NCOIL COVID-19 Resource Page

During these unprecedented times, the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) has established this resource page in an effort to provide information and updates on industry, state, and federal insurance-related initiatives relating to the outbreak of COVID-19. As a leading policymaking and educational forum for public policymakers and interested parties, NCOIL will work to ensure that sound insurance public policy relating to COVID-19 is enacted to help resolve the social and economic impacts of this crisis.

Please be sure to review this information and share it with others. The page will be updated frequently.

General

Stateside Tracking of State and Local Government Responses to COVID-19

Arkansas Department of Insurance Bulletin – 45 Day Cancellation Moratorium for Certain Policyholders Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Executive Order – For the Purpose of Protecting Arkansas Businesses From Liability Related to COVID-19 – June 15, 2020

Alabama SB 330 – Relating to civil immunity; to provide legislative findings; to provide definitions; to provide civil immunity for certain entities and individuals from certain damages claimed by individuals who allege that they contracted or were exposed to Coronavirus during a declared state of emergency; to provide civil immunity for certain health care providers relating to the performance of certain health care services or treatment during the Coronavirus pandemic; to provide for a statute of limitations for certain claims; and to provide for retroactive effect

Georgia SB 359 – provide for certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19

Iowa SF 2338 – An Act relating to civil actions, including the total amount recoverable as a non-economic damages award against a healthcare provider, recoverable damages for medical expenses, and evidence offered to prove past medical expenses.

Mississippi

Oklahoma SB 1946 – establishes immunity from civil liability for persons or entities conducting in the business in the state from actions related to an injury from exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19 if the act or omission alleged to violate a duty of care of the person or agent was in compliance or consistent with federal or state regulations.

Oklahoma SB 300 – creates the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Limited Liability Act. The measure provides health care providers with immunity from civil liability for any loss or harm to a person with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 caused by an act or omission by the facility or provider that occurs during the COVID-19 public health emergency, provided the act or omission was not the result of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. The provisions of the measure shall remain in effect until October 31, 2020, or until such time as the Governor affirmatively concludes the emergency declarations.

North Carolina SB 704 – COVID-19 Recovery Act: provides immunity to any entity deemed “essential” in the emergency orders, retroactive to March 27

North Carolina HB 118 – COVID-19 Liability Safe Harbor

North Carolina HB 806 – provides limited immunity from COVID-19-related claims at reopened privately owned community swimming pools

New York Sb 8800 – Limits the civil liability of employers and employees for the spread or possible transmission of COVID-19 caused by an act or omission while acting in good faith

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo Executive Order Extending Statutory Immunity from Civil Liability to Responding Hospitals and Health Care Workers

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf Executive Order Affording Health Care Practitioners Protection Against Liability for Good Faith Actions Taken in Response to the Call to Supplement the Health Care Provider Workforce During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Utah SB 3007: defines terms; provides civil immunity related to exposure to COVID-19; and addresses relationship of the provision to other laws.

Wyoming SF 1002: AN ACT relating to emergency aid and emergency procedures in response to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic; clarifying immunity from civil liability; amending unemployment benefits; authorizing agreements with the federal government and the expenditure of federal funds; creating programs to avoid the eviction of needy persons; amending the unemployment compensation program; amending the worker’s compensation program; providing additional authority to the governor; providing for a worker’s compensation premium credit; amending a prior worker’s compensation premium credit; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Temporary Insurance Producer Licenses

NJ Department of Banking and Insurance Bulletins

Business Interruption Insurance

Recording of NCOIL and Rutgers Center for Risk and Responsibility Webinar on Legislative Responses to Business Interruption Insurance and COVID 19

***Sean Kevelighan Slides from April 24, 2020 NCOIL-Rutgers Webinar. Due to technical difficulties these slides were only visible for a portion of the webinar.***

Legislation has been discussed or introduced in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina that would retroactively enact business interruption coverage into existing policies despite an absence of the physical damage required in property policies and/or express exclusions for communicable diseases in those policies.

At the Federal level, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) has introduced H.R. 6494 – The Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Act.

H.R. 7412 – The Business Interruption Relief Act of 2020 – Congressman Mike Thompson Press Release – Carrier Management Article –

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has also introduced H.R. 6497 focused on making available insurance coverage for business interruption losses due to national emergencies, and for other purposes.

Wholesale and Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) Letter in Support of NCOIL’s Business Interruption Position and in Opposition to Congressman Thompson’s Proposal

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Letter in Opposition to Retroactive Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Legislation

International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Statement

American Academy of Actuaries Statement

NCOIL believes that such legislation would not only be inadvisable for policy and economical reasons, but would also violate the Contract Clause within Article I of the United States Constitution, which prohibits the Legislature from impairing the obligation of contracts.

