Washington State Overview Flashcards
What is the title of the law the pertains to insurance in Washington State?
Title 48 of the Washington Insurance Code
What is the purpose of Title 48?
To protect the public
Is the Washington State insurance commissioner elected or appointed?
Washington State Insurance Commissioner is an elected position.
What is the term of the Insurance Commissioner?
4 years
The Insurance Commissioner must post a bond. What is the dollar amount of the bond?
$25000
Can the Insurance Commissioner enact laws regarding insurance in Washington State?
No, the Insurance commission can issue orders and make rule, but not enact laws.
Is violation of insurance law a misdemeanor or a felony?
Misdemeanor
True/False
The Washington State Insurance commissioner can revoke an insurance company’s license for failure to make books and records available.
True
True/False
The Insurance Commissioner writes policy forms.
False, the insurance commissioner does not write policy forms.
Misusing a client’s money is considered to be:
Larceny by embezzlement
True/False
A domestic insurer has their home office in Washington state.
True
What is required for an insurer to do business in the state of Washington?
A Certificate of Authority in the state of Washington.
True/False
Once an insurer has a Certificate of Authority, it is able to do business in Washington state.
False, an insurer must have a Certificate of Authority, PLUS be approved to do business.
When must Certificates of Authority be renewed?
Each July 1st.
When an insurer should be licensed but is not, that insurer is called:
An unauthorized insurer.
What are the consequences of selling insurance as an unauthorized insure under Washington state insurance code?
Penalty of up to $25000 per violation
License suspension
Personal responsibility for performance of policy that was sold illegally.
True/False
The Guaranty Association can be listed as part of an advertisement.
False
The Guaranty Association may not be used in advertisement.
An insurance contract is between two people:
The insurer and the insured (the policy owner).
True/False
An insurer is in the business of selling insurance contracts
True
What is the type of organization is a:
Non-profit organization that does not issue stock.
Is only available to its members.
Operates a lodge system.
Has a representative form of government.
Provides for the payment of insurance benefits?
Fraternal benefit society — not considered an insurer
What type of insurer is owned by stockholders?
A stock insurer
Does a stock insurer pay dividends to policy owners?
No, stock insurers pay dividends to stocks owners.
What type of insurer is owned by its policy holders?
A Mutual insurer
What type of insurer may pay dividends to participating policy holders?
A mutual insurer
Are dividend from a mutual insurer guaranteed?
No dividends may never be guaranteed to a mutual insurer.
Are dividends paid to mutual insurers taxable?
No, dividends are viewed as a return of premium and are not taxable to the recipient.
True/False
Dividends may be projected on a participating policy?
True
What is the minimum age to be a producer in Washington state?
18 years of age
True/False
You must be registered with FINRA (formerly NASD) to sell variable products in Washington state.
True
To sell insurance in Washington with a nonresident license, you must have what?
A similar license in your state of residence
What may happen if you are found guilty of “twisting” in Washington state?
You may lose your license.
When must you file your CE hours in Washington State?
When your license renews.
An unfair method of competition is to:
Misrepresent pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions.
What is “twisting”?
Twisting is misrepresenting or misleading comparisons, to insure or tend to induce any insured to lapse, terminate, forfeit, retain or convert any insurance policy.
What is misrepresentation?
Issuing, circulating or making misrepresentations of:
Policies or the benefits or advantages promised,
Dividends or shares of surplus received
Name or title of any policies or classes of policy
Is it possible to guarantee a dividend?
No, this would be misrepresentation
What may happen to a person that makes false or misleading statement, willfully fails to reveal a material fact — in or relative to an application for insurance to an insurer?
He/She would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and his/her license may be revoked.
True/False
Discrimination is not allowed, insurers do not have a right to refuse to issue a contract, cancel or decline a contract?
False
While it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of protected categories, state law does not prohibit fair discrimination when bona fide statistical differences in risk or exposure have been substantiated.
True/False
Failure to identify yourself as an insurance producer and the company you represent during a sales presentation held away fro your office is grounds for license suspension or revocation.
True
In Washington state, can producers hold policies in safekeeping for clients?
No, in Washington state, policies must be delivered to clients.
True/False
Producers may obtain policies from owners or insurance and hold policies for analysis, servicing, family or legal obligation or to give a receipt.
True
Producer may briefly obtain a policy but must be returned promptly to the insured.
When can a producer hold a policy?
When the insured is a minor child of the producer or when the producer is acting as a legal guardian or court appointed representative, and is properly licensed by the state.
As a producer, who has the responsibility of making sure that the insurer he/she (the producer) represents is properly licensed in the state?
The producer
What must a producer who is licensed in another sate do in order to transact business in Washington state?
He/She must obtain a WA non-resident license.
Who has the responsibility of checking that an insurer has a Certificate of Authority or that a Surplus Lines broker is licensed in Washington, prior to a producer selling coverage?
The producer.
What are the requirements to be a producer in Washington state?
Must be 18 years of age
Completed preliminary training
Paid non-refundable licensing fees.
(A producer must be appointed by at least 1 insurer in order to transact insurance in WA).
A producer’s appointment is effective until:
The producer’s license expires or is revoked, or
His/her appointment expires, or
The insurer files written notice of termination with the commissioner.
Prior to an insurer checking MIB (Medical Information Bureau) records, what must occur?
The insurer must notify the applicant at the time of application.
An insurer that is formed under the laws of the state of Washington is a:
Domestic insurer
An insurer that is formed under the laws of another state is:
Foreign Insurer
An insurer formed under the laws of another country is:
Alien insurer
What is required for domestic, foreign and alien insurers to transact insurance in Washington state?
Certificate of Authority from the Commissioner
The Insurance commissioner is elected to a term of how long by the voters of Washington state?
4 years
Giving a client any goods worth more than $25 is considered?
An illegal inducement
What may be a result of a producer being found in violation of the state insurance code by the Insurance Commissioner?
He/She have his/her license suspended or revoked, plus a fine of no less than $10 or no more than $1000 may be levied agains the producer.
What is rebating?
Giving illegal inducements.
Who can apportion dividends based upon their “divisible” surplus?
Mutual insurers
Can the Insurance Commissioner set insurance rates?
No, the Commissioner enforces insurance rules and regulations, collects fees and issues licenses.