33-10-210. Unfair trade practice -- notice to policyowners. - Montana Statutes

     33-10-210. Unfair trade practice -- notice to policyowners. (1) It is a prohibited unfair trade practice for any person to make use in any manner of the protection afforded by this part in the sale of insurance.
     (2) The association shall prepare a summary document, complying with subsection (3) and describing the general purposes and current limitations of this part. The document must be submitted to the commissioner for approval. Sixty days after receiving approval, an insurer may not deliver a policy or contract described in 33-10-201(4) to a policyowner or contract owner unless the document is delivered to the policyowner or contract owner prior to or at the time of delivery of the policy or contract, unless subsection (4) of this section applies. The document must be available upon request by a policyowner. The distribution, delivery, contents, or interpretation of this document does not mean that either the policy or the contract or the owner of the policy or contract would be covered in the event of the impairment or insolvency of a member insurer. The description document must be revised by the association as amendments to this part may require. Failure to receive this document does not give the policyowner, contract owner, certificate holder, or insured any greater rights than those stated in this part.
     (3) The document prepared under subsection (2) must contain a clear and conspicuous disclaimer on its face. The commissioner shall promulgate a rule establishing the form and content of the disclaimer. The disclaimer must:
     (a) state the name and address of the life and health insurance guaranty association and insurance department;
     (b) prominently warn the policyowner or contract owner that the life and health insurance guaranty association may not cover the policy or, if coverage is available, it will be subject to substantial limitations and exclusions and conditioned on continued residence in the state;
     (c) state that the insurer and its insurance producers are prohibited by law from using the existence of the life and health insurance guaranty association for the purpose of sales, solicitation, or inducement to purchase any form of insurance;
     (d) emphasize that the policyowner or contract owner should not rely on coverage under the life and health insurance guaranty association when selecting an insurer;
     (e) provide other information as directed by the commissioner.
     (4) An insurer or insurance producer may not deliver a policy or contract described in 33-10-201(4) and excluded under 33-10-201(10) from coverage under this part unless the insurer or insurance producer, prior to or at the time of delivery, gives the policyowner or contract owner a separate written notice that clearly and conspicuously discloses that the policy or contract is not covered by the life and health insurance guaranty association.
     (5) The commissioner shall by rule specify the form and content of the notice required under subsection (4).

     History: En. 40-5814 by Sec. 14, Ch. 245, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 40-5814(5); amd. Sec. 59, Ch. 596, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 195, L. 2003.