REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published in the state register a final rule by the department of insurance regarding reimbursement of chiropractic services. To view the rule, go to http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/august2018/final/22%20DE%20Reg%20164%2008-01-18.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Has issued Auto Bulletin Number 29 regarding policy renewal.  It has come to the Department's attention that not all Delaware automobile insurers are complying with the new minimum coverage limits that are now required for policies newly written or renewed after December 13, 2017. Therefore, the purpose of this bulletin is to remind all auto insurers, their brokers, and their agents that all newly written or renewed automobile insurance policies must be issued with the new coverage limits set forth in HB 114. To make compliance easier, the Department is not requiring brokers or agents to have their insureds fill out a new Regulation 603 Form A where the insured is renewing a policy that is written with limits in excess of the minimum limits set forth in HB 114.  To view the bulletin, go to https://insurance.delaware.gov/information/bulletins/#auto.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published notice that 18 Delaware Administrative Code 303 is being proposed to repeal. Each insurer licensed to write property or casualty insurance in this State, as a supplement to Schedule T of its annual statement, shall submit a report on a form furnished by the Commissioner showing its direct writings and experience, prior to reinsurance, in this State and the United States. All such writings and experience shall be required on a line-by-line basis both for the State and in total, and where appropriate, on a subline-by-subline basis. However, the statute also provides that, "The Commissioner may waive, modify or defer the requirements of this section if he or she determines the information required under this section to be reported is not needed." See 18 Del.C. §526A(h). Regulation 303 implements 18 Del.C. §526A by setting forth the information that is to be reported in the supplement to the statement that property and casualty insurers are required to file annually. The Department has determined that the information required by Regulation 303 is not needed, and has therefore determined to repeal Regulation 303, as permitted by 18 Del.C. §526A(h). To view the proposed rule, go to http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/march2018/proposed/21%20DE%20Reg%20674%2003-01-18.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted notice of proposed amendments to a rule regarding arbitration of automobile The Department of Insurance hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to Regulation 901, Arbitration of Automobile and Homeowners’ Insurance Claims. The proposed amendments would raise the filing fees for Automobile Insurance and Homeowners’ Insurance claims from $30.00 to $50.00. These fees have not been adjusted since the regulation was codified on March 1, 2002. The Department is also amending the regulation to update style. The Department is also proposing non-substantive amendments to correct style and subsection references. The Department of Insurance does not plan to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments. The proposed amendments appear below and can be viewed at the Department of Insurance website at http://insurance.delaware.gov/information/proposedregs/.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Has published the final administrative code regarding the Delaware Motorists Protection Act along with form A.  The form becomes effective December 13, 2017.
• Issued universally applicable bulletin No. 3 dated September 22, 2017.  The bulletin is in regard to the Department's Request that the Department be Notified of a Data Breach or Other Disclosure of Confidential Consumer Information

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted final order 603 Delaware Motorist Protection Act.  Title 18 of the Delaware Administrative Code governs Insurance matters. House Bill 114, "An Act to Amend Title 21 of the Delaware Code Relating to Bodily Injury and Property Damage Coverage on Motor Vehicles," was signed into law by the Governor on June 13, 2017 and becomes effective on December 13, 2017 (six months after the date of enactment). The Act amends 21 C. §2902 to raise the minimum bodily injury and property damage limits in all automobile insurance policies newly written or renewed after the effective date of the Act.
• The Delaware General Assembly recently passed two bills that will have an impact on upcoming auto insurers' rate filings, each of which has a different effective date.  The Commissioner does not have the discretion to waive or otherwise modify the effective dates of any legislation.   The Department of Insurance has issued bulletin 26 in connection with the legislation.
• Released bulletin 27.  The purposes of Auto Bulletin 27 are to inform insurers writing automobile insurance coverage in Delaware that, on August 1, 2017, the Governor signed HS  1 for HB  80 (the Act); and to withdraw Auto Bulletin No. 23, for the reasons discussed in the bulletin.
• Issued a special notice with Bulletin 25 regarding the passage of HB 114-Raising Minimum Bodily Injury and Property Damage Limits.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 114
  The purpose of this amendment is to better protect the motorists of the State of Delaware by raising the minimum automobile bodily injury and property damage limits to reflect the current economic conditions. The minimum automobile liability limits have not been raised in the State of Delaware since July 19, 1983. Most motor vehicle policies sold in Delaware provide $10,000 for property damage coverage. Bodily injury insurance proceeds are frequently used to cover the cost of not only pain and suffering, but an injured person’s medical expenses and lost wages, which have increased since 1983. For example, $15,000 in 1983 is equivalent to $35,960.54 in 2016, based on the federal Consumer Price Index – Urban statistics for 1983 and 2016. In addition, $30,000 in 1983 is equivalent to $71,921.08 in 2016. Effective Date December 13, 2017.