Title 48 — Title 48 INSURANCE

(1) If the commissioner finds that the applicant for a license as a rating organization is competent, trustworthy and otherwise qualified so to act, and that its constitution, articles of agreement or association or certificate of incorporation or trust agreement, and its bylaws,…

(1) The commissioner may, after a hearing, suspend or revoke the license issued to a rating organization for any of the following causes:(a) If he or she finds that the licensee no longer meets the qualifications for the license.(b) For failure to comply with an order of the comm…

Every rating organization shall notify the commissioner promptly of every change in(1) its constitution, its articles of agreement or association, or its certificate of incorporation, or trust agreement, and its bylaws, rules and regulations governing the conduct of its business;…

(1) Subject to rules and regulations which have been approved by the commissioner as reasonable, each rating organization shall permit any insurer to subscribe to its rating services for any kind of insurance or subdivision thereof, for which it is authorized to act as a rating o…

(1) The reasonableness of any rule or regulation in its application to subscribers, or the refusal of any rating organization to admit an insurer as a subscriber, shall, at the request of any subscriber or any such insurer, be reviewed by the commissioner at a hearing held upon n…

The subscribers of any rating organization may, from time to time, individually or through committees representing various subscribers, consult with the rating organization with respect to matters within this chapter which affect such subscribers.[1947 c 79 s .19.23; Rem. Supp. 1…

No rating organization shall adopt any rule the effect of which would be to prohibit or regulate the payment of dividends, savings or unabsorbed premium deposits allowed or returned by insurers to their policyholders, members or subscribers.[1947 c 79 s .19.24; Rem. Supp. 1947 s …

(1) Cooperation among rating organizations or among rating organizations and insurers in rate making or in other matters within the scope of this chapter is hereby authorized, if the filings resulting from such cooperation are subject to all the provisions of this chapter which a…

Any rating organization may subscribe for or purchase actuarial, technical or other services, and such services shall be available to all subscribers without discrimination.[1947 c 79 s .19.26; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 45.19.26.]

Each rating organization shall keep an accurate and complete record of all work performed by it, and of all its receipts and disbursements. Such rating organization and its records shall be examined by the commissioner at such times and in such manner as is provided in chapter 48…

(1) Every member or subscriber to a rating organization shall adhere to the filings made on its behalf by such organization. Deviations from the organization's filings are permitted only when filed with the commissioner in accordance with this chapter.(2) Every such deviation sha…

(1) Any subscriber to a rating organization may appeal to the commissioner from the rating organization's action or decision in approving or rejecting any proposed change in or addition to the rating organization's filings. The commissioner shall, after a hearing on the appeal:(a…

Every rating organization and every insurer which makes its own rates shall, within a reasonable time after receiving written request therefor and upon payment of such reasonable charge as it may make, furnish to any insured affected by a rate made by it, or to the authorized rep…

Every rating organization and every insurer which makes its own rates shall provide within this state reasonable means whereby any person aggrieved by the application of its rating system may be heard, in person or by his or her authorized representative, on his or her written re…

(1) Every group, association or other organization of insurers, whether located within or outside this state, which assists insurers which make their own filings or rating organizations in rate making, by the collection and furnishing of loss or expense statistics, or by the subm…

Every advisory organization before serving as such to any rating organization or independently filing insurer doing business in this state, shall file with the commissioner:(1) A copy of its constitution, its articles of agreement or association or its certificate of incorporatio…

If, after a hearing, the commissioner finds that the furnishing of information or assistance by an advisory organization, as referred to in RCW 48.19.320, involves any act or practice which is unfair or unreasonable or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this code, he o…

No insurer which makes its own filing nor any rating organization shall support its filings by statistics or adopt rate making recommendations, furnished to it by an advisory organization which has not complied with this chapter or with any order of the commissioner involving suc…

(1) Every group, association or other organization of insurers which engages in joint underwriting or joint reinsurance, shall be subject to regulation with respect thereto as is provided in this section, subject, however, with respect to joint underwriting, to all other provisio…

(1) The commissioner shall promulgate reasonable rules and statistical plans, reasonably adapted to each of the rating systems on file with him or her, which may be modified from time to time and which shall be used thereafter by each insurer in the recording and reporting of its…

Every rating organization and insurer may exchange information and experience data with insurers and rating organizations in this and other states and may consult with them with respect to rate making and the application of rating systems.[1947 c 79 s .19.38; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 45…

No person shall wilfully withhold information from, or knowingly give false or misleading information to, the commissioner, any statistical agency designated by the commissioner, any rating organization, or any insurer, which will affect the rates or premiums chargeable under thi…

Agreements may be made among casualty insurers with respect to the equitable apportionment among them of insurance which may be afforded applicants who are in good faith entitled to but who are unable to procure such insurance through ordinary methods and such insurers may agree …

(1) The commissioner may permit the organization and operation of examining bureaus for the examination of policies, daily reports, binders, renewal certificates, endorsements, and other evidences of insurance or of the cancellation thereof, for the purpose of ascertaining that l…

Two or more insurers mutually may agree to adhere to rates, rating plans, rating systems or underwriting practices or uniform modifications thereof, all subject to the following conditions:(1) All of the terms of the agreements shall be in writing executed on behalf of each such …

Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty of not more than fifty dollars for each such violation, but if such violation is found to be wilful a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for each such violation may be imposed. Such penalt…

Any schedule of rates or rating plan for personal automobile liability and physical damage insurance submitted to or filed with the commissioner shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges except for underinsured motorist coverage for those insureds who are 55 y…

All insurance companies writing automobile liability and physical damage insurance in this state shall allow an appropriate reduction in premium charges except for underinsured motorist coverage to all eligible persons subject to RCW 48.19.460.[ 1986 c 235 s 2.]

