Insurance Regulation 5% Flashcards
There is an annual fee to maintain an adjuster license paid to the
director of insurance.
An adjuster must notify the commissioner of a change of name, address, or email address
within 30 days of the change.
Disciplinary Actions - Cease and Desist Order
● Commissioner issues a cease and desist order after finding that a licensee has violated an insurance law
● Licensee must cease his unlawful actions at once
Penalty for violating cease and desist order:
● fine up to $10,000 - $50,000 and/or suspension or revocation of license
Suspension, Revocation, and Refusal to Issue or Renew
●Commissioner can suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew a person’s license if a hearing determines that the licensee is guilty of violating insurance law
● If an adjuster poses a threat to the public, the commissioner can suspend his license immediately, without a hearing
Penalties and Fines - Misrepresenting terms of a policy
● upto$1,000 fine per violation or
imprisonment
Penalties and Fines - Violating an insurance law
● up to $500 fine per violation or $5,000 total
Penalties and Fines - Knowingly violating an insurance law:
● up to $2,500 fine per violation or $25,000
total for multiple violations committed in a 6-month period
Commissioner can hold a hearing if he believes a person has violated
● an insurance law or regulation
● An applicant denied a license can request a hearing within 30 days of being denied
Process for applying for an adjuster license:
- Applicant submits an application to the commissioner
- Commissioner has the applicant take an examination and conducts any
investigations necessary for determining the applicant’s qualifications - After receiving an application, commissioner has 60 days to make a decision
about the applicant - If the applicant is approved, the commissioner issues him a license
Lines of Authority
The following lines of authority are available in Michigan:
● Fire and other hazards
● Workers’ compensation
● Crop(including multi-peril crop insurance
Public adjuster
A licensed adjuster who represents the insured who has suffered losses
Independent adjuster
A licensed adjuster who adjusts losses on behalf of an insurance company
Requirements for being licensed as an adjuster in Michigan:
● Beat least 18 years old
● Apply online
● Pay an application fee and a transaction fee
● Pass the state exam
● Be of good moral character
● Have a reasonable understanding of insurance and the laws governing it in MI
● Intend to act in good faith
● Possess a good business reputation
The following are 14 claim settlement practices that are prohibited by Michigan law:
- Misrepresentation
- Failing to acknowledge communication about claims
- Failing to implement standards for claims investigation
- Denying claims without having conducted a reasonable investigation
- Failing to affirm or deny coverage of a claim within a reasonable time
- Failing to make prompt, fair, and equitable settlements for claims in
which liability has become reasonably clear - Offering substantially lower settlements than is fair, forcing claimants to
take the insurer to court - Attempting to settle claims for less than what a reasonable person would
expect based on advertisements made in applications - Trying to settle a claim using an application that was altered without
insured’s knowledge or consent - Making claims payments without explaining which coverage provided for
them - Attempting to compel a claimant to accept a settlement that is less than
the amount awarded in arbitration, by telling them that the insurer has a
policy of appealing arbitration awards that favor the insured - Delaying the settlement process by demanding both a preliminary claim
report and formal proof of loss forms - Refusing to settle claims promptly under one part of the policy in order to
influence settlement under another - Failing to explain promptly and thoroughly why a claim was denied or a
compromise settlement offered
- Misrepresentation
This refers to when an insurer or adjuster makes a material misrepresentation to the insured (or any other person who has an interest in the results of a settlement) in order to reduce the dollar amount of a claim settlement.