of insurance as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 143.13 shall establish a customer affairs and information department to respond to policyholder inquiries and complaints. The department shall be staffed by an employee or employees generally knowledgeable in the affairs and operations of the company. The department shall be located in either the home, regional, or branch office of the company and must, during regular business hours, either maintain a toll free telephone number or permit policyholders to call a designated telephone number at the company's expense. The telephone numbers shall be made available to policyholders in accordance with Section 143(c).
(b) The customer affairs and information department shall provide information and services that may reasonably be requested by policyholders who are residents of this State and must respond promptly to complaints made by policyholder. Companies must provide a written response to written inquiries and complaints within 21 days of receipt.
(c) Records of the customer affairs and information department shall be maintained in compliance with Department of Insurance regulations.
(Source: P.A. 86-1407.)
(215 ILCS 5/144) (from Ch. 73, par. 756)
Sec. 144. Limitation of risk.
(1) No company authorized to transact any of the kind of business enumerated in Classes 2 and 3 of Section 4 in this State may expose itself to any loss on any one risk or hazard to an amount exceeding 10% of its admitted assets in excess of its liabilities excluding, in the case of a stock company, its capital stock liability. No portion of any such risk or hazard which has been reinsured in a domestic or an approved foreign or alien company, in accordance with this Code, shall be included in determining the limitation of risk prescribed herein.
(2) Any company transacting the kind of business enumerated in clause (g) of Class 2 of Section 4 may expose itself to a risk or hazard in excess of the amount prescribed in subsection (1) if it is protected in excess of that amount by the following:
(3) A company designated in subsection (2) may also execute transportation or warehouse bonds for United States Internal Revenue taxes to an amount equal to 50% of its capital and surplus. When the penalty of the suretyship obligation exceeds the amount of a judgment described therein as appealed from and thereby secured, or exceeds the amount of the subject matter in controversy or of the estate in the custody of the fiduciary for the performance of whose duties it is conditioned, the bond may be executed if the actual amount of the judgment or the subject matter in controversy or estate not subject to supervision or control of the surety is not in excess of such limitation. When the penalty of the suretyship obligation executed for the performance of a contract exceeds the contract price, the latter shall be taken as the basis for estimating the limit of risk within the meaning of this Section.
(4) Whenever the ratio of the annual premium volume in proportion to the policyholder surplus of any company transacting the kinds of business authorized in Class 2 and Class 3 of Section 4 when reviewed in conjunction with the kinds and nature of risks insured, the financial condition of the company and its ownership including but not limited to the liquidity of assets, relationship of surplus to liabilities and adequacy of outstanding loss reserves, creates a condition such that the further assumption of risks might be hazardous to policyholders, creditors or the general public, then the Director may order such company to take one or more of the following steps:
(5) The provisions of this Section do not apply to domestic, foreign, and alien Lloyds.
The company may, within 10 days after receipt of an Order of the Director under this Section, request that the Director hold a hearing to determine whether the Order of the Director should be modified in any way. A request for a hearing by a company under this Section stays any Order of the Director entered under this Section until such time as the Director has entered an Order pursuant to the hearing.
(Source: P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95; 90-794, eff. 8-14-98.)
(215 ILCS 5/144.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 756.1)
Sec. 144.1. Insurance Sales by Insolvent or Impaired Companies Prohibited.) (1) Unless allowed by the Director, no foreign or alien company officer, director, trustee, agent, or employee of such company may renew, issue or deliver or cause to be renewed, issued or delivered, any policy, contract or certificate of insurance in this State, nor may any domestic company, officer, director, trustee, agent or employee of such company renew, issue or deliver or cause to be renewed, issued or delivered, any policy, contract or certificate of insurance, for which a premium is charged or collected, when the company writing such insurance is insolvent or impaired and the fact of such insolvency or impairment is known to the company officer, director, trustee, agent or employee of such company. A company is impaired when its assets are less than its capital, minimum required surplus and all liabilities.
However, the existence of an impairment does not prevent the issuance or renewal of a policy when an insured or owner exercises an option granted to him under an existing policy to obtain new, renewed or converted insurance coverage.
(2) Any company officer, director, trustee, agent, or employee of such company violating this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 82-498.)
(215 ILCS 5/144.2) (from Ch. 73, par. 756.2)
Sec. 144.2. Notification of insurance business.
(a) Upon notice by the Director, a company having direct premium income must file with the Director supplemental information regarding its insurance business. The Director shall by rule establish standards to determine the companies to be given notice.
(b) The notice prescribed by this Section may require the company to provide information concerning, but not limited to, the following:
(Source: P.A. 90-381, eff. 8-14-97.)
(215 ILCS 5/145) (from Ch. 73, par. 757)
Sec. 145. Deposits.
When any company is required by the laws of this State or of any state or country, or by other competent authority, to make a deposit with an insurance supervising official or other financial officer and the company desires to make such deposit in this State the Director shall accept such deposit, if made in securities authorized for investment by Article VIII of this Code. So long as the company continues solvent and complies with the laws of this State it may collect the income on such securities. The company may substitute therefor other like securities as prescribed by this Code for deposit. If the value of securities deposited by any company shall decline below the amount so required, the company shall make a further deposit.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1431.)
(215 ILCS 5/146) (from Ch. 73, par. 758)
Sec. 146. Withdrawal of deposits.
(1) The Director shall at any time upon request release to a company any portion of its deposit which is not required as a compliance with the conditions of this Code.
(2) When all of the business of a company has been reinsured in accordance with this Code and the assets thereof by contract assigned to another company, the Director may deliver to the reinsured company or to its assigns under the contract of reinsurance after one year from the effective date of such reinsurance contract, all the securities deposited by the reinsured company upon compliance with the following conditions:
(a) The reinsuring company under the reinsurance contract has assumed all liabilities of every kind due and to become due which the deposit of the reinsured company was made to secure or adequate provision has been made therefor;
(b) The said reinsuring company shall have and maintain a deposit in this State or with the department or official charged with the duty of supervising the business of insurance in the state where it is incorporated or, if an alien company, where it is entered, in securities authorized by this Code as lawful investments of the company and in an amount and value not less than the deposit formerly required of the reinsured company by this Code; and
(c) The deposit of the said reinsuring company shall be such that it will subsist for the security of all the obligations of the reinsuring company.
(Source: Laws 1937, p. 696.)
(215 ILCS 5/147) (from Ch. 73, par. 759)
Sec. 147. Deceptive statements as to assets prohibited.
No company doing business in this State or agent thereof, shall state or represent by advertisement in any newspaper, periodical, magazine or over the radio, or by any sign, circular, card, policy of insurance or certificate of renewal thereof or otherwise that any funds or assets are owned by such company which are not actually owned by it and available for the payment of losses and claims and held for the protection of its policyholders and creditors.
(Source: Laws 1937, p. 696.)
(215 ILCS 5/147.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 759.1)
Sec. 147.1. Sale of insurance company shares.
(1) No shares of the capital stock of a domestic stock company shall be sold or offered for sale to the public in this State by an issuer, underwriter, dealer or controlling person in respect of such shares without first procuring from the Director a permit so to do.
(2) Unless the context otherwise indicates the following terms as used in this Section shall have the following meanings:
(3) The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any of the following transactions:
(4) Prior to the issuance of any permit under this Section, there shall be delivered to the Director two copies of the following:
(5) The Director shall within a reasonable time examine the documents submitted to him and unless he finds from said documents that the sale of said shares is inequitable or would work or tend to work a fraud or deceit upon the purchasers thereof, he shall issue a permit authorizing the sale of said shares.
(6) The Director shall have the power to prescribe such rules and regulations relating to the sale, issuance, and offering of said shares as will effectuate the purpose of this Section to the end that no inequity, fraud or deceit will be perpetrated upon the purchasers thereof.
(7) If the Director finds that any of the provisions of this Section or of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant hereto have been violated or that the sale, issuance or offering of any such shares is inequitable or works or tends to work a fraud or deceit upon the purchasers thereof he may refuse to issue a permit to sell, issue or offer such shares or may, after notice and hearing, revoke such permit. The action of the Director in refusing, after due application therefor in form prescribed by the Director, or revoking, any such permit shall be subject to judicial review in the manner prescribed by the insurance laws of this State.
(8) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than the greater of either $5,000 or twice the whole amount, received upon the sale of shares in violation of this Section and may in addition, if a natural person, be convicted of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)
(215 ILCS 5/147.2) (from Ch. 73, par. 759.2)
Sec. 147.2. Civil remedies.) (A) Every sale of a security made in violation of Sections 20, 32 or 147.1 of this Code or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto and every sale of any security for which a prospectus is required to be filed with the Department which is made without a copy of the prospectus as filed having been given to such prospective purchaser prior to payment of all or part of the purchase price shall be voidable at the election of the purchaser. Any person who offers or sells a security by means of a prospectus or oral communication which contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (the purchaser not knowing of such untruth or omission), and who shall not sustain the burden of proof that he did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of such untruth or omission, shall be liable to the person purchasing such security from him, who may bring a civil action in any circuit court. Upon tender to the seller or into court of the securities sold or, where the securities were not received, of any contract made in respect of such sale, the issuer, controlling person, underwriter, dealer or other person by or on behalf of whom said sale was made, and each underwriter, dealer or salesman who shall have participated or aided in any way in making such sale, and in case such issuer, controlling person, underwriter or dealer is a corporation or unincorporated association or organization, each of its officers and directors (or persons performing similar functions) who shall have participated or aided in making such sale, shall be jointly and severally liable to such purchaser for (1) the full amount paid, together with interest from the date of payment for the securities sold at the legal rate of interest less any income or other amounts received by such purchaser on such securities or for any damages if he no longer owns the security and (2) the reasonable fees of such purchaser's attorney incurred in any action brought for recovery of the amounts recoverable hereunder.
