33-17-1402. Requirements to offer and disseminate travel insurance -- fees -- types of policies -- rulemaking. (1) A travel retailer may offer and disseminate travel insurance under a limited lines travel insurance producer business entity license only if the following conditions are met:
(a) the limited lines travel insurance producer or travel retailer provides purchasers of travel insurance with:
(i) a description of the material terms or the actual material terms of the insurance coverage;
(ii) a description of the process for filing a claim;
(iii) a description of the review or cancellation process for the travel insurance policy; and
(iv) the identity and contact information of the insurer and the limited lines travel insurance producer;
(b) at the time of licensure, the limited lines travel insurance producer establishes and maintains a registry on a form prescribed by the commissioner of each travel retailer that offers travel insurance on the limited lines travel insurance producer's behalf. The registry must be maintained and updated annually by the limited lines travel insurance producer and must include the name, address, and contact information of each travel retailer and of an officer or person who directs or controls each travel retailer's operations, the travel retailer's federal tax identification number, and a statement that the travel retailer has not been convicted of a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1033. The limited lines travel insurance producer shall submit its registry to the commissioner within 10 business days of the commissioner's request. The commissioner shall require a fee for filing the registry that is commensurate with the cost of maintaining a file for all registries filed with the commissioner.
(c) the limited lines travel insurance producer designates an employee who is an individual licensed producer as the designated responsible producer responsible for the limited lines travel insurance producer's compliance with the applicable insurance laws and rules of this state;
(d) the designated responsible producer, president, secretary, treasurer, and any other officer or person who directs or controls the limited lines travel insurance producer's insurance operations have complied with the fingerprinting requirements in the resident state of the limited lines travel insurance producer;
(e) the limited lines travel insurance producer has paid all applicable insurance producer licensing fees required pursuant to 33-2-708 or other applicable state law; and
(f) the limited lines travel insurance producer requires each employee and authorized representative of the travel retailer whose duties include offering and disseminating travel insurance to receive a program of instruction or training, which may be subject to review by the commissioner. The training material must, at a minimum, contain instructions on the types of insurance offered, ethical sales practices, and required disclosures to prospective customers.
(2) A travel retailer offering or disseminating travel insurance shall make available to prospective purchasers brochures or other written materials that:
(a) provide the identity and contact information of the insurer and the limited lines travel insurance producer;
(b) explain that the purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any other product or service from the travel retailer; and
(c) explain that a travel retailer employee or authorized representative who is not licensed as an insurance producer is permitted to provide general information about the insurance offered by the travel retailer, including a description of the coverage and price, but is not qualified or authorized to answer technical questions about the terms and conditions of the insurance offered by the travel retailer or to evaluate the adequacy of the customer's existing insurance coverage.
(3) A travel retailer's employees or authorized representatives who are not licensed as insurance producers may not:
(a) evaluate or interpret the technical terms, benefits, and conditions of the offered travel insurance coverage;
(b) evaluate or provide advice concerning a prospective purchaser's existing insurance coverage; or
(c) hold themselves out as licensed insurers, licensed producers, or insurance experts.
(4) Travel insurance may be provided under an individual policy or under a group or master policy.
(5) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this part.
History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 359, L. 2013.