Ins 3.27(24)(c)(c) Information required by this rule shall not be set out under inappropriate captions or headings or under inappropriate questions where a question and answer format is used.
Ins 3.27(24)(d)(d) An advertisement of a hospital confinement indemnity policy shall disclose in close conjunction with any description of the benefits the existence in the policy of a provision which eliminates benefits for sickness and/or injury conditions for a stated number of days at the beginning of a hospital confinement.
Ins 3.27(24)(e)(e) An advertisement of a non-cancellable policy or of a guaranteed renewable policy shall also be subject to sub. (25).
Ins 3.27(25)(25)Non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable policies.
Ins 3.27(25)(a)(a) No person, in the presentation, solicitation, effectuation, or sale of a policy, and no advertisement, relating to or used in connection with a policy, shall use the terms “non-cancellable” or “non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable” or “guaranteed renewable,” except in connection with policies conforming to s. Ins 3.13 (2) (e).
Ins 3.27(25)(b)(b) An advertisement describing a non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable or guaranteed renewable policy form shall be subject to sub. (11).
Ins 3.27(25)(c)(c) A printed advertisement describing a non-cancellable or non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable policy form shall disclose, as prominently as and in close conjunction with any prominent use of the terms “non-cancellable” or “non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable:”
Ins 3.27(25)(c)1.1. The age to or term for which the form is non-cancellable or non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable, if other than lifetime,
Ins 3.27(25)(c)2.2. The age or time at which the form’s benefits are reduced, if applicable, (the age or time at which a form’s benefits are reduced need not be so disclosed if such reduction is not effected prior to the age to or term for which the form is non-cancellable or non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable or if regular benefits are payable at least to the age to or term for which the form is non-cancellable or non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable), and
Ins 3.27(25)(c)3.3. That benefit payments are subject to an aggregate limit, if applicable.
Ins 3.27(25)(d)(d) A printed advertisement describing a guaranteed renewable policy form shall disclose, as prominently as and in close conjunction with any prominent use of the term “guaranteed renewable:”
Ins 3.27(25)(d)1.1. The age to or term for which the form is guaranteed renewable, if other than lifetime;
Ins 3.27(25)(d)2.2. The age or time at which the form’s benefits are reduced, if applicable, (the age or time at which a form’s benefits are reduced need not be so disclosed if such reduction is not effected prior to the age to or form for which the form is guaranteed renewable or if regular benefits are payable at least to the age to or term for which the form is guaranteed renewable);
Ins 3.27(25)(d)3.3. That benefit payments are subject to an aggregate limit, if applicable; and
Ins 3.27(25)(d)4.4. That the applicable premium rates may be changed.
Ins 3.27(25)(e)(e) The foregoing limitations on the use of the term “non-cancellable” shall also apply to any synonymous term such as “not cancellable;” and the foregoing limitations on use of the term “guaranteed renewable” shall apply to any synonymous term such as “guaranteed continuable.”
Ins 3.27(26)(26)Form number. An advertisement which is an invitation to apply or an invitation to inquire and which is mass-produced shall be identified by a form number. The form number shall be sufficient to distinguish it from any other advertising form or any policy, application or other form used by the insurer.
Ins 3.27(27)(27)Insurer’s responsibility for advertisements.
Ins 3.27(27)(a)(a) The content, form and method of dissemination of all advertisements, regardless of by whom designed, created, written, printed or used, shall be the responsibility of the insurer whose policy is advertised.
Ins 3.27(27)(b)(b) An insurer shall require its agents and any other person or agency acting on its behalf in preparing advertisements to submit proposed advertisements to it for approval prior to use.
Ins 3.27(28)(28)Insurer’s advertising file. Each insurer shall maintain at its home or principal office a complete file containing every printed, published or prepared advertisement of its policies hereafter disseminated in this or any other state, whether or not licensed in such other state. With respect to group, blanket and franchise policies, all proposals prepared on the same printed form need not be included in the file; only typical examples of such proposals need be included. A notation shall be attached to each such advertisement in the file indicating the manner and extent of distribution and the form number of any policy, amendment, rider, or endorsement form advertised. A copy of the policy advertised, together with any amendment, rider or endorsement applicable thereto, shall be included in the file with each such advertisement. Such file shall be subject to regular and periodic inspection by the office of the commissioner of insurance. All such advertisements shall be maintained in such file for a period of 4 years or until the filing of the next regular examination report on the insurer, whichever is the longer period.
Ins 3.27(29)(29)Penalty. Violations of this rule shall subject the violator to s. 601.64, Stats.
Ins 3.27(31)(31)Effective date. This rule shall apply to all advertisements used in this state after June 1, 1973.
Ins 3.27 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1973, No. 208, eff. 6-1-73; am. (zb), (11) (c) 1. and (11) (e), Register, August, 1973, No.212, eff. 9-1-73; am. (5) (b) 1., Register, April, 1975, No. 232, eff. 5-1-75; emerg. am. (1), (2), (5) (c) and (m) 1., eff. 6-22-76; am. (1), (2), (5) (c) and (m) 1., Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; cr. (9) (zh), Register, November, 1976, No. 251, eff. 12-1-76; am. (2), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; r. (29), Register, March, 1981, No. 303, eff. 4-1-81; cr. (10) (j) 43., Register, October, 1984, No. 346, eff. 11-1-84; r. (30) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 16., Stats., Register, December, 1984, No. 348; am. (4) (a), (9) (p) and (v) (intro.) and (10) (h), Register, March, 1985, No. 351, eff. 4-1-85; correction in (2) (and (5) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, April, 1992, No. 436; am. (5) (a) 1., Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99.
Ins 3.28Ins 3.28Solicitation, underwriting and claims practices in individual and franchise accident and sickness insurance.
Ins 3.28(1)(1)Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to promote the fair and equitable treatment of Wisconsin residents in the solicitation, underwriting and administration of accident and sickness insurance and of contracts issued by a plan subject to ch. 613, Stats. Sections of statutes interpreted or implemented by this rule include but are not limited to ss. 601.04 (3), 601.01 (2), 611.20, 618.12 (1), and 632.76, Stats.
Ins 3.28(2)(2)Scope. This rule applies to the solicitation, underwriting and administration of any insurance issued by any insurer or fraternal benefit society under s. Ins 6.75 (1) (c) or (2) (c) and ss. 600.03 (22) and 632.93, Stats., except credit accident and sickness insurance under s. Ins 6.75 (1) (c) 1. or (2) (c) 1., and to any contract, other than one issued on a group or group type basis as defined in s. Ins 6.51 (3), issued by a plan subject to ch. 613, Stats. For the purpose of this rule, references to insurer, policy, and insurance agent or representative, also apply to organizations or associations operating non-profit plans, contracts, and persons within the scope of the rule, respectively.
Ins 3.28(3)(3)Application form. An application form which becomes part of the insurance contract shall provide to the effect that statements made by the applicant in the application form regarding the general medical history or general health of a proposed insured person which require an opinion or the exercise of judgment are representations or are to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and/or belief. Such form need not so provide with respect to statements regarding specifically named diseases, physical conditions, or types of medical consultation or treatment. Such form shall not require the applicant to state that he or she has not withheld any information or concealed any facts in completing the application; however, the applicant may be required to state that his or her answers are true and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and/or belief.
Ins 3.28(4)(4)Solicitation. An insurance agent or representative shall review carefully with the applicant all questions contained in each application which he or she prepares and shall set down in each such form all material information disclosed to him or her by the applicant in response to the questions in such form.