(B) Notice of any election provided for in subsection (A) of this Section shall be given by the purchaser, within 6 months after the purchaser shall have knowledge that the sale of the securities to him is voidable, to each person from whom recovery will be sought, by registered letter addressed to the person to be notified at his last known address with proper postage affixed, or by personal service.
(C) No purchaser shall have any right or remedy under this Section who shall fail, within 15 days from the date of receipt thereof, to accept an offer to repurchase the securities purchased by him for a price equal to the full amount paid therefor plus interest thereon and less any income thereon as set forth in subsection (A) of this Section or for damages if he no longer owns the security. Every offer of repurchase provided for in this subsection shall be in writing, shall be delivered to the purchaser or sent by registered mail addressed to the purchaser at his last known address, and shall offer to repurchase the securities sold for a price equal to the full amount paid therefor plus interest thereon and less any income thereon as set forth in subsection (A) of this Section. Such offer shall continue in force for 15 days from the date on which it was received by the purchaser, shall advise the purchaser of his rights and the period of time limited for acceptance thereof, and shall contain such further information, if any, as the Director may prescribe. Any agreement not to accept or refusing or waiving any such offer made during or prior to said 15 days shall be void.
(D) No action shall be brought for relief under this Section or upon or because of any of the matters for which relief is granted by this Section after 3 years from the date of sale.
(E) The term purchaser as used in this Section shall include the personal representative or representatives of the purchaser.
(F) The term security does not include any insurance or endowment policy or annuity contract under which an insurance company promises to pay money either in a lump sum or periodically for life or for some other specified period.
(G) The rights and remedies provided by this Act are in addition to any other rights or remedies that may exist.
This Section shall not apply to insurance stock sales made prior to the effective date of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)
(215 ILCS 5/147.3)
Sec. 147.3. Issuance of capital notes by domestic companies.
(a) A domestic company may at any time or from time to time issue capital notes pursuant to this Section in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding (1) 25% of its total adjusted capital (including the aggregate principal amount of outstanding capital notes and outstanding surplus notes or guaranty fund certificates and guaranty capital shares) as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year less (2) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding capital notes and outstanding surplus notes or guaranty fund certificates and guaranty capital shares; provided, however, that capital notes shall not be issued for an aggregate principal amount that would cause the aggregate principal amount for all of the insurer's capital notes scheduled to mature in any calendar year to exceed 5%, or the aggregate principal amount of all of the insurer's capital notes scheduled to mature in any 3 consecutive calendar years to exceed 12%, of the insurer's total adjusted capital as of the end of the calendar year immediately preceding the issuance of the capital notes. The aggregate amount of capital notes and surplus notes or guaranty fund certificates and guaranty capital shares is at all times limited to 33 1/3% of total adjusted capital. Any aggregate amount in excess of this limit shall reduce the amount of capital notes included in the insurer's total adjusted capital.
(b) No insurer shall issue capital notes pursuant to this Section unless the form and terms thereof shall have been approved by the Director. The term of any capital note shall be no less than 5 years.
(c) An insurer with a capital note outstanding shall file a report with the Director at the same time that the insurer files its Annual Statement and at such other times as the Director determines necessary. The Director may by rule establish times for and the content of these reports.
(d) The insurer shall not pay or redeem the principal amount of any capital notes, make any sinking fund payment, or pay any interest on the notes, and the principal, payment, and interest shall not become due or payable if, based on the preceding year-end annual statement filed with the Director:
Notwithstanding items (1) and (2), upon request by the insurer, the Director may approve, in whole or in part, any payment or redemption on the capital notes if and at such time or times as in his or her judgment the financial condition of the insurer warrants. The amount of the redemptions or payments of principal amounts of any capital notes that cannot be made as the result of the provisions of this subsection may accumulate at the rate of interest of the capital notes.
(e) Capital notes issued pursuant to this Section:
(f) The outstanding principal of a capital note issued pursuant to this Section shall be considered part of the insurer's total adjusted capital, but shall not be considered part of the insurer's surplus; provided, however, (1) that, in the case of any capital note maturing 15 years or less from the year in which the capital note is issued, one-fifth of the aggregate principal amount of the capital note shall be subtracted from total adjusted capital in each year starting with the fifth year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the capital note is scheduled to mature; and (2) that, in the case of any capital note maturing more than 15 years from the year in which the capital note is issued, one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the capital note shall be subtracted from total adjusted capital in each year starting with the tenth year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the capital note is scheduled to mature, and further provided that, in no event shall the amount included in total adjusted capital for any capital note exceed the principal amount, at issue, of the outstanding capital note less the aggregate of all sinking fund payments made on the capital note. The insurer shall disclose the aggregate principal amount of capital notes then outstanding as a liability on its financial statements filed with the Director pursuant to this Code.
(g) As used in this Section, the terms "total adjusted capital", "company action level RBC", and "authorized control level RBC" shall have the meanings given those terms in Article IIA of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 90-831, eff. 8-14-97.)
(215 ILCS 5/148) (from Ch. 73, par. 760)
Sec. 148. Contents of advertisements as to financial condition.
(1) No company authorized to do business in this State shall cause to be inserted in any newspaper, periodical, magazine or other publication, any advertisement purporting to set forth in figures its financial standing unless the figures exhibited in such advertisement correspond to the figures contained in the next preceding verified statement made to the Director and unless there is set forth either
(a) the total amount of the capital actually paid in, the total value of the admitted assets owned, the total amount of the liabilities, including therein the reserves required by law and the amount of the net surplus of assets over liabilities actually available for the payment of losses and claims and held for the protection of policyholders; or
(b) the capital paid in or the surplus, separately or combined.
(2) No alien company authorized to do business in this State shall cause to be inserted in any newspaper, periodical or magazine any advertisement purporting to set forth in figures its financial standing, unless the figures exhibited in such advertisement correspond to the figures contained in the next preceding verified statement made to the Director by the United States Branch of such company and unless there is set forth the total amount of the capital and assets held by its United States Branch, the total amount of its liabilities, including therein the reserves required by law and the total amount of the net surplus of assets over all liabilities actually available for the payment of losses and claims and held for the protection of its policyholders in the United States; provided that any life company organized under the laws of the Dominion of Canada or any province thereof may use in its advertising a statement of its total business and condition in all countries if such statement is accompanied by a statement showing the amount of its total assets and total liabilities in the United States, corresponding to the figures contained in the next preceding statement of such company filed with the Director.
(3) Any company violating any provision of this section, and any officer or director thereof knowingly participating in or abetting such violation, shall be guilty of a business offense and shall be required to pay a penalty of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, to be recovered in the name of the People of the State of Illinois by the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurs and the penalty so recovered shall be paid into the county treasury.
(Source: P.A. 77-2699.)
(215 ILCS 5/149) (from Ch. 73, par. 761)
Sec. 149. Misrepresentation and defamation prohibited.
(1) No company doing business in this State, and no officer, director, agent, clerk or employee thereof, broker, or any other person, shall make, issue or circulate or cause or knowingly permit to be made, issued or circulated any estimate, illustration, circular, or verbal or written statement of any sort misrepresenting the terms of any policy issued or to be issued by it or any other company or the benefits or advantages promised thereby or any misleading estimate of the dividends or share of the surplus to be received thereon, or shall by the use of any name or title of any policy or class of policies misrepresent the nature thereof.
(2) No such company or officer, director, agent, clerk or employee thereof, or broker shall make any misleading representation or comparison of companies or policies, to any person insured in any company for the purpose of inducing or tending to induce a policyholder in any company to lapse, forfeit, change or surrender his insurance, whether on a temporary or permanent plan.
(3) No such company, officer, director, agent, clerk or employee thereof, broker or other person shall make, issue or circulate or cause or knowingly permit to be made, issued or circulated any pamphlet, circular, article, literature or verbal or written statement of any kind which contains any false or malicious statement calculated to injure any company doing business in this State in its reputation or business.
(4) No such company, or officer, director, agent, clerk or employee thereof, no agent, broker, solicitor, or company service representative, and no other person, firm, corporation, or association of any kind or character, shall make, issue, circulate, use, or utter, or cause or knowingly permit to be made, issued, circulated, used, or uttered, any policy or certificate of insurance, or endorsement or rider thereto, or matter incorporated therein by reference, or application blanks, or any stationery, pamphlet, circular, article, literature, advertisement or advertising of any kind or character, visual, or aural, including radio advertising and television advertising, or any other verbal or written statement or utterance (a) which tends to create the impression or from which it may be implied or inferred, directly or indirectly, that the company, its financial condition or status, or the payment of its claims, or the merits, desirability, or advisability of its policy forms or kinds or plans of insurance are approved, endorsed, or guaranteed by the State of Illinois or United States Government or the Director or the Department or are secured by Government bonds or are secured by a deposit with the Director, or (b) which uses or refers to any deposit with the Director or any certificate of deposit issued by the Director or any facsimile, reprint, photograph, photostat, or other reproduction of any such certificate of deposit.
(5) Any company, officer, director, agent, clerk or employee thereof, broker, or other person who violates any of the provisions of this Section, or knowingly participates in or abets such violation, is guilty of a business offense and shall be required to pay a penalty of not less than $200 nor more than $10,000, to be recovered in the name of the People of the State of Illinois either by the Attorney General or by the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurs. The penalty so recovered shall be paid into the county treasury if recovered by the State's Attorney or into the State treasury if recovered by the Attorney General.
(6) No company shall be held guilty of having violated any of the provisions of this Section by reason of the act of any agent, solicitor or employee, not an officer, director or department head thereof, unless an officer, director or department head of such company shall have knowingly permitted such act or shall have had prior knowledge thereof.