NCOIL understands that professionals and businesses are facing unprecedented, dire economic challenges; however, we cannot compound the damage to the broader economy by forcing insurers to pay claims for which they did not contract. To do so could destabilize these insurers and render them unable to pay claims for which they did accept the risk, and did rate. NCOIL has reached out to Congress to express these concerns and to advocate for the creation of a COVID-19 Business Interruption & Cancellation Claims Fund (COVID Claims Fund). Following the tragedy of 9/11/2001, Congress enacted the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act and included within it the Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). We urge a similar solution now for the legion of businesses & professionals who are suffering from unprecedented costs from the interruption of their businesses as well as the many associations who have had to cancel their events, virtually all of whom have an exclusion in their business interruption and event cancellation policies for communicable diseases.

The “Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020” (PRIA) – H.R. 7011 – which would create the Pandemic Risk Insurance Program (PRIP) to provide a federal backstop for insured pandemic losses has been introduced. While we have not yet completed an exhaustive analysis of PRIA, we note that it is based on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA, now TRIPRA), which NCOIL does support. Accordingly, we believe it is likely that NCOIL will be supportive of PRIA. However, we do note that PRIA would provide a backstop for insured losses. The losses for which we believe the COVID Claims Fund is necessary are uninsured losses because they fall specifically within the communicable disease exclusion contained in business interruption and event cancellation policies. PRIA though would operate prospectively, enabling businesses, professionals and associations to procure pandemic coverage in the future because insurers will not exclude it once a federal backstop is in place, much like terrorism insurance became available once TRIA passed.

H.R. 7011 – Pandemic Risk Insurance Act (PRIA)

To view NCOIL’s letters to Congress please see these links:

NCOIL Letter to Congress Regarding COVID-19 and Business Interruption Insurance

NCOIL Letter to House Financial Services Committee Regarding COVID-19 and Business Interruption Insurance

NCOIL Letter to to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

NCOIL Letter to U.S. Senators

NCOIL Letter to President Trump

NCOIL Letter to Chairs Waters and Maloney

State Business Interruption Coverage Legislation

Massachusetts Bill SD.2888

South Carolina S 1188

If you have any questions on NCOIL’s proposal, or on business interruption coverage in general, please do not hesitate to reach out to the NCOIL National Office at 732-201-4133.

A.M. Best Commentary: Two Months of Retroactive Business Interruption Coverage Could Wipe Out Half of Insurers’ Capital

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Statement on Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19

Health Insurance

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) Legislative Recommendations

BCBSA Statement on Full Coverage of Telehealth Services for Members

AHIP Best Practices for States Tackling Coronavirus

Additional information is available on AHIP’s Coronavirus COVID-19 resource page. The information includes:

AHIP FAQs – COVID-19 Coverage: Frequently Asked Questions
AHIP Announcements – Health Insurance Providers Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
AHIP Factsheet – Keeping Americans Safe from Coronavirus (COVID 19)(February 26, 2020)

American Medical Association (AMA) Material

AMA Issue Brief: Reports of increases in opioid-related overdose and other concerns during COVID pandemic

AMA COVID-19 Policy Recommendations for OUD, Pain, Harm Reduction

AMA Update Podcast to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the nation’s opioid epidemic

AMA Advocating for Additional Changes to Help Hospice, Palliative Care Patients During COVID-19

AMA Letter in Support of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Proposal to Reduce Administrative Burden for Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTPs) that Operate Mobile Components

AMA – Advocating for forgotten populations during COVID-19

The AMA urges parents and all those with medications in the home to remember the importance of safe storage and disposal during the COVID-19 pandemic

AMA Issue brief: Reducing barriers to vital pain medication during the COVID-19 pandemic

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies State Policy Options to Encourage Greater Use of Telehealth in State-Regulated Health Plans

Cigna Foundation and New York Life Foundation Partner to Launch Brave of Heart Fund to Support the Families of Front-Line Healthcare Workers Who Give Their Lives in the COVID-19 Fight New York Life Press Release Brave of Heart Fund FAQ Message from Cigna and New York Life CEO’s

Cigna Summary of Activities Combating COVID-19

Cigna – Oscar partnership to offer affordable and consumer-first health insurance for small businesses

Oregon agreement with several health insurance companies to continue providing expanded telehealth options through at least Dec. 31, 2020

States Can Prevent Surprise Bills for Patients Seeking Coronavirus Care

Texas Department of Insurance Emergency Rule – state-regulated health insurers and health maintenance organizations must – 1.) Pay in-network health professionals at least the same rate for telemedicine services as for in-person services, including covered mental health services; 2.) Cover telemedicine services using any platform permitted by state law; 3.) Not require more documentation for telemedicine services than they require for in-person services.

