Category(s): Alabama - 03/29/2023

From the Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI), February 17, 2023. The Alabama Department of Insurance announced on February 17, 2023, that Sanjeev Chaudhuri will be the new chief actuary for the Department. He joins the department from Alfa Insurance, where he also served as chief actuary.
He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and has more than 20 years of experience, including experience in life insurance, accident and health insurance, and property and casualty. Chaudhuri has worked in almost all areas of life actuarial practice - financial reporting, asset adequacy analysis, assumption setting, pricing and form filing, compliance and regulatory issues, audit and examination support, controls, valuation, in-force management, reinsurance, and administration and actuarial systems conversions.  He has also worked on rate filings, reserving and modeling of A&H products and rate reviews of P&C products.
He holds a Master of Science in Statistics from Ohio State University and a Master of Science in Mathematics from Bowling Green State University. Click here  for more information from ALDOI.

Stephen W. Still, Esq. - BALCH & BINGHAM LLP, (205) 488-5512 , sstill@balch.com

Category(s): Alabama - 03/28/2023

From the Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI), March 1, 2023. The Alabama Department of Insurance welcomes Heather Lowe to the role of Government Relations Manager. She joins the department from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, where she served in both the roles of Governmental Relations Manager and Assistant Director. While at ALEA, she prepared the legislative agenda for the agency and worked to ensure bills were passed, facilitated agency communications, advised on agency policies and implemented internal procedures.
“Heather’s extensive background in government relations will bring new depth and dimension to our department,” said Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler. “Her skills will be vital in helping implement important legislation to protect Alabama insurance consumers.”
She previously worked at the Legislative Services Agency, where she analyzed the fiscal impacts of legislation and drafted legislation and amendments, among other duties. She began her career in state service at the Executive Budget Office, assisting agencies with budgetary needs, as well as preparing and reconciling General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets. Lowe is a graduate of Auburn University of Montgomery with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration. She is married to Bryant Lowe and they have six children. Click here  for more information from the ALDOI.

Stephen W. Still, Esq. - BALCH & BINGHAM LLP, (205) 488-5512 , sstill@balch.com

Category(s): California - 03/29/2023

On February 27, 2023, the CDI issued a notice titled: “2023 Annual Notice – Significant California Laws Effective as of the Date of this Notice Pertaining to Residential Property Insurance Policies, including those related to a Declared State of Emergency”.  The Notice is statutorily required and provides admitted insurers and licensed adjusters with an overview of key California law affecting property insurance policies, including in areas where there a state of emergency has been declared. The Notice can be found here. 

Nicole M. Zayac, Esq. - Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, (415) 858-7443 , nzayac@willkie.com

Category(s): California - 03/31/2023

On January 4, 2023, the CDI published a Notice  titled “Coverage of Flood, Mudslide, and Earth Movement Claims Relating to Recent Wildfires” reminding insurers that under the efficient proximate cause doctrine mudslide losses may be covered under fire policies if fire was the efficient proximate cause of the mudslide loss.

Nicole M. Zayac, Esq. - Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, (415) 858-7443 , nzayac@willkie.com

Category(s): Florida - 03/28/2023

From the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, January 31, 2023. During the Citizens Board of Governors meeting on January 31, 2023, the Board appointed its General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer Tim Cerio to lead Citizens Property Insurance Corporation indefinitely after bidding farewell to President, CEO and Executive Director Barry Gilway, who retired the same day, bringing a close to more than 10 years of leadership. Cerio, who was appointed by the Board to succeed President Gilway on an interim basis in December, began his appointment on February 1, as the state’s insurer of last resort implements recently adopted legislative reforms to Florida’s property insurance market and continues preparations for the 2023 Legislative session that begins in March. Click here  for more information from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

Fred E. Karlinsky, Esq. - GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A., (954) 768-8278 , karlinskyf@gtlaw.com

Category(s): Florida - 03/28/2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis and  other Republican leaders, House Commerce Chairman Bob Rommel, R-Naples, filed a proposal (HB 3) on February 20, 2023, that attempts to obstruct government investment decisions involving “environmental, social and governance” standards, known as ESG. Filed for the legislative session that will start March 7, the bill would specify that investment decisions by the state and local governments be made “solely on pecuniary factors” and would prevent “sacrificing investment return or undertaking additional investment risk to promote any non-pecuniary factor.”

Fred E. Karlinsky, Esq. - GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A., (954) 768-8278 , karlinskyf@gtlaw.com

Category(s): Florida - 03/28/2023

On January 31, 2023, the Office of Insurance Regulation issued a consent order approving Slide Insurance Company’s assumption of the vast majority of United Property and Casualty’s (UPC) Florida homeowners’ policies. Under the agreement, Slide will assume approximately 72,000 HO-3 and DP-3 policies through a cancel/rewrite transaction that began February 1. Additionally, Slide also acquired the renewal rights for an additional 21,000+ UPC policies that renew in April or May. Slide suggests that the acquired policies represent $272 million in annual premium, bringing its total in-force premium value to $560 million.

Fred E. Karlinsky, Esq. - GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A., (954) 768-8278 , karlinskyf@gtlaw.com

Category(s): Georgia - 03/28/2023

On February 9, 2023, Commissioner John F. King issued Bulletin 23-EX-3 to inform all health insurers that they are required to submit data on mental health parity on an annual basis to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Georgia Code § 33-1-27(c)(1)(A) requires compliance with the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act for health insurers offering coverage for mental health or substance use disorders as part of a health care plan. Insurers should refer to the submission instructions set forth in Bulletin 23-EX-3.

Tony Roehl, Esq. - BAKER HOSTETLER LLP, (404) 256-8419 , troehl@bakerlaw.com

Category(s): Georgia - 03/28/2023

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King sent a letter dated February 14, 2023, to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in further support of the State’s initiative to adopt a state-based health insurance exchange for both consumers and small businesses, electing out of the Federal Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace. Implementation of a Georgia State-Based Health Insurance Exchange would become effective for the 2024 plan year.

Brian T. Casey, Esq. - LOCKE LORD LLP, (404) 870-4638 , bcasey@lockelord.com

Category(s): Illinois - 03/28/2023

The Department of Insurance adopted amendments to Insurance Department Consumer Complaints (50 IAC 926; 46 Ill. Reg. 14838) effective 2/1/23 clarifying Section 926.20, which as formerly written could be interpreted to exclude certain individual licensees such as public adjusters, navigators, or pharmacy benefits managers from regulation under this regulation. The rulemaking clarifies that the regulation is intended to apply to all entities and individuals licensed or otherwise approved by DOI to do business in Illinois.

Steve W. Kinion, Esq. - ZACK STAMP, LTD, (217) 525-0700 x108 , skinion@601w.com