A certificate of authority shall not be required of an insurer with respect to any of the following:

A. investigation, settlement or litigation of claims under its policies lawfully written in this state, or liquidation of assets and liabilities of the insurer (other than collection of new premiums), all as resulting from its former authorized operations in this state;

B. collection of premiums on and servicing policies remaining in force by an insurer which has withdrawn from this state, and lawfully written in this state while the insurer held a certificate of authority issued by the superintendent, is transacting insurance in New Mexico for purpose of premium tax requirements only;

C. transactions thereunder subsequent to issuance of a policy covering only subjects of insurance not resident, located or expressly to be performed in this state at time of issuance, and lawfully solicited, written and delivered outside this state;

D. prosecution or defense of suits at law; but no insurer unlawfully transacting insurance in this state without certificate of authority shall be permitted to institute or maintain (other than defend) any action at law or in equity in any court of this state, either directly or through an assignee or successor in interest, to enforce any right, claim or demand arising out of such an insurance transaction until such insurer or assignee or successor has obtained a certificate of authority in this state. This provision does not apply to any suit or action by the duly constituted receiver, rehabilitator or liquidator of the insurer, assignee or successor under laws similar to those contained in Article 41 [Chapter 59A, Article 41 NMSA 1978] (conservation, rehabilitation, liquidation) of the Insurance Code;

E. transactions pursuant to surplus line coverages lawfully written under Article 14 [Chapter 59A, Article 14 NMSA 1978] (surplus line) of the Insurance Code;

F. suit, action or proceeding by the insurer for enforcement or defense of its rights relative to an investment in this state;

G. reinsurance, except as to a domestic reinsurer; or

H. transactions in this state involving group life insurance, group health or blanket health insurance, or group annuities, where the master policy or contract of such group was lawfully solicited, issued and delivered pursuant to the laws of a state in which the insurer was authorized to transact such insurance, to a group organized for purposes other than procurement of insurance, and where the policyholder is domiciled or otherwise has a bona fide business situs. Except, that such an insurer is subject to Section 261 [59A-15-6 NMSA 1978] (superintendent is attorney of unauthorized insurer for service of process) and related sections of the Insurance Code with respect to contracts and certificates of insurance under any such master policy or contract, issued for delivery and delivered in this state to residents thereof.

History: Laws 1984, ch. 127, § 78.

Cross references. — For the Insurance Code, see 59A-1-1 NMSA 1978 and notes thereto.