United States of Care COVID-19 Priorities Checklist for State Leaders

United States of Care Call to Action: State Legislative Recommendations to Address COVID-19

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler signs emergency order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically-necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19

DOL/HHS/Treasury Guidance re: coverage requirements for COVID-19 testing

S. 3988 – Enhancing Preparedness through Telehealth Act

H.R. 7233 – calls for federal officials to report to Congress on efforts to expand access to telehealth services, through Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, during the COVID-19 emergency

Property & Casualty

Travel insurance Information

New York Department of Financial Services FAQ re: Travel Insurance and COVID-19

Maine Bureau of Insurance Information on Travel Insurance and COVID-19

Generali COVID-19 Advisory and FAQs

Allianz Travel COVID-19 FAQ

Automobile Insurance Premium Reductions

Alabama Department of Insurance Bulletin

North Carolina Department of Insurance Bulletin

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Orders Insurance Companies to Refund Premiums to Drivers and Businesses Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency – April 13, 2020 Extended Order of May 15, 2020

Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Center for Economic Justice (CEJ) Report on Excessive Auto Insurance Premiums

4-21-20 New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance Order that “every subject insurer shall, within 21 days of the date of this order, determine, through the application of sound actuarial principals, whether the rates and premiums for New Mexico auto insurance policies in effect on or after March 23, 2020 are excessive considering the COVID-19 related automobile usage reductions experienced in New Mexico.”

New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Bulletin

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Bulletin

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) – Frequently Asked Questions

NCCI COVID-19 Legislative and Regulatory Activity Chart

NCCI Research Brief – COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation: Modeling Potential Impacts

Massachusetts Attorney General Letter to Department of Insurance asking that certain steps are taken to ensure that Massachusetts businesses pay fair workers’ compensation insurance premiums that reflect the businesses’ decreased exposure to workplace injuries during the coronavirus pandemic

Industrial Commission of Arizona Substantive Policy Statement

NY Workers’ Compensation Board COVID-19 Q&A

Work comp premiums refunded to nearly 13,000 policyholders of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (FWCJUA).

National Academy of Social Insurance: Workers’ Compensation and COVID-19 – Pandemic highlights disparities across states, injuries vs. illnesses

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

California Department of Insurance Order mandating insurance companies to recompute premium charges for policyholders to reflect reduced risk of loss

Virginia Adopts COVID-19 Worker Safety Rules

Federal Action Expanding Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation

H.R. 6656 – Coronavirus Workers’ Compensation for TSA Employees Act

U.S. Senators Letter asking for Creation of national Essential Frontline Worker Compensation Fund

Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act – would create a new program for all essential workers and personnel who have been injured or impacted by COVID-19

Department of Labor Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC) Statement

State Action Expanding Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation

American Academy of Actuaries Issue Brief: Presumptive Benefits in Workers’ Compensation – Emerging Issues Before and After COVID-19

Emergency Order from Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission —- Rule was withdrawn

Colorado SB 216

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont Executive Order – July 24, 2020

Illinois HB 2455

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Executive Order

Alaska SB 241

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Executive Order – April 13, 2020

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Executive Order – June 15, 2020

Wisconsin Act 185

Minnesota HF 4537

North Carolina HB 1057

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum Executive Order

New Mexico Executive Order Directing All Executive Agencies to Afford a Presumption of a Compensable Occupational Disease and to Award Service Credit to Certain Qualifying State Employees and Volunteers

California AB 664

California SB 1159

California AB 196

California Governor Gavin Newsom Executive Order

Massachusetts HB 4749

Michigan HB 5758

Michigan HB 6040

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Executive Order

Missouri Emergency Rule

New Jersey S 2380/A3999

New Jersey A3998

New Hampshire Emergency Order #36

Rhode Island H. 8066

South Carolina H. 5482

NCCI COVID-19 Presumption Regulatory and Legislative Activity Chart

Life Insurance

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Approves Front-Line Health Care Worker ‘No-Cost’ Life Insurance Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic

MassMutual HealthBridge Program – a free life insurance program that provides a death benefit to the loved ones of eligible healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic for their health, education, maintenance and support.

New York Life has taken several important steps to protect policyholders, including the addition of a new COVID-19 Hardship Program. This Program is an expansion of its March 24^th announcement to extend a 90-day no lapse period for all policyholders that missed premium payments through June 23^rd. Under the new COVID-19 Hardship Program:

New York Life will be offering an opportunity to request a 12-month, interest-free, repayment plan to pay their missed premiums;
In addition, for policy owners that can demonstrate a “financial hardship” caused by COVID-19, they will be eligible for the following concessions:

- An additional grace period up to 90 days, during which time the policy stays in-force and no premium payments are required; and
- A 12-month, interest-free, repayment plan to pay their missed premiums.

American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) Resource Page – Life Insurers are #MeetingTheMoment

ACLI Grace Period Principles