LegalFix

§ 27-208. Unfair discrimination -- Life insurance, health insurance, and annuities

MD Ins Code § 27-208 (2019) (N/A)
Copy with citation
Copy as parenthetical citation

(a)    (1)    A person may not make or allow unfair discrimination between individuals of the same class and equal expectation of life in:

(i)    the rates charged for a contract of life insurance or an annuity contract;

(ii)    the dividends or other benefits payable on a contract of life insurance or an annuity contract; or

(iii)    any of the other terms or conditions of a contract of life insurance or an annuity contract.

(2)    (i)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an insurer may not make or allow a differential in ratings, premium payments, or dividends for contracts of life insurance or annuity contracts for a reason based on the blindness or other physical handicap or disability of an applicant or policyholder.

(ii)    Actuarial justification for the differential may be considered for a physical handicap or disability other than blindness or hearing impairment.

(3)    Unless there is actuarial justification, an insurer may not refuse to insure or make or allow a differential in ratings, premium payments, or dividends in connection with life insurance and annuity contracts solely because the applicant or policyholder has the sickle–cell trait, thalassemia–minor trait, hemoglobin C trait, Tay–Sachs trait, or a genetic trait that is harmless in itself.

(4)    With respect to a life insurance contract, an insurer may not refuse to insure, refuse to continue to insure, limit the amount or extent or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage solely for reasons associated with an applicant’s or insured’s past lawful travel experiences.

(5)    (i)    Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, with respect to a life insurance contract, an insurer may not refuse to insure, refuse to continue to insure, limit the amount or extent or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage solely for reasons associated with an applicant’s or insured’s future lawful travel.

(ii)    1.    Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not prohibit an insurer from excluding or limiting coverage of specific future lawful travel, or charging a differential rate for such coverage, when bona fide differences in risk or exposure have been substantiated by the use of relevant data from at least one independent reliable source, including statistical or other mathematical analysis of available data that establishes a material variation in actual or reasonably anticipated experience that correlates to the risk of specific future lawful travel.

2.    Travel advisories issued by the United States Department of State do not qualify as the sole source of data for purposes of this subparagraph.

3.    An insurer shall:

A.    maintain the data and documents that support the insurer’s determination that bona fide differences in risk or exposure exist; and

B.    make the data and documents available on request by the Commissioner.

(b)    (1)    A person may not make or allow unfair discrimination between individuals of the same class and of essentially the same hazard:

(i)    in the amount of premium, policy fees, or rates charged for a policy or contract of health insurance;

(ii)    in the benefits payable under a policy or contract of health insurance;

(iii)    in any of the terms or conditions of a policy or contract of health insurance; or

(iv)    in any other manner.

(2)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an insurer may not make or allow a differential in ratings, premium payments, or dividends for a reason based on the sex of an applicant or policyholder unless there is actuarial justification for the differential.

(3)    (i)    Except as provided in § 27-909 of this title and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an insurer may not make or allow a differential in ratings, premium payments, or dividends for contracts of health insurance for a reason based on the blindness or other physical handicap or disability of an applicant or policyholder.

(ii)    Except as provided in § 27-909 of this title, actuarial justification for the differential may be considered for a physical handicap or disability other than blindness or hearing impairment.

LegalFix

Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.

LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.

The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.

You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.

The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.

Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

We have updated our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures.
§ 27-208. Unfair discrimination -- Life insurance, health insurance, and annuities