(7) Any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust or corporation not authorized to transact an insurance business in this State which disseminates in or causes to be disseminated in this State any advertising, invitations to inquire, questionnaires or requests for information designed to result in a solicitation for the purchase of insurance by residents of this State is also subject to the sanctions of this Section. The phrase "designed to result in a solicitation for the purchase of insurance" includes but is not limited to:
(Source: P.A. 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)
(215 ILCS 5/150.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 762.1)
Sec. 150.1. No company doing business in this State shall enter into a group contract for an annuity or pension plan to cover employees of the State, its agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions or municipal corporations prior to the time such employees are granted membership in any established retirement system or pension fund, by whatever name called, created by and operating pursuant to any of the provisions of the "Illinois Pension Code" if such employees are eligible for coverage under such statute; provided that this provision shall not apply to any contract entered into by a company for such annuity or pension plan for any such group of employees prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3002.)
(215 ILCS 5/151) (from Ch. 73, par. 763)
Sec. 151. Payment or acceptance of rebates prohibited. (1) No company doing business in this State and no insurance agent or broker shall offer, promise, allow, give, set off or pay, directly or indirectly, any rebate of or part of the premium payable on the policy, or on any policy or agent's commission thereon or earnings, profits, dividends or other benefits founded, arising, accruing or to accrue thereon or therefrom, or any special advantage in date of policy or age of issue, or any paid employment or contract for services of any kind or any other valuable consideration or inducement to or for insurance on any risk in this State, now or hereafter to be written, or for or upon any renewal of any such insurance, which is not specified in the policy contract of insurance, or offer, promise, give, option, sell, purchase any stocks, bonds, securities or property or any dividends or profits accruing or to accrue thereon, or other thing of value whatsoever as inducement to insurance or in connection therewith, or any renewal thereof which is not specified in the policy. Nothing in this Section shall prevent a company from paying a bonus to policyholders or otherwise abating their premiums in whole or in part out of surplus accumulated from nonparticipating insurance nor prevent a company which transacts industrial life insurance on a weekly payment plan from returning to policyholders who have made premium payments for a period of at least one year directly to the company at its home or district offices the percentage of premium which the company would otherwise have paid for the weekly collection of such premium nor shall this Section be construed to prevent the taking of a bona fide obligation, with interest at six per centum per annum, in payment of any premium.
Nothing in this Section shall prevent a company from offering a child passenger restraint system or a discount from the purchase price of a child passenger restraint system to policyholders, when the purpose of such restraint system is the safety of a child and compliance with the "Child Passenger Protection Act", approved June 27, 1983, as amended.
(2) No insured person or party or applicant for insurance shall directly or indirectly receive or accept, or agree to receive or accept any rebate of premium or of any part thereof or all or any part of any agent's or broker's commission thereon, or any favor or advantage, or share in any benefit to accrue under any policy of insurance, or any valuable consideration or inducement, other than such as is specified in the policy.
(Source: P.A. 83-1320.)
(215 ILCS 5/152) (from Ch. 73, par. 764)
Sec. 152. Rebates- Penalties.
(1) Any company or any person violating any of the provisions of section 151 shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
(2) No agent or broker for any company doing business in this State violating any of the provisions of section 151 shall be entitled to receive any commission for the sale of any policy on which any rebate, as defined in such section, shall have been given or offered, and if any such company has paid any commission to any agent or broker for the sale of any policy on which such rebate has been given or offered, the full amount thereof may be recovered by such company from such agent or broker.
(3) No company shall be held guilty of having violated the provisions of section 151 by reason of an act of any agent, general agent, representative, broker or employee not an officer, director or department head thereof, unless an officer, director or department head of such company shall have knowingly permitted such act, or shall have had prior knowledge thereof.
(Source: P.A. 77-2699.)
(215 ILCS 5/153) (from Ch. 73, par. 765)
Sec. 153. Rebates- Immunity from prosecution.
No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any books, papers, contracts, agreements or documents at the trial or hearing of any person or company charged with violating any of the provisions of section 151 on the ground that such testimony or evidence may tend to incriminate himself but no person shall be prosecuted for any act concerning which he shall be compelled so to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, and no testimony so given or evidence produced shall be received against him upon any criminal investigation or proceeding except for perjury committed in so testifying.
(Source: Laws 1937, p. 696.)
(215 ILCS 5/154) (from Ch. 73, par. 766)
Sec. 154. Misrepresentations and false warranties.
No misrepresentation or false warranty made by the insured or in his behalf in the negotiation for a policy of insurance, or breach of a condition of such policy shall defeat or avoid the policy or prevent its attaching unless such misrepresentation, false warranty or condition shall have been stated in the policy or endorsement or rider attached thereto, or in the written application therefor. No such misrepresentation or false warranty shall defeat or avoid the policy unless it shall have been made with actual intent to deceive or materially affects either the acceptance of the risk or the hazard assumed by the company. With respect to a policy of insurance as defined in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of Section 143.13, except life, accident and health, fidelity and surety, and ocean marine policies, a policy or policy renewal shall not be rescinded after the policy has been in effect for one year or one policy term, whichever is less. This Section shall not apply to policies of marine or transportation insurance.
(Source: P.A. 89-413, eff. 6-1-96.)
(215 ILCS 5/154.5) (from Ch. 73, par. 766.5)
Sec. 154.5. Improper Claims Practices) It is an improper claims practice for any domestic, foreign or alien company transacting business in this State to commit any of the acts contained in Section 154.6 if:
(a) it is committed knowingly in violation of this Act or any rules promulgated hereunder; or
(b) It has been committed with such frequency to indicate a persistent tendency to engage in that type of conduct.
(Source: P.A. 80-926.)
(215 ILCS 5/154.6) (from Ch. 73, par. 766.6)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-69)
Sec. 154.6. Acts constituting improper claims practice. Any of the following acts by a company, if committed without just cause and in violation of Section 154.5, constitutes an improper claims practice:
(a) Knowingly misrepresenting to claimants and insureds relevant facts or policy provisions relating to coverages at issue;
(b) Failing to acknowledge with reasonable promptness pertinent communications with respect to claims arising under its policies;
(c) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigations and settlement of claims arising under its policies;
(d) Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlement of claims submitted in which liability has become reasonably clear;
(e) Compelling policyholders to institute suits to recover amounts due under its policies by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in suits brought by them;
(f) Engaging in activity which results in a disproportionate number of meritorious complaints against the insurer received by the Insurance Department;
(g) Engaging in activity which results in a disproportionate number of lawsuits to be filed against the insurer or its insureds by claimants;
(h) Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation based on all available information;
(i) Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements have been completed;
(j) Attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would believe the claimant was entitled, by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application or establishing unreasonable caps or limits on paint or materials when estimating vehicle repairs;
(k) Attempting to settle claims on the basis of an application which was altered without notice to, or knowledge or consent of, the insured;
(l) Making a claims payment to a policyholder or beneficiary omitting the coverage under which each payment is being made;
(m) Delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring an insured, a claimant, or the physicians of either to submit a preliminary claim report and then requiring subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, resulting in the duplication of verification;
(n) Failing in the case of the denial of a claim or the offer of a compromise settlement to promptly provide a reasonable and accurate explanation of the basis in the insurance policy or applicable law for such denial or compromise settlement;
(o) Failing to provide forms necessary to present claims within 15 working days of a request with such explanations as are necessary to use them effectively;
(p) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards to verify that a repairer designated by the insurance company to provide an estimate, perform repairs, or engage in any other service in connection with an insured loss on a vehicle is duly licensed under Section 5-301 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;
(q) Failing to provide as a persistent tendency a notification on any written estimate prepared by an insurance company in connection with an insured loss that Illinois law requires that vehicle repairers must be licensed in accordance with Section 5-301 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;
(r) Engaging in any other acts which are in substance equivalent to any of the foregoing.
(Source: P.A. 90-340, eff. 8-8-97.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-69)
Sec. 154.6. Acts constituting improper claims practice. Any of the following acts by a company, if committed without just cause and in violation of Section 154.5, constitutes an improper claims practice:
(a) Knowingly misrepresenting to claimants and insureds relevant facts or policy provisions relating to coverages at issue;
(b) Failing to acknowledge with reasonable promptness pertinent communications with respect to claims arising under its policies;
(c) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigations and settlement of claims arising under its policies;
(d) Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlement of claims submitted in which liability has become reasonably clear;
(e) Compelling policyholders to institute suits to recover amounts due under its policies by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in suits brought by them;
(f) Engaging in activity which results in a disproportionate number of meritorious complaints against the insurer received by the Insurance Department;
(g) Engaging in activity which results in a disproportionate number of lawsuits to be filed against the insurer or its insureds by claimants;
(h) Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation based on all available information;
(i) Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements have been completed;
(j) Attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would believe the claimant was entitled, by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application or establishing unreasonable caps or limits on paint or materials when estimating vehicle repairs;
(k) Attempting to settle claims on the basis of an application which was altered without notice to, or knowledge or consent of, the insured;
(l) Making a claims payment to a policyholder or beneficiary omitting the coverage under which each payment is being made;
(m) Delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring an insured, a claimant, or the physicians of either to submit a preliminary claim report and then requiring subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, resulting in the duplication of verification;
(n) Failing in the case of the denial of a claim or the offer of a compromise settlement to promptly provide a reasonable and accurate explanation of the basis in the insurance policy or applicable law for such denial or compromise settlement;
(o) Failing to provide forms necessary to present claims within 15 working days of a request with such explanations as are necessary to use them effectively;
(p) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards to verify that a repairer designated by the insurance company to provide an estimate, perform repairs, or engage in any other service in connection with an insured loss on a vehicle is duly licensed under Section 5-301 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;
(q) Failing to provide as a persistent tendency a notification on any written estimate prepared by an insurance company in connection with an insured loss that Illinois law requires that vehicle repairers must be licensed in accordance with Section 5-301 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;
(r) Failing to pay the replacement vehicle use or occupation tax, title, and transfer fees required by Section 154.9 of this Code;
(s) Engaging in any other acts which are in substance equivalent to any of the foregoing.
