DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
PROPOSED
PUBLIC NOTICE
610 Automobile Premium Consumer Comparison
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER MATTHEW DENN hereby gives notice of proposed Department of Insurance Regulation 610 relating to the availability of private passenger automobile premium rate comparison data. The Commissioner proposes to promulgate Regulation 610 relating to Automobile Premium Consumer Comparison. The docket number for this proposed regulation is 280.
The proposed regulation would require automobile insurers to provide survey data to the Department of Insurance for the purposes of allowing consumers of private passenger non-fleet automobiles the opportunity to compare rates from different companies. The survey data would have to be filed with the Department on an annual basis. The regulation would also require the insurers to provide direct email responses to the consumer. The Delaware Code authority for the change is 18 Del.C. §§311 and 2501 et seq.
The text can also be viewed at the Delaware Insurance Commissioner’s website at: http://www.state.de.us/inscom/departments/documents/ProposedRegs/ProposedRegs.shtml.
The Department of Insurance does not plan to hold a public hearing on the proposed changes. Any person can file written comments, suggestions, briefs, and compilations of data or other materials concerning the proposed amendment. Any written submission in response to this notice and relevant to the proposed change must be received by the Department of Insurance no later than 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 2, 2006, and should be addressed to Deputy Attorney General Michael J. Rich, c/o Delaware Department of Insurance, 841 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, DE 19904, sent by fax to 302.739.5566 or emailed to michael.rich@state.de.us.
610 Automobile Premium Consumer Comparison
1.1 This regulation is adopted by the Commissioner pursuant to the authority granted by 18 Del.C. §§311 and 2501 and promulgated in accordance with the Delaware Administrative Procedures Act, 29 Del.C. Chapter 101.
“Insurer” shall mean every insurer licensed to offer and sell non-fleet private passenger automobile insurance coverage in the State of Delaware.
“Private passenger auto market share” shall be determined by data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for the prior calendar year for line numbers 19.1, 19.2 and 21.1 for the State of Delaware.
“Rate survey” shall mean a request by the Department that insurers calculate estimated annual insurance premiums based on hypothetical consumer profiles, and to include variations in driving record, vehicle and other factors identified by the Department. The rate survey shall include estimated premiums for each zip code or other geographic area identified by the Department.
“Rate estimates” shall mean the estimated annual insurance premiums produced for the Department’s rate survey.
3.1 Insurers with 1 percent or more of the Delaware private passenger automobile insurance market share shall be required to complete the full rate survey required by this regulation.
3.2 Insurers with .01 to .99 percent of private passenger automobile insurance market share shall be required to complete a limited rate survey consisting of a lesser number of hypothetical consumer profiles identified by the Department.
3.3 Insurers with less than .01 percent of private passenger automobile insurance market share shall not be required to complete a rate survey pursuant to this regulation.
4.1 Each insurer will be provided with an account on the Department’s website to provide basic company information and to administer the submission of rate survey data.
5.1 The Department of Insurance shall make available the rate survey request format with hypothetical consumer profiles, coverage levels, vehicle models and other information necessary for calculating rate estimates on the Department’s website no later than September 15th of each year.
5.2 In 2006, all required rate survey data from insurers must be submitted to the Department on or before November 1st, 2006. In all subsequent years, all required rate survey data from insurers must be submitted to the Department on or before October 15th of each year.
5.3 Rate survey data that is incomplete or not reported according to the Department’s instructions will be returned to the insurer for correction and must be resubmitted within 10 business days.
6.1 Insurers shall provide rate estimates based on rates in effect as of October 1st of the year when the rate survey is being completed.
6.2 All rate estimates shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.
6.3 Insurers shall submit rate data utilizing an electronic spreadsheet provided by the Department or by other means specified by the Department. Insurers shall be required to upload the data to the Department via the internet.
7.1 Insurers shall be responsible for the accuracy of company information and rate data submitted to the Department for publication. As part of the submission process, insurers will be subject to examination to verify the accuracy of the data being submitted.
8.1 Insurers shall provide a single electronic mail address to the Department for the purpose of allowing consumers to request a personalized automobile insurance premium quote as part of the rate comparison process.
8.2 The insurer shall be required to provide a direct email response to the consumer, confirming receipt of the quote request.
8.3 The insurer shall be required to maintain an electronic log of all email responses to consumer requests for rate quotes for a period of one year after the request. The electronic log shall be capable of being transferred to the Department upon request.
9.1 Insurers that do not comply with this regulation are subject to the provisions of 18 Del.C. §329.
10.1 If any provision of this Regulation or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid the remainder of such provisions, and the application of such provision to any person or circumstance other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected.
11.1 This Regulation shall become effective September 11, 2006.
