Email: Chapter 33, Article 20C
§33-20C-1. Scope of article.
This article applies to malpractice insurance as defined in subdivision (9), subsection (e), section ten, article one of this chapter. This article applies to malpractice insurance policies which have been in effect for at least sixty days or have been renewed at least once.
§33-20C-2. Cancellation prohibited except for specified reasons; notice.
No insurer once having issued or delivered a policy providing malpractice insurance in this state may cancel the policy, except for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) The named insured fails to discharge any of his or her obligations to pay premiums for the policy or any installment of the policy within a reasonable time of the due date;
(b) The policy was obtained through material misrepresentation;
(c) The insured violates any of the material terms and conditions of the policy; or
(d) Reinsurance is unavailable. The insurer shall supply sufficient proof of the unavailability to the commissioner.
(e) Any purported cancellation of a policy providing malpractice insurance attempted in contravention of this section is void.
§33-20C-3. Insurer to specify reasons for cancellation.
In every instance in which a policy or contract of malpractice insurance is canceled by the insurer, the insurer or its duly authorized agent shall cite within the written notice of the action the allowable reason in section two of this article for which the action was taken and shall state with specificity the circumstances giving rise to the allowable reason cited. The notice of the action shall further state that the insured has a right to request a hearing, pursuant to section five of this article, within thirty days.
§33-20C-4. Notice period for cancellation; ninety-day notice required for nonrenewal.
(a) No insurer shall fail to renew a policy or contract providing malpractice insurance unless written notice of the nonrenewal is forwarded to the insured by certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than ninety days prior to the expiration date of the policy.
(b) No insurer shall cancel a policy or contract providing malpractice insurance during the term of the policy unless written notice of the cancellation is forwarded to the insured by certified mail, return receipt requested, not more than thirty days after the reason for the cancellation, as provided in section two of this article, arose or occurred or the insurer learned that it arose or occurred and not less than thirty days prior to the effective cancellation date.
§33-20C-5. Hearings and review.
Any insured aggrieved by the cancellation of a policy or contract providing malpractice insurance may request a hearing before the commissioner or his designee within thirty days of the receipt of any such notice. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to section thirteen, article two of this chapter. The policy shall remain in effect until entry of the commissioner's order. Any party aggrieved by an order of the commissioner may seek judicial review in the circuit court of the county in which the insured resides in accordance with section fourteen, article two of this chapter.