(Source: P.A. 102-69, eff. 7-1-22.)
(215 ILCS 5/154.7) (from Ch. 73, par. 766.7)
Sec. 154.7. Statement of Charges.) (1) Whenever the Director finds that any company doing business in this State is engaging in any improper claims practice as defined in Section 154.5, and that a proceeding in respect thereto would be in the public interest, he shall issue and serve upon such company a statement of the charges in that respect and a notice of hearing thereon pursuant to Article XXIV, which notice shall set a hearing date not less than 10 days from the date of the notice.
(2) The failure of a company to appear at a hearing after receipt of a statement of the charges and notice of hearing is considered a waiver of notice and hearing, a stipulation that the charges against the company are true, immediately suspends such company's Certificate of Authority for 30 days, and subjects the company to any other applicable provisions of this Code. The Director must notify the company of any suspension or action taken under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 80-926.)
(215 ILCS 5/154.8) (from Ch. 73, par. 766.8)
Sec. 154.8. Cease and desist order; suspension of certificate; civil penalty; judicial review.
(1) If, after a hearing pursuant to Section 154.7, the Director finds that company has engaged in an improper claims practice, he shall order such company to cease and desist from such practices and, in the exercise of reasonable discretion, may suspend the company's certificate of authority for a period not to exceed 6 months or impose a civil penalty of up to $250,000, or both. Pursuant to Section 401, the Director shall adopt reasonable rules establishing standards for the implementation of this Section.
(2) Any order of the Director pursuant to this Section is subject to judicial review under Section 407 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
(215 ILCS 5/154.9)
(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
Sec. 154.9. Payment of applicable use or occupation tax, title, and transfer fees on a private passenger total loss claim.
(a) When an insurer determines that an insured's or third-party claimant's private passenger automobile is a total loss that is covered under the terms of a personal automobile policy issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022 by the insurer, the insurer shall pay any use or occupation tax imposed by the State or a unit of local government and title and transfer fees as provided for in this Section. As used in this Section, "private passenger vehicle" means a private passenger motor vehicle, station wagon, or any other 4-wheeled motor vehicle with a load capacity of 1,500 pounds or less that is not used in the occupation, profession, or business of the insured or third-party claimant, not used as a public or livery conveyance for passengers, nor rented to others.
(b) If the insurer elects to replace the insured vehicle, the insurer shall pay any use or occupation tax imposed by the State or a unit of local government tax and title and transfer fees on the replacement vehicle.
(c) If a cash settlement is provided for the total loss private passenger vehicle, the insurer shall reimburse the insured or third-party claimant for any use or occupation tax imposed by the State or a unit of local government and title and transfer fees if the replacement vehicle is purchased or leased within 30 days after the receipt of the cash settlement by the insured or third-party claimant and the insured or third-party claimant substantiates such purchase and the payment of such taxes and fees by submission of appropriate documentation to the insurer within 33 days after the receipt of the settlement or receipt of the required reimbursement form from the insurer, whichever is later.
(d) The Department may adopt rules establishing uniform standards for implementation of this Section, including, but not limited to, prescribing the method of determining the market value of the insured's or third-party claimant's vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 102-69, eff. 7-1-22.)
(215 ILCS 5/155) (from Ch. 73, par. 767)
Sec. 155. Attorney fees.
(1) In any action by or against a company wherein there is in issue the liability of a company on a policy or policies of insurance or the amount of the loss payable thereunder, or for an unreasonable delay in settling a claim, and it appears to the court that such action or delay is vexatious and unreasonable, the court may allow as part of the taxable costs in the action reasonable attorney fees, other costs, plus an amount not to exceed any one of the following amounts:
(2) Where there are several policies insuring the same insured against the same loss whether issued by the same or by different companies, the court may fix the amount of the allowance so that the total attorney fees on account of one loss shall not be increased by reason of the fact that the insured brings separate suits on such policies.
(Source: P.A. 93-485, eff. 1-1-04.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.01) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.1)
Sec. 155.01. Interlocking directorates - when prohibited.
Any person may be a director in two or more companies which are competitors, provided no person at the same time shall be a director in two or more companies where the effect may be to substantially lessen competition generally or tend to create a monopoly. Whenever the Director has reason to believe that there is a violation of this Section, the Director shall proceed with respect to any person or company deemed by him to be in violation of this Section, in accordance with the provisions of Article XXIV and shall have power to issue an order directing such person or company to cease and desist from such violation within such time, or extension thereof, as may be specified by the Director. Any such order of the Director shall be subject to review in accordance with the provisions of Article XXIV.
(Source: Laws 1947, p. 1143.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.03) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.3)
Sec. 155.03. Defense of ultra vires.
No company doing business in this State shall assert by way of defense or otherwise, in any suit, action or claim arising directly or indirectly out of the issuance or delivery of any policy or certificate of insurance, that such company was without capacity or power to issue such policy or certificate or that such policy or certificate is void, invalid or unenforceable because of such lack of capacity, if the coverage under the policy or certificate was afforded with the express knowledge or the consent or acquiescence of the company.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1970.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.04) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.4)
Sec. 155.04. Standards for companies and officials.
(1) The Director shall not approve any declaration of organization or Articles of Incorporation or issue a Certificate of Authority to any company until he has found that (a) the company has submitted a sound plan of operation, and (b) the general character and experience of the incorporators, directors and proposed officers is such as to assure reasonable promise of a successful operation, based on the fact that such persons are of known good character and that there is no good reason to believe that they are affiliated, directly or indirectly, through ownership, control, management, reinsurance transactions or other insurance of business relations with any person or persons known to have been involved in the improper manipulation of assets, accounts or reinsurance. The Director may require, in substantially the same form, the information required under Section 131.5 of this Code.
(2) All companies licensed to do business in this state must notify the Director within 30 days of the appointment or election of any new officers or directors.
(3) Except in cases where the Director deems that any officer or director meets the standards set forth in this section, he shall, after notice and hearing afforded to the officer or director, and after a finding that the officer or director is incompetent or untrustworthy or of known bad character, order the removal of the person. If a company does not comply with a removal order within 30 days, the Director shall suspend that company's Certificate of Authority until such time as the order is complied with.
(4) It shall be unlawful for a company to borrow money or receive a loan or advance from anyone convicted of a felony, anyone who is untrustworthy or of known bad character or anyone convicted of a criminal offense involving the conversion or misappropriation of fiduciary funds or insurance accounts, theft, deceit, fraud, misrepresentation or corruption.
(Source: P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.05) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.5)
Sec. 155.05. Payment of insurance in burial benefits prohibited.
No company, officer, director, agent or broker and no other person, firm, association or corporation shall advertise, solicit, negotiate, issue, effect or deliver in this State any policy or contract of insurance or any series or combination of related or separate contracts, assignments, endorsements or agreements for the purpose of making, or as part of a plan which has the effect of making the proceeds of the policy, in event of death, payable other than in lawful money of the United States or for the purpose or as part of a plan which has the effect of depriving the family or representative of the deceased of the advantages of open competition and unrestricted choice in the procuring and purchasing in the open market of supplies and services in connection with the burial of the deceased.
(Source: Laws 1947, p. 1152.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.06) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.6)
Sec. 155.06. Emergency by-laws may be adopted.
The board of directors of any domestic insurance company may adopt emergency by-laws to be approved by the Director, which will become operative during an emergency resulting from an attack upon the United States by nuclear, chemical, bacteriological or biological weapons. The emergency by-laws may include provisions relating to a line of succession of the officers, the manner in which vacancies on the board of directors shall be filled, how and when the emergency board of directors may transact business, alternate locations for the principal and regional offices, emergency maintenance of books and records, and any other measures reasonably related to the interim management of company affairs. If emergency by-laws are adopted, copies shall be sent to the shareholders, or similar body in other than stock companies, who may repeal or modify them at the annual meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 418.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.07) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.7)
Sec. 155.07. Change of location of offices.
Where an emergency exists, as defined in Section 155.06, the board of directors of a domestic insurance company may change the location of the company's principal and regional offices, but must give written notice to the Director within 10 days after such change stating the address of the new and former locations.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 418.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.08) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.8)
Sec. 155.08. Statutory provisions operative during emergency.
In the event that any domestic company has not adopted emergency by-laws, the following provisions shall become operative during an emergency as defined in Section 155.06:
(1) The board of directors acting during such period may take any and every action reasonably necessary to enable the company to meet the exigencies of the emergency and to continue the business.
(2) A quorum of the emergency board of directors shall consist of a majority of the available surviving directors. If less than three directors are able to convene, company officers may temporarily substitute as acting directors until formal elections can be conducted or the regular directors become available to resume their duties.
(3) The line of succession of the officers for the purpose of filling temporary vacancies of company offices and maintaining a quorum of three acting directors on the board in time of emergency shall be president, secretary, and treasurer followed by the vice-presidents ranked according to their seniority in the company.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 418.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.10) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.10)
Sec. 155.10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1154; 86-1156. Repealed by P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.14) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.14)
Sec. 155.14. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-305. Repealed by P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.15) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.15)
Sec. 155.15. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-305. Repealed by P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.16) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.16)
Sec. 155.16. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-305. Repealed by P.A. 89-97, eff. 7-7-95.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.17) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.17)
Sec. 155.17. Every domestic or foreign company authorized to write insurance for motor vehicle bodily injury shall not base the rates for such insurance upon divisions or districts within any municipality which has a population of 2,000,000 or more.
(Source: P.A. 77-1882.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.18) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.18)
(Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 94-677, which has been held unconstitutional)
Sec. 155.18. (a) This Section shall apply to insurance on risks based upon negligence by a physician, hospital or other health care provider, referred to herein as medical liability insurance. This Section shall not apply to contracts of reinsurance, nor to any farm, county, district or township mutual insurance company transacting business under an Act entitled "An Act relating to local mutual district, county and township insurance companies", approved March 13, 1936, as now or hereafter amended, nor to any such company operating under a special charter.
