§ 38a-323a — Designation of a third party to receive nonrenewal and cancellation notices. Option available for automobile and homeowners policies.

(a) Each insurer that issues, renews, amends or endorses an automobile or homeowners insurance policy in this state on or after July 1, 2019, shall include with the policy a conspicuous statement specifying that any individual may designate a third party to receive notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy. The statement shall include a designation form, a mailing address and an electronic mail address the individual may use to designate a third party. Such statement shall be in a form approved by the Insurance Commissioner. (b) No designation form shall be effective unless it contains a written acceptance by the third party designee to receive copies of notices of cancellation or nonrenewal from the insurer on behalf of the individual. The third party designation shall be effective not later than ten business days after the date the insurer receives the designation form and the acceptance of the third party. The third party may terminate the status as a third party designee by providing written notice to both the insurer and the insured individual. The individual may terminate the third party designation by providing written notice to the insurer and the third party designee. The insurer may require the individual and the third party to send the notices to the insurer by certified mail, return receipt requested, or, if agreed between the insurer and the individual or the insurer and the third party, by electronic means. (c) The insurer's transmission to the third party designee of a copy of any notice of cancellation or nonrenewal shall be in addition to the transmission of the original document to the insured individual. When a third party is so designated, all such notices and copies shall be mailed in an envelope clearly marked on its face with, or, if agreed between the insurer and the third party, delivered by electronic means stating, the following: “IMPORTANT INSURANCE POLICY INFORMATION: OPEN IMMEDIATELY”. The copy of the notice of cancellation or nonrenewal transmitted to the third party shall be governed by the same law and policy provisions that govern the notice being transmitted to the insured individual. The designation of a third party shall not constitute acceptance of any liability on the part of the third party or insurer for services provided to the insured individual.

Legislative History

(P.A. 02-60, S. 1; P.A. 16-136, S. 2; P.A. 18-158, S. 13; P.A. 19-125, S. 4, 16.) History: P.A. 16-136 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “October 1, 2002” with “October 1, 2017” and delete “aged fifty-five or over” re individual allowed to designate third party recipient of notice of cancellation or nonrenewal, replaced references to senior citizen with references to individual throughout, and made a technical change, effective October 1, 2017; P.A. 18-158 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “October 1, 2019” for “October 1, 2017”, adding provision re statement to include electronic mail address and making conforming changes, and amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by adding provisions re notice by electronic means, effective October 1, 2019; P.A. 19-125 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “July 1, 2019” for “October 1, 2017”, adding provision re statement to include electronic mail address and making technical changes, amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by adding provisions re notice by electronic means, and repealed P.A. 18-158, S. 13, effective July 1, 2019.