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<section article="gin" article_name="Insurance" number="12-106" title_number="12" title_name="Policy Forms and Provisions" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Material risk factor” means a risk factor that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>was incorrectly recorded or not disclosed by the insured in an application for insurance;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>was in existence on the date of the application; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>modifies the premium charged on the policy or binder in accordance with the rates and supplementary rating information filed by the insurer under Title 11, Subtitle 3 of this article.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Material risk factor” does not include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>information that constitutes a material misrepresentation; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a change initiated by an insured, including any request by the insured that results in a change in coverage, change in deductible, or other change to a policy.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Personal insurance” means property insurance or casualty insurance issued to an individual, trust, estate, or similar entity that is intended to insure against loss arising principally from the personal, noncommercial activities of the insured.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section applies only to a binder or policy, other than a renewal policy, of personal insurance, commercial property insurance, and commercial liability insurance.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A binder or policy is subject to a 45–day underwriting period beginning on the effective date of coverage.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An insurer may cancel a binder or policy during the underwriting period if the risk does not meet the underwriting standards of the insurer.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the insurer discovers a material risk factor during the underwriting period, the insurer shall recalculate the premium for the policy or binder based on the material risk factor as long as the risk continues to meet the underwriting standards of the insurer in accordance with the rates and supplementary rating information filed by the insurer under Title 11, Subtitle 3 of this article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An insurer that recalculates a premium under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall provide a written notice to the insured on a form approved by the Commissioner that states:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the amount of the recalculated premium;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the reason for the increase or reduction in the premium; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the insured’s right to terminate the policy.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>If applicable, at the time of application or when a binder or policy is issued, an insurer shall provide written notice of its ability to cancel a binder or policy or recalculate the premium from the effective date of the policy during the underwriting period.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a notice of cancellation under this section shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>be in writing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>have an effective date not less than 15 days after mailing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>state clearly and specifically the insurer’s actual reason for the cancellation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>be sent by a first–class mail tracking method to the named insured’s last known address.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A notice of cancellation under this section for nonpayment of premium shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>be in writing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>have an effective date of not less than 10 days after mailing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>state the insurer’s intent to cancel for nonpayment of premium; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>be sent by a first–class mail tracking method to the named insured’s last known address.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>With respect to a workers’ compensation insurance policy or binder, the insurer shall file a copy of the notice of cancellation required under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection with the designee of the Workers’ Compensation Commission.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>A binder or other contract for temporary insurance:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>may be made orally or in writing; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>except as superseded by the clear and express terms of the binder, is considered to include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>all the usual terms of the policy as to which the binder was given; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the applicable endorsements designated in the binder.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>A binder is no longer valid after the policy as to which it was given is issued.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a binder is given to a consumer borrower to satisfy a lender’s requirement that the borrower obtain property insurance or credit loss insurance as a condition of making a loan secured by a first mortgage or first deed of trust on an interest in owner–occupied residential real property, the insurer or its insurance producer shall include in or with the binder:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the name and address of the insured consumer borrower;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the name and address of the lender;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a description of the insured residential real property;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a provision that the binder may not be canceled within the term of the binder unless the lender and the insured borrower receive written notice at least 15 days before the cancellation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>except in the case of the renewal of a policy after the closing of a loan, a paid receipt for the full amount of the applicable premium; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>the amount of coverage.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>With respect to a binder given under this subsection, an insurer:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>if the binder is to be canceled, shall give the lender and the insured consumer borrower at least 15 days’ written notice before the cancellation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>within 45 days after the date the binder was given, shall issue a policy of insurance or provide the required notice of cancellation of the binder.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an insurer may rescind a policy or binder of personal automobile insurance if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the applicant’s initial premium payment for the policy or binder is made by a check or other remittance that is not honored on presentation to the financial institution where the check or other remittance is drawn; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the insurer has disclosed to the applicant at the time of application that no coverage will be in effect if the initial premium payment is not honored on presentation to the financial institution.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An insurer shall continue or reinstate a policy or binder under paragraph (1) of this subsection without a lapse in coverage if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>the financial institution erroneously failed to honor the check or other remittance; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the applicant:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>promptly notifies the insurer of the error; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>provides documentation of the error to the insurer as it becomes available and on request of the insurer; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the applicant or any secured creditor pays the insurer the amount of the initial premium within 5 business days after the insurer has sent notice, as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, to the applicant and any secured creditor that the check or other remittance for the initial premium payment was not honored.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>To rescind a policy or binder, an insurer shall send, immediately or the next business day after receipt of a notice that the check or other remittance for the initial premium payment was not honored on presentation to the financial institution, written notice to the applicant and any secured creditor, by a first–class mail tracking method and, if available, by electronic mail or other electronic means, to the applicant’s and any secured creditor’s last known address, stating that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>the policy or binder is rescinded as of its proposed effective date because the applicant’s check or other remittance for the initial premium payment was not honored on presentation to the financial institution; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>no coverage is in effect under the policy or binder; but</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the insurer shall continue or reinstate the policy or binder without a lapse in coverage if:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the financial institution erroneously failed to honor the check or other remittance and the applicant:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>promptly notifies the insurer of the error; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>provides documentation of the financial institution’s error to the insurer as it becomes available and on request of the insurer; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the applicant or any secured creditor pays the insurer the amount of the initial premium within 5 business days after the insurer has sent notice to the applicant and any secured creditor that the check or other remittance for the initial premium payment was not honored.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