(b) The following standards shall apply to the making and use of rates pertaining to all classes of medical liability insurance:
(c) (1) Every company writing medical liability insurance shall file with the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation the rates and rating schedules it uses for medical liability insurance. A rate shall go into effect upon filing, except as otherwise provided in this Section.
(2) If (i) 1% of a company's insureds within a specialty or 25 of the company's insureds (whichever is greater) request a public hearing, (ii) the Secretary at his or her discretion decides to convene a public hearing, or (iii) the percentage increase in a company's rate is greater than 6%, then the Secretary shall convene a public hearing in accordance with this paragraph (2). The Secretary shall notify the public of any application by an insurer for a rate increase to which this paragraph (2) applies. A public hearing under this paragraph (2) must be concluded within 90 days after the request, decision, or increase that gave rise to the hearing. The Secretary may, by order, adjust a rate or take any other appropriate action at the conclusion of the hearing.
(3) A rate filing shall occur upon a company's commencement of medical liability insurance business in this State and thereafter as often as the rates are changed or amended.
(4) For the purposes of this Section, any change in premium to the company's insureds as a result of a change in the company's base rates or a change in its increased limits factors shall constitute a change in rates and shall require a filing with the Secretary.
(5) It shall be certified in such filing by an officer of the company and a qualified actuary that the company's rates are based on sound actuarial principles and are not inconsistent with the company's experience. The Secretary may request any additional statistical data and other pertinent information necessary to determine the manner the company used to set the filed rates and the reasonableness of those rates. This data and information shall be made available, on a company-by-company basis, to the general public.
(d) If after a public hearing the Secretary finds:
The burden is on the company to justify the rate or proposed rate at the public hearing.
(e) Every company writing medical liability insurance in this State shall offer to each of its medical liability insureds the option to make premium payments in quarterly installments as prescribed by and filed with the Secretary. This offer shall be included in the initial offer or in the first policy renewal occurring after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, but no earlier than January 1, 2006.
(f) Every company writing medical liability insurance is encouraged, but not required, to offer the opportunity for participation in a plan offering deductibles to its medical liability insureds. Any plan to offer deductibles shall be filed with the Department.
(g) Every company writing medical liability insurance is encouraged, but not required, to offer their medical liability insureds a plan providing premium discounts for participation in risk management activities. Any such plan shall be reported to the Department.
(h) A company writing medical liability insurance in Illinois must give 180 days' notice before the company discontinues the writing of medical liability insurance in Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 94-677, eff. 8-25-05.)
(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 94-677, which has been held unconstitutional)
Sec. 155.18. (a) This Section shall apply to insurance on risks based upon negligence by a physician, hospital or other health care provider, referred to herein as medical liability insurance. This Section shall not apply to contracts of reinsurance, nor to any farm, county, district or township mutual insurance company transacting business under an Act entitled "An Act relating to local mutual district, county and township insurance companies", approved March 13, 1936, as now or hereafter amended, nor to any such company operating under a special charter.
(b) The following standards shall apply to the making and use of rates pertaining to all classes of medical liability insurance:
(c) Every company writing medical liability insurance shall file with the Director of Insurance the rates and rating schedules it uses for medical liability insurance.
(3) It shall be certified in such filing by an officer of the company and a qualified actuary that the company's rates are based on sound actuarial principles and are not inconsistent with the company's experience.
(d) If after a hearing the Director finds:
(Source: P.A. 79-1434.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.18a)
(This Section was added by P.A. 94-677, which has been held unconstitutional)
Sec. 155.18a. Professional Liability Insurance Resource Center. The Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall establish a Professional Liability Insurance Resource Center on the Department's Internet website containing the name, telephone number, and base rates of each licensed company providing medical liability insurance and the name, address, and telephone number of each producer who sells medical liability insurance and the name of each licensed company for which the producer sells medical liability insurance. Each company and producer shall submit the information to the Department on or before September 30 of each year in order to be listed on the website. Hyperlinks to company websites shall be included, if available. The publication of the information on the Department's website shall commence on January 1, 2006. The Department shall update the information on the Professional Liability Insurance Resource Center at least annually.
(Source: P.A. 94-677, eff. 8-25-05.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.19) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.19)
(Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 94-677, which has been held unconstitutional)
Sec. 155.19. All claims filed after December 31, 1976 with any insurer and all suits filed after December 31, 1976 in any court in this State, alleging liability on the part of any physician, hospital or other health care provider for medically related injuries, shall be reported to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation in such form and under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary. In addition, and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any insurer, stop loss insurer, captive insurer, risk retention group, county risk retention trust, religious or charitable risk pooling trust, surplus line insurer, or other entity authorized or permitted by law to provide medical liability insurance in this State shall report to the Secretary, in such form and under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary, all claims filed after December 31, 2005 and all suits filed after December 31, 2005 in any court in this State alleging liability on the part of any physician, hospital, or health care provider for medically related injuries. Each clerk of the circuit court shall provide to the Secretary such information as the Secretary may deem necessary to verify the accuracy and completeness of reports made to the Secretary under this Section. The Secretary shall maintain complete and accurate records of all claims and suits including their nature, amount, disposition (categorized by verdict, settlement, dismissal, or otherwise and including disposition of any post-trial motions and types of damages awarded, if any, including but not limited to economic damages and non-economic damages) and other information as he may deem useful or desirable in observing and reporting on health care provider liability trends in this State. Records received by the Secretary under this Section shall be available to the general public; however, the records made available to the general public shall not include the names or addresses of the parties to any claims or suits. The Secretary shall release to appropriate disciplinary and licensing agencies any such data or information which may assist such agencies in improving the quality of health care or which may be useful to such agencies for the purpose of professional discipline.
With due regard for appropriate maintenance of the confidentiality thereof, the Secretary shall release, on an annual basis, to the Governor, the General Assembly and the general public statistical reports based on such data and information.
If the Secretary finds that any entity required to report information in its possession under this Section has violated any provision of this Section by filing late, incomplete, or inaccurate reports, the Secretary may fine the entity up to $1,000 for each offense. Each day during which a violation occurs constitutes a separate offense.
The Secretary may promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 94-677, eff. 8-25-05.)
(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 94-677, which has been held unconstitutional)
Sec. 155.19. All claims filed after December 31, 1976 with any insurer and all suits filed after December 31, 1976 in any court in this State, alleging liability on the part of any physician, hospital or other health care provider for medically related injuries, shall be reported to the Director of Insurance in such form and under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Director. The Director shall maintain complete and accurate records of all such claims and suits including their nature, amount, disposition and other information as he may deem useful or desirable in observing and reporting on health care provider liability trends in this State. The Director shall release to appropriate disciplinary and licensing agencies any such data or information which may assist such agencies in improving the quality of health care or which may be useful to such agencies for the purpose of professional discipline.
With due regard for appropriate maintenance of the confidentiality thereof, the Director may release from time to time to the Governor, the General Assembly and the general public statistical reports based on such data and information.
The Director may promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 79-1434.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.20) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.20)
Sec. 155.20. All final arbitration decisions rendered in relation to disputes or controversies arising out of injuries allegedly caused by reason of hospital or health care provider malpractice shall be recognized by any insurance company doing business in the State of Illinois and all findings of facts relating to liability and awards of damages in relation thereto which are a part of the final arbitration decision shall be binding on such insurance companies.
(Source: P.A. 79-1435.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.21) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.21)
Sec. 155.21. A company writing medical liability insurance shall not refuse to offer insurance to a physician, hospital or other health care provider on the grounds that the physician, hospital or health care provider has entered or intends to enter an arbitration agreement pursuant to the Health Care Arbitration Act.
As used in this Section, medical liability insurance means insurance on risks based upon negligence by a physician, hospital or other health care provider.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.22) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.22)
Sec. 155.22. No company authorized to transact in this State the kinds of business described in Classes 2 and 3 of Section 4, and no officer, director, agent, clerk, employee or broker of such company shall upon proper application refuse to provide insurance solely on the basis of the specific geographic location of the risk sought to be insured unless such refusal is for a business purpose which is not a mere pretext for unfair discrimination.
(Source: P.A. 84-1431.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.22a)
Sec. 155.22a. Coverage for subjects of abuse.
(a) No company authorized to transact life, health, disability income, or property and casualty insurance in this State may:
(b) No company authorized to transact life, health, disability income, or property and casualty insurance in this State may fail to maintain strict confidentiality of information, as defined in the Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Article of this Code, relating to an applicant's or insured's abuse status or to a medical or psychological condition that the company knows is abuse-related. Disclosure of such abuse-related information shall be subject to the disclosure limitations and conditions contained in Section 1014 of this Code.
(c) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a company specified in subsection (a) from (i) refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, limiting the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charging a different rate for the same coverage on the basis of that individual's physical or mental condition regardless of the underlying cause of such condition; (ii) declining to issue a life insurance policy insuring an individual who is or has been the subject of abuse if the perpetrator of the abuse is the applicant or would be the owner of the insurance policy; or (iii) inquiring about a physical or mental condition, even if that condition was caused by or is related in any manner to abuse.
(d) As used in this Section, "abuse" means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family members, current or former household members, or current or former intimate partners:
(e) No company specified in subsection (a) above shall be held civilly or criminally liable for any cause of action that may be brought because of compliance with this Section. Nothing in this Section, however, shall preclude the jurisdiction of any administrative agency to carry out its statutory authority.
(Source: P.A. 93-200, eff. 1-1-04.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.22b)
Sec. 155.22b. Rating, claims handling, and underwriting decisions.
