§ 3707 — Filing, approval and withdrawal of forms

(a) All policies, certificates of insurance, notices of proposed insurance, applications for insurance, endorsements and riders delivered or issued for delivery in this State and the schedules of premium rates pertaining thereto shall be filed with the Commissioner before being used.

(b) The Commissioner shall, within 30 days after the filing of any such policies, certificates of insurance, notices of proposed insurance, applications for insurance, endorsements and riders, disapprove any such form if the benefits provided are not reasonable in relation to the premium charged or if it contains provisions which are unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading, deceptive or encourage misrepresentation of the coverage or are contrary to any provision of the Insurance Code or of any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. If the Commissioner does not disapprove a filing within 30 days, it may be deemed approved.

(c) If the Commissioner disapproves the form in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner shall promptly notify the insurer in writing of the disapproval, and it is unlawful for the insurer to issue or use the form. In the notice, the Commissioner shall specify the reasons for disapproval and state that a hearing will be granted upon written request by the insurer.

(d) The Commissioner may withdraw approval of any approved form when the Commissioner would be required to disapprove the form if it were filed at the time of the action of withdrawal. The withdrawal shall be in writing and shall specify the reasons for the withdrawal and the effective date of the withdrawal. Any insurer adversely affected by such withdrawal may, within 30 days after receiving the written notification of the withdrawal, request a hearing to determine whether the withdrawal should be annulled, modified or confirmed. Unless the Commissioner, in writing, in the withdrawal or subsequent thereto grants an extension, the withdrawal shall, in the absence of a request for a hearing, become effective, prospectively and not retroactively, on the ninety-first day following the delivery of the notice of withdrawal, and, if request for hearing is filed, on the 91st day following delivery of written notice of the Commissioner’s determination.

(e) Any hearing requested pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall be noticed and conducted in accordance with the Delaware Administrative Procedures Act, Chapter 101 of Title 29.

(f) If a group policy of consumer credit insurance:

(1) Has been delivered in this State before November 20, 1996; or

(2) Has been or is delivered in another state before or after November 20, 1996,

then the insurer shall be required to file only the group certificate and notice of proposed insurance delivered or issued for delivery in this State as specified in § 3706(c) and (e) of this title and such forms shall be approved by the Commissioner if they conform with the requirements specified in these subsections and if the schedules of premium rates applicable to the insurance evidenced by such certificate or notice are not in excess of the insurer’s schedules of premium rates filed with the Commissioner; provided however, that the premium rate in effect on existing group policies may be continued until the first policy anniversary date following November 22, 1996, as provided in § 3713 of this title. However, all other forms specified in subsection (a) of this section shall also be filed as specified in this section unless the group policy has been or is delivered in another state which has adopted statutes, regulations or other provisions similar to this section. In that event, the forms should be filed for informational purposes. However, the insurer shall be prohibited from using any form filed for informational purposes if the Commissioner subsequently determines that the form is not in substantive compliance with the requirements of this section.

Legislative History

70 Del. Laws, c. 576, § 1