(4) Immunity for insurers. An insurer is immune from any civil or criminal liability for any action taken under sub. (3) or for the death of, or injury to, an insured that results from abuse or domestic abuse.
(5) Use and disclosure of abuse information. (a) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d) and sub. (3), no person employed by or contracting with an insurer may use, disclose or transfer information related to any of the following:
1. Whether an insured or applicant for insurance or a member of the insured's or applicant's family, or whether an employe or other group member of an insured or applicant for insurance or a member of the employe's or other group member's family, is or has been, or is with reason believed by the person employed by or contracting with the insurer to be or to have been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
2. Whether an insured or applicant for insurance, or whether an employe or other group member of an insured or applicant for insurance, is a family member or associate of, or in a relationship with, a person who is or has been, or who the person employed by or contracting with the insurer has reason to believe is or has been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
3. Whether an insured or an applicant for insurance employs a person who is or has been, or who the person employed by or contracting with the insurer has reason to believe is or has been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(b) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d), a person employed by or contracting with an insurer may not disclose or transfer information related to the telephone number or address or other location of any of the following individuals, if the person knows that the individual is or has been, or has reason to believe that the individual is or has been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse:
1. An insured.
2. An applicant for insurance.
3. An employe of an insured or of an applicant for insurance.
4. A group member of an insured or of an applicant for insurance.
5. A member of the family of any of the individuals listed in subds. 1. to 4.
(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply if the use, disclosure or transfer of the information is made with the consent of the individual to whom the information relates or if the use, disclosure or transfer satisfies any of the following:
1. Is for a purpose related to the direct provision of health care services.
2. Is for a valid business purpose, including the disclosure or transfer of the information to any of the following:
a. A reinsurer.
b. A party to a proposed or consummated sale, transfer, merger or consolidation of all or part of the business of the insurer.
c. Medical, underwriting or claims personnel under contract or affiliated with the insurer.
d. An attorney representing the interests of the insurer.
e. The policyholder or policyholder's assignee as a result of delivery of the policy.
3. Is in response to legal process.
4. Is required by a court order or an order of an entity with authority to regulate insurance, or is otherwise required by law.
5. Is required or authorized by the commissioner by rule.
(d) Nothing in this subsection limits or precludes an insured or an applicant for insurance, or an employe or other group member of an insured or applicant for insurance, from obtaining his or her own insurance records from an insurer.
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Section
10.
Initial applicability.
(1) This act first applies to all of the following:
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), policies or certificates that are issued, renewed or applied for, whichever is appropriate, on the effective date of this paragraph.
(b) Policies or certificates covering employes who are affected by a collective bargaining agreement containing provisions inconsistent with this act that are issued, renewed or applied for, whichever is appropriate, on the earlier of the following:
1. The day on which the collective bargaining agreement expires.
2. The day on which the collective bargaining agreement is extended, modified or renewed.
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11.
Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication.