(a) No company issuing a policy of property and casualty insurance may use the fact that an applicant or insured incurred bodily injury as a result of a battery or other violent act committed against him or her by a spouse or person in the same household as a sole reason for a rating, underwriting, or claims handling decision.
(b) If a policy excludes property coverage for intentional acts, the insurer may not deny payment to an innocent co-insured who did not cooperate in or contribute to the creation of the loss if the loss arose out of a pattern of criminal domestic violence and the perpetrator of the loss is criminally prosecuted for the act causing the loss. Payment to the innocent co-insured may be limited to his or her ownership interest in the property as reduced by any payments to a mortgagor or other secured interest.
(Source: P.A. 93-200, eff. 1-1-04.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.23) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.23)
Sec. 155.23. Fraud reporting.
The Director shall establish reporting requirements for application and premium fraud information reporting by rule.
(2) The Director of Insurance may designate one or more data processing organizations or governmental agencies to assist him in gathering such information and making compilations thereof, and may by rule establish the form and procedure for gathering and compiling such information. The rules may name any organization or agency designated by the Director to provide this service, and may in such case provide for a fee to be paid by the reporting insurers directly to the designated organization or agency to cover any of the costs associated with providing this service. After determination by the Director of substantial evidence of false or fraudulent claims, fraudulent applications, or premium fraud, the information shall be forwarded by the Director or the Director's designee to the proper law enforcement agency or prosecutor. Insurers shall have access to, and may use, the information compiled under the provisions of this Section. Insurers shall release information to, and shall cooperate with, any law enforcement agency requesting such information.
In the absence of malice, no insurer, or person who furnishes information on its behalf, is liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution for any oral or written statement made or any other action taken that is necessary to supply information required pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 92-233, eff. 1-1-02.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.24) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.24)
Sec. 155.24. Motor Vehicle Theft and Motor Insurance Fraud Reporting and Immunity Law.
(a) As used in this Section:
(b) Upon written request to an insurer by an authorized governmental agency, an insurer or agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf shall release to the requesting authorized governmental agency any or all relevant information deemed important to the authorized governmental agency which the insurer may possess relating to any specific motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle insurance fraud. Relevant information may include, but is not limited to:
(c) When an insurer knows or reasonably believes to know the identity of a person whom it has reason to believe committed a criminal or fraudulent act relating to a motor vehicle theft or a motor vehicle insurance claim or has knowledge of such a criminal or fraudulent act which is reasonably believed not to have been reported to an authorized governmental agency, then for the purpose of notification and investigation, the insurer or an agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf shall notify an authorized governmental agency of such knowledge or reasonable belief and provide any additional relevant information in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section. When the motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle claim that gives rise to the suspected criminal or fraudulent act has already generated an incident report to an Illinois authorized governmental agency, the insurer shall report the suspected criminal or fraudulent act to that agency. When no prior incident report has been made, the insurer shall report the suspected criminal or fraudulent act to the Attorney General or State's Attorney in the county or counties where the incident is claimed to have occurred. When the incident that gives rise to the suspected criminal or fraudulent act is claimed to have occurred outside the State of Illinois, but the suspected criminal or fraudulent act occurs within the State of Illinois, the insurer shall make the report to the Attorney General or State's Attorney in the county or counties where the suspected criminal or fraudulent act occurred. When the fraud occurs in multiple counties the report shall also be sent to the Attorney General.
(d) When an insurer provides any of the authorized governmental agencies with notice pursuant to this Section it shall be deemed sufficient notice to all authorized governmental agencies for the purpose of this Act.
(e) The authorized governmental agency provided with information pursuant to this Section may release or provide such information to any other authorized governmental agency.
(f) Any insurer providing information to an authorized governmental agency pursuant to this Section shall have the right to request and receive relevant information from such authorized governmental agency, and receive within a reasonable time after the completion of the investigation, not to exceed 30 days, the information requested.
(g) Any information furnished pursuant to this Section shall be privileged and not a part of any public record. Except as otherwise provided by law, any authorized governmental agency, insurer, or an agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf which receives any information furnished pursuant to this Section, shall not release such information to public inspection. Such evidence or information shall not be subject to subpoena duces tecum in a civil or criminal proceeding unless, after reasonable notice to any insurer, agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf and authorized governmental agency which has an interest in such information and a hearing, the court determines that the public interest and any ongoing investigation by the authorized governmental agency, insurer, or any agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf will not be jeopardized by obedience to such a subpoena duces tecum.
(h) No insurer, or agent authorized by an insurer on its behalf, authorized governmental agency or their respective employees shall be subject to any civil or criminal liability in a cause of action of any kind for releasing or receiving any information pursuant to this Section. Nothing herein is intended to or does in any way or manner abrogate or lessen the common and statutory law privileges and immunities of an insurer, agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf or authorized governmental agency or any of their respective employees.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.25) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.25)
Sec. 155.25. Reports by certain property and casualty insurers.
(A) The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations which shall require, at the request of the Director, any insurer licensed to write medical liability insurance in this State to file a report on a form furnished by the Director showing its direct experience in this State. All experience shall be on a direct basis, prior to reinsurance, and shall be required only in the aggregate. Individual claim reports shall not be required.
(B) The reports required under subsection (A) shall include the following data for the previous year ending on the 31st of December:
(Source: P.A. 87-1090.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.25a) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.25a)
Sec. 155.25a. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (D) of Section 123B-9, a purchasing group may purchase insurance providing for a group aggregate limit from an insurer licensed to write medical liability insurance in this State if (1) such group is domiciled in Illinois and all or substantially all of such group's members are residents of Illinois, (2) each insured in the purchasing group is specifically informed prior to issuance of the policy to such insured of the existence of the group aggregate limit, and (3) either (a) the amount of the group aggregate limit is determined by the Director in his discretion to be sufficiently high (when considered in conjunction with other factors such as each individual insured's per claim limit and each individual insured's aggregate limit), such that the risk that the group aggregate limit will be exhausted is not substantial, or (b) (i) each individual insured's aggregate limit is not more than 300% of such individual insured's per claim limit and (ii) the group aggregate limit (at the time of the insured's claim) is equal to or exceeds the amount set forth in the following table:
| Number of Insureds | Required Purchasing |
| in Purchasing | Group Aggregate Limit |
| Group | |
| Less than 10 | Individual claim limit X |
| Number of Insureds | |
| 10 to 24 | The sum of (i) 3 X the |
| individual claim limit, | |
| plus (ii) the individual | |
| claim limit X the Number | |
| of Insureds X 2/3 | |
| 25 to 50 | The sum of (i) 7 X the |
| individual claim | |
| limit, plus (ii) the individual | |
| claim limit X the Number of | |
| Insureds X 1/2 | |
| Over 50 | The sum of (i) 17 X the individual |
| claim limit, plus (ii) the | |
| individual claim limit X the | |
| Number of Insureds X 3/10. |
(Source: P.A. 86-632.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.26) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.26)
Sec. 155.26. No insurance company authorized to do business in Illinois may increase the premium rates for a renewal policy which insures an individual with a personal lines automobile insurance policy against any loss or liability resulting from or incident to the ownership, maintenance or use of any motor vehicle if the sole basis for the proposed increase is that the insured was convicted of no more than one offense for speeding where such speeding was not in excess of 10 miles an hour over the posted speed limit, and no claim for recovery of damages or loss has been paid by the insurer because of such offense.
(Source: P.A. 85-332.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.27) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.27)
Sec. 155.27. No insurance company authorized to transact business in this State may impose a surcharge upon an applicant for a policy of automobile insurance or refuse to insure the applicant solely based upon the identity of the applicant's prior automobile insurance carrier, unless the applicant fails to provide the company with the applicant's loss experience with the prior carrier within 21 calendar days after the application for automobile insurance is filed.
(Source: P.A. 86-1408.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.28) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.28)
Sec. 155.28. (a) Any individual who is a potential applicant for a policy of personal automobile insurance as defined in subsection (a) of Section 143.13 of this Code shall be provided an oral estimate of premium charges based on the information provided to an insurance producer or designated representative who maintains an office within any municipality with 500,000 or more inhabitants. Such an estimate shall be given by any such insurance producer or designated representative of an insurer but shall not be binding.
(b) No such insurer, insurance producer or designated representative shall require that an individual described in subsection (a) of this Section shall be present in person in order to obtain the estimate described in subsection (a).
(c) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer, insurance producer or designated representative from requiring that an individual be present in person to complete a final application for a policy of personal automobile insurance as defined in subsection (a) of Section 143.13 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-1408.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.29) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.29)
Sec. 155.29. (a) Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to regulate the use of aftermarket crash parts by requiring disclosure when any use of an aftermarket non-original equipment manufacturer's crash part is proposed and by requiring that the manufacturers of such aftermarket crash parts be identified.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Section the following terms have the following meanings:
"Aftermarket crash part" means a replacement for any of the nonmechanical sheet metal or plastic parts that generally constitute the exterior of a motor vehicle, including inner and outer panels.
"Non-original equipment manufacturer (Non-OEM) aftermarket crash part" means an aftermarket crash part not made for or by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle.
"Repair facility" means any motor vehicle dealer, garage, body shop, or other commercial entity that undertakes the repair or replacement of those parts that generally constitute the exterior of a motor vehicle.
"Installer" means an individual who actually does the work of replacing or repairing parts of a motor vehicle.
(c) Identification. Any aftermarket crash part supplied by a non-original equipment manufacturer for use in this State after the effective date of this Act shall have affixed thereto or inscribed thereon the logo or name of its manufacturer. The manufacturer's logo or name shall be visible after installation whenever practicable.
