Lincoln – Bruce R. Ramge, director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance, responded in an open letter to questions from some insurers related to COVID-19.

Ramge said the department has been asked if it is permissible for an insurer to relax certain requirements such as notice of loss requirements, premium payment provisions and cancellation and non-renewal timeframes. In addition to questions whether such accommodations would create a regulatory determination of unfair trade practices, insurers have asked what filing requirements or amendments to existing filed rate and form filings are necessary.

“If an insurer administers accommodations on a consistent and fair basis, the Nebraska Department of Insurance does not consider them to be violations of the Nebraska Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Nebraska Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act nor associated regulations,” Ramge said.

Amendatory filings and prior approvals for accommodation practices will not be required, but an email to the appropriate department division is requested.

– Nebraska Department of Insurance