Chapter Ins 6

Ins 6.10(1) (1) Purpose. This section requires insurers who may return a premium that is less than the pro rata unearned premium to disclose this to the insured. This section also establishes prohibitions concerning specified practices relating to premiums. This section implements and interprets ss. 227.10 (1), 601.01 (2), 625.13 (1), 628.34 (1), (3), (11), and (12), 631.20 and 631.36 (2), Stats.

Ins 6.10(2) (2) Scope. This section applies to all lines or classes of insurance classified as property and casualty insurance in s. Ins 6.75 (2), except lines or classes of insurance providing disability insurance under s. Ins 6.75 (2) (c) and (k).

Ins 6.10(3) (3) Definitions. In this section:

Ins 6.10(3)(a) (a) “Pro rata unearned premium” means the pro rata portion of the written premium covering the unexpired portion of the policy term for which the written premium has been charged by the insurer to the policyholder.

Ins 6.10(3)(b) (b) “Written premium” means the entire amount of premium charged a policyholder for the term of the policy.

Ins 6.10(4) (4) Premium in excess of pro rata earned premium: filing, restrictions, disclosures.

Ins 6.10(4)(a) (a) An insurer shall file with the commissioner in accordance with s. 625.13, Stats., and s. Ins 6.06 any schedule of return premium applicable in the event of policy cancellation wherein the return of premium is less than the pro rata unearned premium for that policy form. The rate filing shall include the basis of the premium calculation in the event of a policy cancellation.

Ins 6.10(4)(b) (b) Subject to par. (c), in any policy under which an insurer may return a premium that is less than the pro rata unearned premium, the insurer shall provide the policyholder with a separate written notice that the policyholder may pay a substantial penalty if the policyholder cancels the policy prior to its expiration date. No insurer may return a premium that is less than the pro rata unearned premium until at least 10 days after the insurer mails or delivers this written notice to the policyholder.

Ins 6.10(4)(c) (c) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b), no insurer may return to the policyholder a premium that is less than the pro rata unearned premium if the insurer initiates cancellation or for a cancellation due to the nonpayment of premium.

Ins 6.10(5) (5) Miscellaneous premium prohibition. No insurer may initiate cancellation of one policy solely to apply the pro rata unearned premium of that policy to the balance due on another policy.

Ins 6.10 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1989, No. 404, eff. 10-1-89; am. (2), Register, April, 1992, No. 436, eff. 5-1-92.

Ins 6.11 Ins 6.11 Insurance claim settlement practices.

Ins 6.11(1) (1) Purpose. This rule is to promote the fair and equitable treatment of policyholders, claimants and insurers by defining certain claim adjustment practices which are considered to be unfair methods and practices in the business of insurance. The rule implements and interprets applicable statutes including but not limited to ss. 601.04 (3), 601.01 (2), and 645.41 (3), Stats.

Ins 6.11(2) (2) Scope. This rule applies to the kinds of insurance identified in s. Ins 6.75, transacted by insurers as defined in s. 600.03 (27), Stats., and nonprofit service plans subject to ch. 613, Stats.

Ins 6.11(3) (3) Unfair claim settlement practices.

Ins 6.11(3)(a) (a) Any of the following acts, if committed by any person without just cause and performed with such frequency as to indicate general business practice, shall constitute unfair methods and practices in the business of insurance:

Ins 6.11(3)(a)1. 1. Failure to promptly acknowledge pertinent communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)2. 2. Failure to initiate and conclude a claims investigation with all reasonable dispatch.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)3. 3. Failure to promptly provide necessary claims forms, instructions and reasonable assistance to insureds and claimants under its insurance policies.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)4. 4. Failure to attempt in good faith to effectuate fair and equitable settlement of claims submitted in which liability has become reasonably clear.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)5. 5. Failure upon request of a claimant, to promptly provide a reasonable explanation of the basis in the policy contract or applicable law for denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromise settlement.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)6. 6. Knowingly misrepresenting to claimants pertinent facts or policy provisions relating to coverages involved.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)7. 7. Failure to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss has been completed.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)8. 8. Failure to settle a claim under one portion of the policy coverage in order to influence a settlement under another portion of the policy coverage.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)9. 9. Except as may be otherwise provided in the policy contract, the failure to offer settlement under applicable first party coverage on the basis that responsibility for payment should be assumed by other persons or insurers.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)10. 10. Compelling insureds and claimants to institute suits to recover amounts due under its policies by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in suits brought by them.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)11. 11. Refusing payment of claims solely on the basis of the insured’s request to do so without making an independent evaluation of the insured’s liability based upon all available information.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)12. 12. Failure, where appropriate, to make use of arbitration procedures authorized or permitted under any insurance policy.

Ins 6.11(3)(a)13. 13. Adopting or making known to insureds or claimants a policy of appealing from arbitration awards in favor of insureds or claimants for the purpose of compelling them to accept settlements or compromises less than the amount awarded in arbitration.

Ins 6.11(3)(b) (b) Any of the following acts committed by any person shall constitute unfair methods and practices in the business of insurance:

Ins 6.11(3)(b)1. 1. Knowingly misrepresenting to claimants pertinent facts or policy provisions relating to coverages involved.

Ins 6.11(3)(b)2. 2. Failure to make provision for adequate claims handling personnel, systems and procedures to effectively service claims in this state incurred under insurance coverage issued or delivered in this state.

Ins 6.11(3)(b)3. 3. Failure to adopt reasonable standards for investigation of claims arising under its insurance policies.

Ins 6.11(3)(b)4. 4. Violating the requirements established in s. 632.85, Stats.

Ins 6.11(4) (4) Prompt defined. Except where a different period is specified by statute or rule and except for good cause shown, the terms “prompt” and “promptly” as used in this rule shall mean responsive action within 10 consecutive days from receipt of a communication concerning a claim.

Ins 6.11(5) (5) Penalty. The commission of any of the acts listed in sub. (3) (a) or (b) 2. or 3. shall subject the person to revocation of license to transact insurance in this state. Violations of this rule or any order issued thereunder shall subject the person violating the same to s. 601.64, Stats.

Ins 6.11 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1971, No. 190, eff. 11-1-71; am. (1), Register, September, 1973, No. 213, eff. 10-1-73; am. (2), Register, February, 1974, No. 218, eff. 3-1-74; emerg. am. (2), eff. 6-22-76; am. (2), Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. (1) and (2), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, April, 1992, No. 436, eff. 5-1-92; cr. (3) (b) 4., Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 3-1-00.

Ins 6.12 Ins 6.12 Qualification of actuaries.

Ins 6.12(1) (1) Purpose.

Ins 6.12(1)(a) (a) The purpose of this rule is to protect the interests of insurers, insureds, insurance beneficiaries, insurance claimants, insurance company stockholders, and trustees, employers, covered employees, retired employees and terminated employees of employee welfare funds by establishing requirements for use of the terms actuary or actuarial. This rule interprets and implements ss. 601.41, 601.42, 601.43, Stats., and ch. 628, Stats.

Ins 6.12(1)(b) (b) It is not the purpose of this rule to require any insurer or rate service organization to employ an actuary except as may be otherwise required by statute or other administrative rule, nor does this rule require that filings under ch. 625, Stats., be prepared or submitted by a qualified actuary. Further, this rule is not intended to prohibit the strictly internal use by insurers of job titles containing the term actuary.

Ins 6.12(2) (2) Scope. This rule shall apply to all reports or representations subject to supervision by the commissioner of insurance.

Ins 6.12(3) (3) Signature as an actuary. No document filed with this office which requires the signature of an actuary will be accepted unless the person signing as an actuary is a member of the American academy of actuaries or has otherwise demonstrated actuarial competence to the commissioner.

