<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gin" article_name="Insurance" number="20-507" future_version_removed="true" title_number="20" title_name="Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Policies for Covered Vehicles">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Subject to the authority of the Commissioner to determine whether rates are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, as provided in Title 11, Subtitle 2 or Subtitle 3 of this article, the Executive Director shall determine the premiums to be charged on policies issued by the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, the provisions of Title 11, Subtitle 3 of this article apply to the determination of premiums by the Executive Director and the filing of rates with the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notwithstanding Title 11, Subtitle 2 or Subtitle 3 of this article or any other provision of this title, the Executive Director may base premiums on one or both of the following items:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the number of points accumulated by an insured or applicant for insurance under the point system provided for in Title 16, Subtitle 4 of the Transportation Article; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the prior claims experience of an insured or applicant for insurance.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The provisions of Title 11, Subtitle 2 of this article apply to the determination of premiums by the Executive Director and the filing of rates with the Commissioner:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, both inclusive; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>beginning January 1, 2026, if the Fund’s total adjusted capital is less than the amount required under § 20–306(c) of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Premiums for all commercial coverage shall be determined in accordance with this section and § 20–508 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, the rating principles under subsection (e) of this section may not be used to determine the premium for commercial coverage.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>In reviewing rates filed by the Fund, the Commissioner shall consider not only the rating principles under Title 11, Subtitle 2 or Subtitle 3 of this article but also the statutory purpose of the Fund under § 20–301 of this title.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Motor Vehicle Administration and Executive Director may arrange for the Motor Vehicle Administration to collect premiums on policies issued by the Fund when the Motor Vehicle Administration issues a driver’s license or certificate of registration.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A premium collected under this subsection shall be paid to the State Treasurer for the account of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund may not provide directly or indirectly for the financing of premiums.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A premium may be financed only by a premium finance company registered with the Commissioner in accordance with § 23–201 of this article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If a prospective insured’s initial payment to the Fund, a fund producer, or premium finance company is not honored, a policy or endorsement issued in reliance on that payment is void.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to the approval of the Commissioner and in accordance with this subsection, the Fund may accept premiums on an installment payment basis.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>In approving the Fund’s plan for accepting premiums on an installment payment basis, the Commissioner shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>consider as factors:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>the percentage of the initial premium payment in comparison to the total premium under the policy;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>the number of installment premium payments accepted on a policy under the installment payment plan; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>the overall affordability of the installment payment plan in comparison to other payment options available to the policyholder; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>ensure that the Fund’s installment payment plan</text>
          <text>meets the requirements of § 27–216 of this article.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Fund may not discriminate among insureds by charging different premiums to insureds who select, as a payment option, the Fund’s installment payment plan instead of a premium finance agreement.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In determining commissions paid to a fund producer, the Fund may not consider whether the fund producer placed an insured in an installment payment plan.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In accordance with this paragraph, written and electronic communications, including the Fund’s website, affecting the placement of coverage by the Fund or a fund producer shall include a statement, on a form approved by the Commissioner, advising an applicant or an insured of the payment options available to the applicant or insured.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The statement shall state that the applicant or insured has the following payment options:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the Fund’s installment payment plan;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a premium finance agreement; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>payment of the policy in full.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The statement shall be included on written or electronic communications at the time the applicant or insured:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>is issued a new policy; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is issued a reissuance, rewrite, or renewal of an existing policy.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The statement shall state that the applicant or insured should consult a fund producer who will fully describe the terms of each payment option.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the Fund makes a change to its plan for accepting premiums on an installment payment basis, within 90 days after the change, the Commissioner shall submit a report to the General Assembly providing the reason for the change.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The report required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>include the effect the change will have on the required factors for consideration under subsection (h)(1)(ii)1 of this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>be submitted in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
