The Connecticut Insurance Department reissued three “disaster” bulletins this week in the wake of the devastating Nor’easter that hit New England with a fury on Oct. 29th and 30th. With claims currently projected to exceed those due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene, Connecticut and other nearby states declared states of emergency as the massive clean-up continues this week.
Bulletin IC -34 sets forth the Department’s position on the handling of individual and group health insurance claims for disaster victims and evacuees throughout the duration of the Governor’s state of emergency proclamation including medical equipment, supplies and services, prescription drug refills, out-of-network services, hospital admission notifications, utilization reviews and claim filing deadlines.
Bulletin IC-32 encourages insurers “to use all available means to provide prompt and immediate relief to those residents and policyholders, including but not limited to the suspension of premium payments to allow continuing insurance coverage.” The Department clarifies its reference to suspension of premium payments as the granting of an extended grace period to policyholders for the payment of any premium due.
Bulletin IC-30 provides the actions to be taken by insurers upon receiving notice of a claim:
- Promptly establish contact with the claimant;
- Quickly survey and assess the claimant’s damage;
- Provide prompt and accurate responses to claimants;
- Provide prompt payment for additional living expenses and for temporary repairs after the assessment of the insured’s damage; and
- Quickly set appointments with the claimant for examination and resolution of all claim matters.
Bulletin IC-34 (Reissued Nov. 2, 2011): http://www.ct.gov/cid/lib/cid/Bulletin_IC-34_%28Reissued%29.pdf
Bulletin IC-32 (Reissued Nov. 2, 2011): http://www.ct.gov/cid/lib/cid/Bulletin_IC-32_%28Reissued%29.pdf
Bulletin IC-30 (Reissued Nov. 2, 2011): http://www.ct.gov/cid/lib/cid/Bulletin_IC-30_%28Reissued%29.pdf