Upon successfully completing the approved course, each participant shall be issued by the course's sponsoring agency, a certificate that shall be the basis of qualification for the discount on insurance.[ 1986 c 235 s 3.]

Each participant shall take an approved course every two years to continue to be eligible for the discount on insurance.[ 1986 c 235 s 4.]

Due consideration in making rates for motor vehicle insurance shall be given to any anticipated change in losses that may be attributable to the use of seat belts, child restraints, and other lifesaving devices. An exhibit detailing these changes and any credits or discounts resu…

Due consideration in making rates for motor vehicle insurance shall be given to:(1) Any anticipated change in losses that may be attributable to the use of properly installed and maintained anti-theft devices in the insured private passenger automobile. An exhibit detailing these…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, in addition to other information required by this chapter, a rate filing by a property insurer for a policy that includes risk mitigation and/or prevention goods and/or services under RCW 48.18.558, must demonstrate that i…

(1) In making rates for the insurance coverage for dwelling units, insurers shall consider the benefits of fire alarms and smoke detection devices in their rate making. If the insurer determines a separate rate factor is valid, then an exhibit supporting these changes and any cre…

Nothing in this chapter shall apply to or affect (1) any policy of workers' compensation insurance or any policy of liability insurance with or without supplementary expense coverage therein; or (2) any policy or contract of reinsurance; or (3) any blanket or group policy of insu…

No disability policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state unless it otherwise complies with this code, and complies with the following:(1) It shall purport to insure only one person, except as to family expense insurance written pursuant to RCW 48…

Every individual disability insurance policy issued after January 1, 1968, except single premium nonrenewable policies, shall have printed on its face or attached thereto a notice stating in substance that the person to whom the policy is issued shall be permitted to return the p…

If a contract is issued on any basis other than as applied for, an endorsement setting forth such modification(s) must accompany and be attached to the policy; and no endorsement shall be effective unless signed by the policyowner, and a signed copy thereof returned to the insure…

If any policy is issued by a domestic insurer for delivery to a person residing in another state, and if the insurance commissioner or corresponding public official of such other state has advised the commissioner that any such policy is not subject to approval or disapproval by …

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Claims" means the cost to the insurer of health care services, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, provided to a policyholder or paid to or on behalf of the policyhold…

(1) Premiums for health benefit plans for individuals shall be calculated using the adjusted community rating method that spreads financial risk across the carrier's entire individual product population, except the individual product population covered under RCW 48.20.029. All su…

(1) Premiums for health benefit plans for individuals who purchase the plan as a member of a purchasing pool:(a) Consisting of five hundred or more individuals affiliated with a particular industry;(b) To whom care management services are provided as a benefit of pool membership;…

Except as provided in RCW 48.18.130, each such policy delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this state shall contain the provisions as specified in RCW 48.20.042 to 48.20.152, inclusive, in the words in which the same appear; except, that the insurer may, at its optio…

There shall be a provision as follows:ENTIRE CONTRACTS; CHANGES: This policy, including the endorsements and attached papers, if any, constitutes the entire contract of insurance. No change in this policy shall be valid until approved by an executive officer of the insurer and un…

There shall be a provision as follows:"MISSTATEMENT OF AGE OR SEX: If the age or sex of the insured has been misstated, all amounts payable under this policy shall be such as the premium paid would have purchased at the correct age or sex."The amount of any underpayments which ma…

There shall be a provision as follows:"TIME LIMIT ON CERTAIN DEFENSES: (a) After two years from the date of issue of this policy no misstatements except fraudulent misstatements, made by the applicant in the application for such policy shall be used to void the policy or to deny …

There shall be a provision as follows:GRACE PERIOD: A grace period of . . . . (insert a number not less than "7" for weekly premium policies, "10" for monthly premium policies, and "31" for all other policies) days will be granted for the payment of each premium falling due after…

There shall be a provision as follows:REINSTATEMENT: If any renewal premium be not paid within the time granted the insured for payment, a subsequent acceptance of premium by the insurer or by any insurance producer duly authorized by the insurer to accept such premium, without r…

There shall be a provision as follows:NOTICE OF CLAIM: Written notice of claim must be given to the insurer within twenty days after the occurrence or commencement of any loss covered by the policy, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably possible. Notice given by or on behalf of …

There shall be a provision as follows:CLAIM FORMS: The insurer, upon receipt of a notice of claim, will furnish to the claimant such forms as are usually furnished by it for filing proofs of loss. If such forms are not furnished within fifteen days after the giving of such notice…