Ins 6.12(4) (4) Actuarial representation. No person in any representation made to the public or to this office in respect to any matter subject to this rule shall use the word actuary or actuarial to indicate a degree of professional competence unless that person is a member of the American academy of actuaries or has otherwise demonstrated actuarial competence to the commissioner.

Ins 6.12(5) (5) Level of competency. No member of the American academy of actuaries or a person who has otherwise demonstrated actuarial competence to the commissioner shall use the word actuary or actuarial in any presentation subject to this rule unless he or she is qualified to give the actuarial advice required or requested.

Ins 6.12(6) (6) Penalty. Violations of this rule or any order issued thereunder shall subject the person to s. 601.64, Stats., or other applicable statute.

Ins 6.12 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1971, No. 190, eff. 11-1-71; emerg. am. (1), eff. 6-22-76; am. (1), Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. (1), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; corrections in (3) to (5) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 5., Stats., Register, April, 1992, No. 436, eff. 5-1-92; corrections in (1) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2006 No. 610.

Ins 6.13 Ins 6.13 Open records; privileged or confidential records.

Ins 6.13(1) (1) Records of the office of the commissioner of insurance are subject to subch. II of ch. 19, Stats., and are open to inspection as required under subch. II of ch. 19, Stats.

Ins 6.13(2) (2) The office of the commissioner may withhold and retain as confidential any record which may be withheld and retained as confidential under subch. II of ch. 19, Stats., including, but not limited to, a record which may be withheld or which is privileged under any law or the rules of evidence, as attorney-work product under the rules of civil procedure, as attorney-client privileged material under s. 905.03, Stats., as a medical record under ss. 146.81 to 146.84, Stats., or as privileged under s. 601.465, Stats.

Ins 6.13(3) (3) The office, under s. 601.465, Stats., may refuse to disclose and prevent any person from disclosing, in response to a request for production, deposition, subpoena, or otherwise, information obtained from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or another state’s insurance department under pledge of confidentiality or for the purpose of conducting an investigation or examination or obtained, produced or created in the course of an inquiry under s. 601.42, Stats., or examination under s. 601.43, Stats. This privilege applies to information obtained, produced or created before or after the effective date of s. 601.465, Stats., and regardless of whether an inquiry, investigation or examination has been concluded, except it does not apply to a document which is an adopted examination report.

Ins 6.13 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1973, No. 210, eff. 7-1-73; am. (3) (b), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; corrections in (2) (a), (4) and (5), made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 5., Stats., Register, April, 1992, No. 436, eff. 5-1-92; r. and recr. Register, July, 1993, No. 451, eff. 8-1-93.

Ins 6.17 Ins 6.17 Regulation of surplus lines insurance.

Ins 6.17(1) (1) Purpose. This rule implements and interprets ss. 601.42, 601.72, 601.73, 618.41 and 618.43, Stats., for the purpose of facilitating the regulation of surplus lines insurance business in this state.

Ins 6.17(2) (2) Prohibited placement. No licensed surplus lines agent may place contracts of insurance with any unauthorized insurer:

Ins 6.17(2)(a) (a) For the classes of insurance specified by s. Ins 6.75 (2) (h), (i) and (k), and

Ins 6.17(2)(b) (b) For any kind of insurance not specifically authorized by any of the other paragraphs of s. Ins 6.75.

Ins 6.17(3) (3) Responsibilities of surplus lines agent. Every licensed surplus lines agent who procures surplus lines insurance shall:

Ins 6.17(3)(a) (a) Forward promptly to the policyholder a completed copy of a Surplus Lines Insurance Proposal in a form substantially as in Appendix 1 to this rule.

Ins 6.17(3)(b) (b) When applicable, forward promptly to the policyholder a notice that the unauthorized insurer with which the insurance is to be placed is not on the list of unauthorized nondomestic insurers which the commissioner believes to be reliable and solid, along with notice of any other deficiencies of the insurer of which the agent has knowledge.

