Regulatory Roundup: Open Enrollment, Ohio Pet Regulations, Montana Auto Repairs

State-by-state variations of laws, compliance protocols, industry transparency, and general regulatory culture can lend one the impression that keeping up with industry changes is a little bit like herding cats. So, what better way to wrangle some of the more localized insurance news than in a Regulatory Roundup?

On an ongoing basis, in no particular order or rank, we’re wrestling the various regulatory changes, compliance actions, and commissioner decisions into our roundup. As a disclaimer: There’s a lot going on at any given time in these here United States, so this isn’t a comprehensive picture of state-level action by any means. Think of it, instead, as a sampler platter of regulation. 

Also important to note: If we’re recapping interpretations of legal decisions, this is some armchair insurance speculation and not at all legal advice. If you need legal advice, get a lawyer. 

Brace yourself: Open healthcare enrollment is coming Nov. 1

State DOIs and health insurance carriers alike are scaling up for the end of year healthcare open enrollment period. 

As Nov. 1, 2024, approaches, those who will take on the burden of insurance outside of an employer will flock to state websites or the federal healthcare exchange. While some will enroll via direct-to-consumer channels, some consumers may prefer to go the route of talking to actual factual insurance producers.

If you’re a health insurance carrier looking to make sure your distribution channels – employer, exchange, broker, producer, whatever – are locked in and ready to go, you should see what AgentSync can do for you in time for next season. Because chaos can be controlled. Schedule a demo today!

Ohio to implement pet insurance regulations

Pet regulations are having a moment in insurance as consumers demand more options for their furry family members and state DOIs try to keep up.

Ohio legislators tackled new requirements for carriers, agencies, and producers in the pet insurance distribution pipeline with a new law that will be fully in effect in 2025.

Moving forward, carriers and producers alike must be fully trained on:

“(1) Preexisting conditions and waiting periods; (2) The differences between pet insurance and wellness programs; (3) Hereditary disorders, congenital anomalies or disorders, and chronic conditions, and how pet insurance policies and riders interact with those conditions or disorders; (4) Rating, underwriting, renewal, and other related administrative topics.”

Nonresident pet insurance producers are exempt from training if they have been trained in a substantially similar way in their own states.

Montana preserves auto owners’ right to their preferred auto shops

An advisory from Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downey informed consumers and insurers alike that auto insurance carriers are forbidden to “engage in any act or practice that intimidates, coerces, or threatens a claimant or that provides and incentive or inducement for a claimant to use a particular auto repair shop or location.”

Montana law says “a consumer has the sole discretion to choose where the consumer’s vehicle will be repaired.” According to the advisory, this applies to estimations as well as repairs.

The advisory stemmed from persistent complaints about a single prominent insurer. Don’t be that insurer – next time the state might do more than a cc: ALL. 👀

Other state regulatory changes

Colorado adopted a new regulation for licensed bail bond agents concerning what kinds of records they must keep and what must appear on their disclosure statements. The state also not-so-humble-bragged on the more than $350 million in pass-through funding they obtained from the federal government for the success of their cost-savings for health insurance in the state. The state also changed fees for open records request fulfillment, withdrew or updated a bunch of bulletins based on new legislation, and issued a new bulletin for health insurance carriers with guidelines on new federal regulations about short-term limited duration insurance.

Connecticut Commissioner Andrew Mais announced in a news release that the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) negotiated down the rate increase requests by the seven insurers providing plans on the state’s open healthcare market.

Delaware is preparing for the 2026 healthcare open enrollment season already, inviting any qualified health plan providers to begin the certification process now if they intend to offer plans in 2026.

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis kicked off a Lithium Ion Battery Symposium to promote awareness with, among other things, a battery burn demonstration to draw attention to the ill effects of saltwater on these batteries.

Georgia is piloting a model this open enrollment season where “enhanced direct enrollment” companies that have gotten certified through Healthcare.gov will act as brokers for enrollees.

Louisiana issued an advisory to title agents and agencies essentially cautioning them about the misuse of escrow accounts and funds. Be warned!

Maryland Insurance Administration officials have approved rates and plans for the upcoming open enrollment season for the 2025 health care year. Affordable Care Act plan premiums increased by an average of 6.2 percent.

Michigan released a bulletin with the adjusted work and survivor’s loss benefit maximum. From Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, the maximum payout for each 30-day period is $7,014 under any personal protection plans. The state also issued guidance for new federal regulations on short-term limited duration policies and fixed indemnity excepted benefits. Can you say that five times fast?

New Hampshire has a law that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025 that broadens the number of people who qualify to take producer and employee candidate fingerprints, as well as requiring health care insurers to add intrauterine insemination to new and renewed policies in the state moving forward.

New York law will require health insurers to cover nipple-areolar complex tattooing as part of breast reconstruction practices following mastectomies beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Oklahoma released a bulletin of rule changes, including the requirement that health benefit providers must keep their provider network list up-to-date and audit it annually, reporting results each March. Other changes include requirements for motor vehicle repair pricing, plus requirements for a “market survey attestation” that property and casualty insurers as well as surplus lines insurers must file. Another bulletin outlines legislative changes to all regulated insurance persons’ contact information requirements and diligent search requirements for surplus lines brokers.

Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner officials released a statement gearing up for health care enrollment season and noting premiums are up by 10.7 percent, on average, which is less than the 11.3 percent average requested increase. Commissioner Mike Kreidler also announced he fined an insurance carrier and its health care benefits manager a combined $225,000 for improperly denying health care claims based on gender.

Wisconsin released a list of administrative actions against producers and agencies – a lot of punishments for mistakes on licensing applications, failing to pay previous fines, or failing to report actions from other states. Gotta keep up on your paperwork, people. AgentSync can help with that! 

While these points of interest aren’t comprehensive, our knowledge of insurance producer and variable lines broker license and compliance maintenance is. See how AgentSync can help make you look smarter today; head over to the Compliance Library and wrastle up some state-by-state regulation and more jurisdictional updates.