(d) Disclosure. No insurer shall specify the use of non-OEM aftermarket crash parts in the repair of an insured's motor vehicle, nor shall any repair facility or installer use non-OEM aftermarket crash parts to repair a vehicle unless the customer is advised of that fact in writing. In all instances where an insurer intends that non-OEM aftermarket crash parts be used in the repair of a motor vehicle, the insurer shall provide the customer with the following information:
(Source: P.A. 86-1234; 86-1475.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.30) (from Ch. 73, par. 767.30)
Sec. 155.30. For purposes of determining premium rates to be charged for personal multi-peril property insurance policies covering real property used principally for residential purposes or any household or personal property that is usual or incidental to the occupancy of any premises used for residential purposes (commonly known as "homeowners" or "renters" insurance), an insurance company authorized to do business in this State shall not treat a child placed in the household by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or a private child welfare agency differently from a natural or adopted child of the policy owner. An insurance company authorized to do business in this State shall not consider a policy owner's acceptance of the placement of a foster child in his or her household as a use of the family dwelling for a business purpose.
(Source: P.A. 86-1482.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.31)
Sec. 155.31. Day care and group day care homes; coverage.
(a) No insurer providing insurance coverage, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 143.13 of this Code, shall nonrenew or cancel an insurance policy on a day care home or group day care home, as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969, solely on the basis that the insured operates a duly licensed day care home or group day care home on the insured premises.
(b) An insurer providing such insurance coverage to a licensed day care home or licensed group day care home may provide such coverage with a separate policy or endorsement to a policy of fire and extended coverage insurance, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 143.13.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, the insurer providing such coverage shall be allowed to cancel or nonrenew an insurance policy on a day care home or group day care home based upon the authority provided under Sections 143.21 and 143.21.1 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 90-401, eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.32)
Sec. 155.32. Policy explanations; language other than English.
(a) A company, as defined in Section 132.2 of this Code, may conduct transactions in a language other than English through an employee or agent acting as interpreter or through an interpreter provided by the customer.
(b) An insurance carrier licensed to provide insurance as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 143.13 of this Code may provide insurance policies, endorsements, riders, and any explanatory or advertising material in a language other than English. In the event of a dispute or complaint regarding the insurance or advertising material, the English language version of the insurance coverage shall control the resolution of the dispute or complaint.
(Source: P.A. 92-578, eff. 6-26-02.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.33)
Sec. 155.33. Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The provisions of this Code are subject to the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act as provided in Section 15 of that Act.
(Source: P.A. 90-30, eff. 7-1-97; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.34)
Sec. 155.34. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98. Repealed by P.A. 93-502, eff. 1-1-04.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.35)
Sec. 155.35. Insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege.
(a) To encourage insurance companies and persons conducting activities regulated under this Code, both to conduct voluntary internal audits of their compliance programs and management systems and to assess and improve compliance with State and federal statutes, rules, and orders, an insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege is recognized to protect the confidentiality of communications relating to voluntary internal compliance audits. The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that protection of insurance consumers is enhanced by companies' voluntary compliance with this State's insurance and other laws and that the public will benefit from incentives to identify and remedy insurance and other compliance issues. It is further declared that limited expansion of the protection against disclosure will encourage voluntary compliance and improve insurance market conduct quality and that the voluntary provisions of this Section will not inhibit the exercise of the regulatory authority by those entrusted with protecting insurance consumers.
(b)(1) An insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document is privileged information and is not admissible as evidence in any legal action in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this Section. Documents, communications, data, reports, or other information created as a result of a claim involving personal injury or workers' compensation made against an insurance policy are not insurance compliance self-evaluative audit documents and are admissible as evidence in civil proceedings as otherwise provided by applicable rules of evidence or civil procedure, subject to any applicable statutory or common law privilege, including but not limited to the work product doctrine, the attorney-client privilege, or the subsequent remedial measures exclusion.
(2) If any company, person, or entity performs or directs the performance of an insurance compliance audit, an officer or employee involved with the insurance compliance audit, or any consultant who is hired for the purpose of performing the insurance compliance audit, may not be examined in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding as to the insurance compliance audit or any insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document, as defined in this Section. This subsection (b)(2) does not apply if the privilege set forth in subsection (b)(1) of this Section is determined under subsection (c) or (d) not to apply.
(3) A company may voluntarily submit, in connection with examinations conducted under this Article, an insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document to the Director, or his or her designee, as a confidential document under subsection (f) of Section 132.5 of this Code without waiving the privilege set forth in this Section to which the company would otherwise be entitled; provided, however, that the provisions in subsection (f) of Section 132.5 permitting the Director to make confidential documents public pursuant to subsection (e) of Section 132.5 and access to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shall not apply to the insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document so voluntarily submitted. Nothing contained in this subsection shall give the Director any authority to compel a company to disclose involuntarily or otherwise provide an insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document.
(c)(1) The privilege set forth in subsection (b) of this Section does not apply to the extent that it is expressly waived by the company that prepared or caused to be prepared the insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document.
(2) In a civil or administrative proceeding, a court of record may, after an in camera review, require disclosure of material for which the privilege set forth in subsection (b) of this Section is asserted, if the court determines one of the following:
(3) In a criminal proceeding, a court of record may, after an in camera review, require disclosure of material for which the privilege described in subsection (b) of this Section is asserted, if the court determines one of the following:
(d)(1) Within 30 days after the Director, State's Attorney, or Attorney General makes a written request by certified mail for disclosure of an insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document under this subsection, the company that prepared or caused the document to be prepared may file with the appropriate court a petition requesting an in camera hearing on whether the insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document or portions of the document are privileged under this Section or subject to disclosure. The court has jurisdiction over a petition filed by a company under this subsection requesting an in camera hearing on whether the insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document or portions of the document are privileged or subject to disclosure. Failure by the company to file a petition waives the privilege.
(2) A company asserting the insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege in response to a request for disclosure under this subsection shall include in its request for an in camera hearing all of the information set forth in subsection (d)(5) of this Section.
(3) Upon the filing of a petition under this subsection, the court shall issue an order scheduling, within 45 days after the filing of the petition, an in camera hearing to determine whether the insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document or portions of the document are privileged under this Section or subject to disclosure.
(4) The court, after an in camera review, may require disclosure of material for which the privilege in subsection (b) of this Section is asserted if the court determines, based upon its in camera review, that any one of the conditions set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A) through (C) is applicable as to a civil or administrative proceeding or that any one of the conditions set forth in subsection (c)(3)(A) through (D) is applicable as to a criminal proceeding. Upon making such a determination, the court may only compel the disclosure of those portions of an insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document relevant to issues in dispute in the underlying proceeding. Any compelled disclosure will not be considered to be a public document or be deemed to be a waiver of the privilege for any other civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding. A party unsuccessfully opposing disclosure may apply to the court for an appropriate order protecting the document from further disclosure.
(5) A company asserting the insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege in response to a request for disclosure under this subsection (d) shall provide to the Director, State's Attorney, or Attorney General, as the case may be, at the time of filing any objection to the disclosure, all of the following information:
(e) (1) A company asserting the insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege set forth in subsection (b) of this Section has the burden of demonstrating the applicability of the privilege. Once a company has established the applicability of the privilege, a party seeking disclosure under subsections (c)(2)(A) or (C) of this Section has the burden of proving that the privilege is asserted for a fraudulent purpose or that the company failed to undertake reasonable corrective action or eliminate the noncompliance with a reasonable time. The Director, State's Attorney, or Attorney General seeking disclosure under subsection (c)(3) of this Section has the burden of proving the elements set forth in subsection (c)(3) of this Section.
(2) The parties may at any time stipulate in proceedings under subsections (c) or (d) of this Section to entry of an order directing that specific information contained in an insurance compliance self-evaluative audit document is or is not subject to the privilege provided under subsection (b) of this Section.
(f) The privilege set forth in subsection (b) of this Section shall not extend to any of the following:
(g) As used in this Section:
(h) Nothing in this Section shall limit, waive, or abrogate the scope or nature of any statutory or common law privilege including, but not limited to, the work product doctrine, the attorney-client privilege, or the subsequent remedial measures exclusion.
(Source: P.A. 90-499, eff. 8-19-97; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.36)
Sec. 155.36. Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. Insurance companies that transact the kinds of insurance authorized under Class 1(b) or Class 2(a) of Section 4 of this Code shall comply with Sections 45, 45.1, 45.2, 65, 70, and 85, subsection (d) of Section 30, and the definition of the term "emergency medical condition" in Section 10 of the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-608, eff. 1-1-20; 102-409, eff. 1-1-22.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.37)
Sec. 155.37. Drug formulary; notice. Insurance companies that transact the kinds of insurance authorized under Class 1(b) or Class 2(a) of Section 4 of this Code and provide coverage for prescription drugs through the use of a drug formulary must notify insureds of any change in the formulary. A company may comply with this Section by posting changes in the formulary on its website.
(Source: P.A. 92-440, eff. 8-17-01; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.38)
Sec. 155.38. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-651, eff. 7-11-02. Repealed by P.A. 93-114, eff. 10-1-03.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.39)
Sec. 155.39. Vehicle protection products.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Administrator" means a third party other than the warrantor who is designated by the warrantor to be responsible for the administration of vehicle protection product warranties.
"Incidental costs" means expenses specified in the vehicle protection product warranty incurred by the warranty holder related to the failure of the vehicle protection product to perform as provided in the warranty. Incidental costs may include, without limitation, insurance policy deductibles, rental vehicle charges, the difference between the actual value of the stolen vehicle at the time of theft and the cost of a replacement vehicle, sales taxes, registration fees, transaction fees, and mechanical inspection fees.
"Vehicle protection product" means a protective chemical, substance, device, system, or service that is (i) installed on or applied to a vehicle and (ii) designed to prevent loss or damage to a vehicle from a specific cause. The term "vehicle protection product" shall include, without limitation, protective chemicals, alarm systems, body part marking products, steering locks, window etch products, pedal and ignition locks, fuel and ignition kill switches, and electronic, radio, and satellite tracking devices. "Vehicle protection product" does not include fuel additives, oil additives, or other chemical products applied to the engine, transmission, or fuel system of a motor vehicle.