Ins 6.17(3)(c) (c) Keep in his or her office in this state a full and true record of each surplus lines insurance contract procured by him or her, evidenced by a copy of the daily report or other documents to show at least the following information:

Ins 6.17(3)(c)1. 1. Amount of the insurance and perils insured against;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)2. 2. Brief general description of property insured and where located;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)3. 3. Gross premium charged;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)4. 4. Return premium paid, if any;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)5. 5. Rate of premium charged upon the several items of property;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)6. 6. Effective date of the contract, and the terms thereof;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)7. 7. Name and post-office address of the insured;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)8. 8. Name and home office address of the insurer;

Ins 6.17(3)(c)9. 9. Amount collected from the insured; and

Ins 6.17(3)(c)10. 10. A copy of the notice required by par. (b).

Ins 6.17(3)(d) (d) The record required by par. (d) shall be open at all times to examination by the commissioner without notice, and shall be so kept available and open to the commissioner for 3 years (5 years for notice required by par. (b)) next following the expiration or cancellation of the contract.

Ins 6.17(4) (4) Advertising by surplus lines agent. A surplus lines agent may advertise the availability of services in procuring, on behalf of persons seeking insurance, contracts with insurers not holding a certificate of authority in Wisconsin, but such advertisements shall not refer to any particular unauthorized insurer or insurers.

Ins 6.17(5) (5) Report and payment of tax-surplus lines insurance. All premium tax collected by the surplus lines agent shall be reported and forwarded to the commissioner on or before March 1, for all insurance procured, renewed or continued during the preceding calendar year with unauthorized insurers. The report and the premium taxes owed shall be submitted through an electronic filing system, a link to which may be found on the office’s website.

Ins 6.17(6) (6) Penalty. Any violation of this rule shall subject the agent to immediate revocation of the agent’s surplus lines license and to other forfeitures and penalties provided by s. 601.64, Stats.

Ins 6.17 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1973, No. 216, eff. 1-1-74; am. (1), Register, May, 1975, No. 233, eff. 6-1-75; emerg. am. (2) (a) and (b), eff. 6-22-76; am. (2) (a) and (b), Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. (2) (a) and (b), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; r. (3) (c), renum. (3) (d) and (e) to be (3) (c) and (d), am. (4), (6) and appendix 1, Register, August, 1982, No. 320, eff. 9-1-82; corrections in (3) (c) (intro.) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 5., Stats., Register, April, 1992, No. 436, eff. 5-1-92; CR 22-076: am. (5), r. appendix 2 Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.

Ins 6.17 Appendix 1

SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE PROPOSAL

Name and address of applicant Date

Dear:   Proposal No.

You have asked that I procure the following insurance coverage on your behalf:

Type of Insurance   Limits of Coverage

I can procure the coverage desired from the following insurer(s) at the premium listed:

Insurer(s) — Name and Address % of Total Risk
  Premium Quoted

This insurance is with an insurer which has not obtained a certificate of authority to transact a regular insurance business in the state of Wisconsin, and will be issued and delivered as a surplus lines coverage pursuant to s. 618.41, Stats. The insurance is regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance only as provided in ss. 618.41 and 618.43, Stats. Section 618.43 (1), Stats., requires payment by the policyholder of a 3% tax on gross premium (except for Ocean Marine Insurance on which the tax is one-half of 1%). The tax in this instance amounts to $ . If the above transaction is not satisfactory, please advise immediately.

Sincerely yours,

______________________________________________
Name and address of licensed surplus lines agent

Ins 6.17 Note Note: 2011 Wisconsin Act 224 changed the tax rate for surplus lines insurance which is ocean marine insurance to the same 3% rate for all other surplus lines insurance. Any previous reference to a ½ of 1% rate for ocean marine insurance in this rule is not enforceable as that insurance is now taxed at the same 3% rate for all surplus lines insurance.

Ins 6.18 Ins 6.18 Reporting and payment of tax by unauthorized insurers transacting business in violation of law.