Nevada Rules and Regulations Common to All Lines 14% Flashcards
What is Insurance?
the transfer of the possibility of a loss (risk) to an insurance company, which in turn spreads the costs of unexpected losses to many individuals
What is Transacting Insurance?
the general business of conduction insurance including, soliciting insurance contracts, inducing a person to purchase insurance, conduction preliminary negotiations such as sales presentations, effecting an insurance contract (completing application), and participating in any transactions relating to the insurance policy after it has been issued
What is an insurer?
any person or company engaged as the principal party in the business of entering into insurance contracts
What are the several classifications of insurers based on?
Type of ownership, locations of incorporation, and other characteristics
Insurance is available from what 2 types of parties?
Private companies and the government
What is the major difference between government and private insurance?
Government- funded with taxes and serve national and state social purposes
Private policies- funded by premiums
How can private insurances be classified by?
Ownership, Authority to transact business, Location (domicile), Marketing and distribution systems, or Rating (financial strength)
What is domicile?
refers to location where an insurer is incorporated, not necessarily where the insurer conducts business
Insurance companies are classified according to domicile, regardless, what must it obtain before transacting insurance within the state?
Certificate of Authority
What type of insurance company is domiciled in a specific state (this state since it’s Nevada)?
Domestic Insurer
What type of insurance company is incorporated (domiciled) in another state or territorial possession (such as Puerto Rico, Guam, or American Samoa).
Foreign Insurer
What type of insurance company is incorporated outside the United States.
Alien Insurer
Who owns stock companies?
Stockholders
What do stockholders provide and what do they share in?
They provide capital necessary to establish and operate the insurance company
They share in any profits or losses
Who elects officers and what do they do?
Stockholders elect officers
They manage stock insurance companies
What type of policy issued by stock companies, in which policy owners do not share in profits or losses?
Non-participating policies
In non-participating (stock policies), what is paid to stock holders and what isn’t paid to policy owners?
Policy owners- don’t receive dividends
Stockholders- get paid taxable dividends
Who owns mutual companies and what do they do?
Policy owners
and they issue participating policies
What are policy owners entitled to in participating policies?
Dividends
What are dividends and how are they generated?
they are return of excess premiums
and generated when the Premiums+Earnings exceed the actual cost of providing coverage creating surplus
What are dividends entitled and not entitled to in a mutual company?
Not taxable and not guaranteed
What is a Certificate of Authority?
given by the Division of Insurance that allows companies to transact insurance and write contracts in the state
What is an authorized insurer?
company that has qualified and received Certificate of Authority
What is a non-authorized insurer?
company that has not applied or has been denied a Certificate of Authority and may not transact insurance
What following acts constitutes the transaction of Insurance in the state of Nevada?
Making an insurance contract, Making a contract of guaranty or surety ship (provided action is not incidental to any other legitimate business), Taking any application for insurance, Receiving any monetary consideration for insurance (including premiums, commissions, membership fees, assessments or dues), and Acting as an agent
What must an insurer do before transacting business in a specific state?
Must apply for a license and obtain a Certifcate of Authority and meet any financial (capital and surplus) requirements set down by state?
When is an insurer not required to hold a certificate of authority?
Investigation, settlement of litigation of claims; liquidation of assets and liabilities of the insurer (other than collection of new premiums), Transactions written and delivered outside the state, covering subjects outside the state, Lawsuits, Surplus lines transactions, Actions related to the insurers rights, related to investments in the state; Reinsurance (with exception of most domestic reinsurers of a domestic insurer), The issuance of annuities by an authorized affiliate; Transactions (not related to workers comp or industrial service) that provide excess liability insurance or self-insured retention of at least $25,000,000
In order to transact insurance in Nevada, insurers must what?
Be in compliance with the Insurance code, and must also be incorporated stock, mutual or reciprocal insurers.
What are Premiums?
consideration or payment for insurance coverage
What are premiums also referred as?
an assessment, membership, policy, survey, inspection, or service
What are the general powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Commissioner, but not limited to?
1) Organize, manage, and supervise all of the activities of the Insurance Department
2) Enforce the provisions of the Insurance Code
3) Adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Insurance Code
4) Conduct examinations and investigations of all insurance matters
If the Commissioner has right to believe that anyone is in violation of any provisions of the Code or applicable law of insurance operations, for which criminal prosecution would be in order, who would they give the information to?
Appropriate District Attorney or to the Attorney General
Who can the Commissioner invoke in the case of any existing or threatened violation of any provision of code?
The courts through injunction or other proper process
Who can the Commissioner delegate his powers to?
His deputy, examiner or an employee of the Division
What can the Commissioner examine when pertaining to the duties of the insurer to make sure everything in the business is running smoothly?
examine the affairs, transactions, accounts, records, and assests
What is the time period of which the Commissioner can examine an authorized insurer?
as deemed necessary, but at least once every 5 years
Who is responsible for the cost of examination from the Commissioner or examiner?
The person being examined
What happens if someone refuses examinations or interferes with examinations?
The person is guilty of a misdemeanor
What is the Commissioners main role?
to enforce insurance laws and to protect the public from unfair trade practices
What could the Commissioner do if it suspects a violation committed or unfair trade practice?
May issue a statement of charges and hold a hearing for any purpose deemed necessary
When can a Commissioner hold a hearing?
Upon written application from the person aggrieved by the act and
If Required by any other provision of the Code
When should an application for a hearing be filed after an offense?
with 60 days of the person being aware the act was committed
When must a hearing be held after an application for hearing is accepted?
within 30 days, unless postponed by mutual consent
What does the notice of hearing include?
the date, time and place of the hearing and specify the matters to be considered
When should the notice of hearing be given to the person aggravated?
not less than 20 days in advance
When can a notice of hearing be posted in the newspaper?
when it is to consider rules and regulations that require notice to more than 30 people
What time frame is the Commissioner to make a determination on the hearing?
30 days after the hearing
Who has the right to waive the 30-day requirement of a hearing?
the individual requesting the hearing
If the Commissioner finds that a business has committed a violation or failed to report the violation, the Commissioner can impose what consequences?
suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license, and may assess a fine between $25 and $500
The fines of a violation must be paid within what time frame after a date of order?
cannot be shorter than 15 days but no longer than 30 days
What is the administrative fine imposed if a person willfully engages in the unauthorized transactions of insurance?
And when must it be paid?
no more than $10,000 for each act
Paid within 5 years but no later after violation occurred
What happens when the administrative fine is not paid?
Must be recovered in a Civil Action brought by the Attorney General on behalf of the Commissioner
What is a Producer of Insurance?
a person required to be licensed under the laws of Nevada to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance
What is the fee imposed if an individual transacts insurance without a license?
$1,000 for each violation
Who is exempt from the producers licensing requirement?
only the Insurers
What is an agent?
producer of insurance who is compensated by the insurer and sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance for the insurer