"Vehicle protection product warrantor" or "warrantor" means a person who is contractually obligated to the warranty holder under the terms of a vehicle protection product warranty. "Warrantor" does not include an authorized insurer.
"Vehicle protection product warranty" means a written warranty by a vehicle protection product warrantor that (i) is included, for no separate and identifiable consideration, with the purchase of a vehicle protection product sold or offered for sale in this State and (ii) provides if the vehicle protection product fails to prevent loss or damage to a vehicle from a specific cause, that the warranty holder shall be paid specified incidental costs by the warrantor as a result of the failure of the vehicle protection product to perform pursuant to the terms of the warranty.
"Warranty reimbursement insurance policy" means a policy of insurance issued to the vehicle protection product warrantor to pay on behalf of the warrantor all covered contractual obligations incurred by the warrantor under the terms and conditions of the insured vehicle protection product warranties sold by the warrantor. The warranty reimbursement insurance policy shall be issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this State that has filed its policy form with the Department.
(a-5) A vehicle protection product warrantor's liabilities under a vehicle protection product warranty shall be covered by a warranty reimbursement insurance policy.
(b) No vehicle protection product warranty sold or offered for sale in this State shall be subject to the provisions of this Code. Vehicle protection product warranties are express warranties and not insurance.
Vehicle protection product warrantors and related vehicle protection product sellers and warranty administrators are not required to comply with and are not subject to any other provision of this Code.
(c) This Section applies to all vehicle protection products sold or offered for sale prior to, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The enactment of this Section does not imply that vehicle protection products should have been subject to regulation under this Code prior to the enactment of this Section. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly do not imply that vehicle protection products and vehicle protection product warranties should have been subject to regulation under this Code prior to this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 100-272, eff. 1-1-18.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.40)
Sec. 155.40. Auto insurance; application; false address.
(a) An applicant for a policy of insurance that insures against any loss or liability resulting from or incident to the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle shall not provide to the insurer to which the application for coverage is made any address for the applicant other than the address at which the applicant resides.
(b) A person who knowingly violates this Section is guilty of a business offense. The penalty is a fine of not less than $1,001 and not more than $1,200.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.41)
Sec. 155.41. Slave era policies.
(a) The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:
(b) The Department shall request and obtain information from insurers licensed and doing business in this State regarding any records of slaveholder insurance policies issued by any predecessor corporation during the slavery era.
(c) The Department shall obtain the names of any slaveholders or slaves described in those insurance records, and shall make the information available to the public and the General Assembly.
(d) Any insurer licensed and doing business in this State shall research and report to the Department with respect to any records within the insurer's possession or knowledge relating to insurance policies issued to slaveholders that provided coverage for damage to or death of their slaves.
(e) Descendants of slaves, whose ancestors were defined as private property, dehumanized, divided from their families, forced to perform labor without appropriate compensation or benefits, and whose ancestors' owners were compensated for damages by insurers, are entitled to full disclosure.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.42)
Sec. 155.42. Identity theft insurance consumer fact sheet. The Department shall develop an appropriate consumer fact sheet to be provided to consumers, either via the Department's website or by hard copy if requested, regarding identity theft insurance. The fact sheet shall include at a minimum, information on what is generally covered under identity theft insurance and on how to protect himself or herself from identity theft.
(Source: P.A. 96-167, eff. 1-1-10.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.43)
Sec. 155.43. Misrepresentation of Senior-Specific Certification.
(a) No insurance producer shall use a senior-specific certification or professional designation that indicates or implies in such a way as to mislead a purchaser or prospective purchaser that the insurance producer has a special certification or training in advising or servicing seniors in connection with the solicitation, sale, or purchase of a life insurance or annuity product or in the provision of advice as to the value of or the advisability of purchasing or selling a life insurance or annuity product, either directly or indirectly through publications, writings, or by issuing or promulgating analyses or reports related to a life insurance or annuity product.
(b) "Use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(c) There is a rebuttable presumption that a certifying or designating organization is not disqualified under this Section if the certification or designation issued from the organization does not primarily apply to sales or marketing and if the organization or the certification or designation in question has been accredited by any of the following entities:
(d) In determining whether a combination of words or an acronym standing for a combination of words constitutes a certification or professional designation indicating or implying that a person has a special certification or training in advising or servicing seniors, the Department of Insurance shall consider all of the following:
(e) For purposes of this Section, a job title within an organization that is licensed or registered by a State or federal financial services regulatory agency is not a certification or professional designation, unless it is used in a manner that would confuse or mislead a reasonable consumer, if the job title indicates seniority or standing within the organization or specifies an individual's area of specialization within the organization. For purposes of this subsection (e), "financial services regulatory agency" includes, but is not limited to, an agency that regulates insurers, insurance producers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, or investment companies.
(Source: P.A. 97-527, eff. 8-23-11.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.44)
Sec. 155.44. Financial requirements; large deductible agreements for workers' compensation insurance.
(a) An insurer shall:
(b) As used in this Section, "insurer" means any insurer authorized to issue a workers' compensation policy covering risks located in this State that has an A.M. Best Company rating below "A-" and does not have at least $200,000,000 in surplus.
(c) As used in this Section, "large deductible agreement" means any combination of one or more policies, endorsements, contracts, or security agreements which provide for the policyholder to bear the risk of loss of $100,000 or greater per claim or occurrence covered under a policy of workers' compensation insurance and which may be subject to the aggregate limit of policyholder reimbursement obligations.
(d) Except when approved by the Director of Insurance, any insurer determined to be in a financially hazardous condition pursuant to Article XII 1/2 or XIII of this Code by the Director of Insurance in this State or the equivalent in any other state is prohibited from issuing or renewing a policy that includes a large deductible agreement.
(e) This Section applies to large deductible agreements issued or renewed by any insurer on or after January 1, 2016.
(Source: P.A. 99-369, eff. 8-14-15.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.45)
Sec. 155.45. Certificates of insurance.
(a) In this Section:
(b) This Section applies to a certificate of insurance that is issued in connection with a contract related to property, operations, or risks located in this State, regardless of the location of the policyholder, insurer, insurance producer, or person that requests or requires the issuance of the certificate of insurance.
(c) The use of a certificate of insurance form that is unfair, misleading, or deceptive or violates any law is an unfair and deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance under Article XXVI of this Code.
(d) A certificate of insurance may not amend, extend, or alter the coverage provided under, or confer to a person any rights in addition to the rights expressly provided in, the policy of property or casualty insurance to which the certificate of insurance refers.
(e) A person may not prepare, issue, request, or require the issuance of a certificate of insurance that:
(f) A certificate of insurance may not contain a warranty that the policy of property or casualty insurance to which the certificate of insurance refers complies with the insurance or indemnification requirements of a contract. The inclusion of a contract number or contract description in a certificate of insurance does not warrant that the policy of property or casualty insurance to which the certificate of insurance refers complies with the insurance or indemnification requirements of the contract.
(g) A person is not entitled to notice of, cancellation of, nonrenewal of, or a material change in a policy of property or casualty insurance unless the person has notice rights under the terms of the policy of property or casualty insurance or an endorsement to the policy. The terms and conditions of notice described in this subsection (g) are governed by the policy of property or casualty insurance or an endorsement to the policy and are not altered by a certificate of insurance.
(h) A certificate of insurance or any other document that is prepared, issued, requested, or required in violation of this Section is void.
(i) The Director may refer a matter to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for review pursuant to the rules of that department if the Director has reason to believe that a certificate of insurance form as described in subsection (c) of this Section has been provided by a financial institution.
(j) The Director may examine and investigate the activities of a person that the Director reasonably believes has violated the provisions of this Section. The Director shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this Section and impose any authorized penalty or remedy as provided under Section 401 of this Code upon any person who violates the provisions of this Section.
(k) The Department may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-819, eff. 1-1-15.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.46)
Sec. 155.46. Prohibition on denial of coverage or increase in premiums for living organ donors.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Human organ" means all or part of a human's liver, pancreas, kidney, intestine, lung, blood, plasma, skin, or bone marrow.
"Living organ donor" means an individual who has donated all or part of a human organ and is not deceased.
"Disability insurance policy" means a contract under which an entity promises to pay a person a sum of money if an illness or injury resulting in a disability prevents that person from working.
"Life insurance policy" means a contract under which an entity promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured.
"Long-term care insurance policy" means a contract for which the only insurance protection provided under the contract is coverage of qualified long-term care services.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is unlawful to refuse to insure, to refuse to continue to insure, to limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance to an individual, or to charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage, solely because of the individual's status as a living organ donor.
(c) With respect to all other conditions, persons who are living organ donors shall be subject to the same standards of sound actuarial principles or actual or reasonably anticipated experience as are persons who are not organ donors.
(Source: P.A. 101-179, eff. 1-1-20.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.47)
Sec. 155.47. Prohibited practices relating to substance use disorder treatment.
(a) As used in this Section, "recovery support", "substance use disorder", and "treatment" have the meanings set forth in the Substance Use Disorder Act.
(b) A company authorized to transact life insurance in this State may not, based solely on whether an individual has participated in a substance use treatment or recovery support program no less than 5 years before application:
(Source: P.A. 102-107, eff. 1-1-22.)
(215 ILCS 5/155.48)
Sec. 155.48. Prohibited practices relating to prescription for or obtainment of opioid antagonist.
(a) As used in this Section, "opioid antagonist" means any drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or otherwise inhibits the effects of opioids acting on those receptors to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
(b) A company authorized to transact life insurance in this State may not, based solely on whether an individual has been prescribed or has obtained through a standing order an opioid antagonist:
(Source: P.A. 102-107, eff. 1-1-22.)