State Supervision And Regulation
Primary responsibility for overseeing the insurance industry that has rested with individual states since 1945, after Congress passed the MCCARRAN-FERGUSON ACT (PUBLIC LAW 15). In addition to supervision and regulation, states receive taxes and fees paid by the industry that amount to several billion dollars a year. State insurance laws are administered by state insurance departments that are responsible for making certain that (1) rates are adequate, not unfairly discriminatory, and not unreasonably high, and (2) insurance companies in the state are financially sound and able to pay future claims. To this end, states set requirements for company reserves, require annual financial statements, and examine company books. Each state has an insurance commissioner or superintendent who is either elected or appointed by the governor, with responsibility for investigating company practices, approving rates and policy forms, and ordering liquidation of insolvent insurers. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS (NAIC) has drafted model legislation and worked for policy uniformity, but regulations vary widely from state to state.
Whether insurers should be regulated by the states or the federal government remains at issue, but so far insurers and the NAIC lobbying have been effective in resisting federal regulation. Nevertheless, the federal government has a profound effect on the insurance industry through its taxes and a variety of regulations.
Popular Insurance Terms
Latin phrase meaning "without which not," signifying a legal rule in tort and negligence cases. Under this rule, a plaintiff trying to prove that an injury was a direct result of a ...
One of two bureaus that writes forms and files standard rates for inland marine insurance. The other is the inland marine insurance bureau. ...
Property to be insured, or that is insured, which is located within the specific geographical region falling under the auspices of the fire department. ...
Professional designation earned after the successful completion of four national examinations given by the insurance institute of America (IIA). Covers such areas of expertise as the ...
In automobile insurance, coverage providing protection in the event of physical damage to the insured's own automobile (other than that covered under comprehensive insurance) resulting from ...
Commission that is paid based on how profitable a particular type of business proves to be that is written by an agent. ...
Rules passed as part of the tax reform act of 1986 that limit the amount of income investors can shelter from current tax. Losses can be deducted from passive activities only in the amount ...
Option to an insurance company to replace, reconstruct (repair), or reproduce (rebuild) damaged or destroyed property covered by property insurance rather than indemnify an insured in cash. ...
Combination life insurance policy composed Of TERM LIFE INSURANCE and an INSTALLMENT REFUND ANNUITY. ...
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