(a) In addition to the motor vehicle insurance coverages described in § 431:10C-301, every insurer issuing a motor vehicle insurance policy shall make available to the insured the following optional insurance under the following conditions. Every insurer issuing a commercial motor vehicle insurance policy shall make available to the insured the following optional insurance, except for those benefits under paragraphs (4), (5), (9), (10), and (11) under the following conditions:

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-302

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Injury: means accidental harm not resulting in death. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103
  • Insured: means :

    (1) The person identified by name as insured in a motor vehicle insurance policy complying with § 431:10C-301; and

    (2) A person residing in the same household with a named insured, specifically:

    (A) A spouse or reciprocal beneficiary or other relative of a named insured; and

    (B) A minor in the custody of a named insured or of a relative residing in the same household with a named insured. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103

  • Insurer: means every person holding a valid certificate of authority to engage in the business of making contracts of motor vehicle insurance in this State. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103
  • Monthly earnings: means :

    (1) In the case of a person regularly employed, one-twelfth of the average annual compensation before state and federal income taxes at the time of injury or death;

    (2) In the case of a person regularly self-employed, one-twelfth of the average annual earnings before state and federal income taxes at the time of injury or death; or

    (3) In the case of an unemployed person or a person not regularly employed or self-employed, one-twelfth of the anticipated annual compensation before state and federal income taxes that would have been paid from the time the person would reasonably have been expected to be regularly employed. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103

  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle of a type required to be registered under chapter 286, including a trailer attached to such a vehicle, but not including motorcycles and motor scooters. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103
  • Motor vehicle accident: means an accident arising out of the operation, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle, including an object drawn or propelled by a motor vehicle. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103
  • Motor vehicle insurance policy: means an insurance policy that meets the requirements of § 431:10C-301. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: means , when appropriate to the context, not only individuals, but corporations, firms, associations, and societies. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-103
(1) At the option of the insured, provisions covering loss resulting from damage to the insured’s motor vehicle with such deductibles, including but not limited to collision and comprehensive deductibles of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $1,500, and $2,000, at appropriately reduced premium rates, as the commissioner, by rule, shall provide;
(2) At the option of the insured, compensation to the insured, the insured’s spouse, any dependents, or any occupants of the insured’s vehicle for damages not covered by personal injury protection benefits;
(3) Additional coverages and benefits with respect to any injury or any other loss from motor vehicle accidents or from operation of a motor vehicle for which the insurer may provide for aggregate limits with respect to such additional coverage so long as the basic liability coverages provided are not less than those required by section 431:10C-301(b) (1) and (2);
(4) At the option of the insured, an option in writing for coverage for wage loss benefits for monthly earnings loss for injury arising out of a motor vehicle accident. Any change in the wage loss benefits coverage selected by an insured shall apply only to benefits arising out of motor vehicle accidents occurring after the date the change becomes effective. Coverage shall be offered in multiples of $500 a month/ $3,000 per accident per person, from $500 a month/ $3,000 per accident to $2,000 a month/ $12,000 per accident; however, nothing shall prevent an insurer from making available higher limits of coverage;
(5) An option in writing for minimum coverage for death benefits for death arising out of a motor vehicle accident in an amount of $25,000, to be paid to the surviving spouse, for the benefit of the spouse and dependent children, or if there are no surviving spouse or dependent children, then to the estate. Coverage shall also be made available for increased death benefits in increments of $25,000 up to $100,000; however, nothing shall prevent an insurer from making available higher limits of coverage. At the option of the insured, coverage for funeral expenses of $2,000 shall be made available;
(6) Terms, conditions, exclusions, and deductible clauses, coverages, and benefits which:

(A) Are consistent with the required provisions of the policy;
(B) Limit the variety of coverage available so as to give buyers of insurance reasonable opportunity to compare the cost of insuring with various insurers; and
(C) Are approved by the commissioner as fair and equitable;
(7) At appropriately reduced premium rates, deductibles applicable only to claims of an insured in the amounts of $100, $300, $500, and $1,000 from all personal injury protection benefits otherwise payable; provided that if two or more insureds to whom the deductible is applicable under the contract of insurance are injured in the same accident, the aggregate amount of the deductible applicable to all of them shall not exceed the specified deductible, which amount where necessary shall be allocated equally among them;
(8) Every insurer shall fully disclose the availability of all required and optional coverages and deductibles, including the nature and amounts, at the issuance or delivery of the policy; or, for a policy already issued on January 1, 1998, disclosure shall be made at the first renewal after January 1, 1998. The insurer shall also disclose at issuance or renewal, as applicable, the effect on premium rates and savings of each option and deductible. Further offers or disclosures thereafter shall be required to be included with every other renewal or replacement policy. All elections of coverages, options, and deductibles by a named insured shall be binding upon additional insureds covered under the named insured’s policy. The purpose of this paragraph is to inform insureds or prospective insureds of the coverages under this article;
(9)

(A) An insurer may make available, and provide at the option of the named insured, the benefits described in section 431:10C-103.5(a) through managed care providers such as a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization. The option may include conditions and limitations to coverage, including deductibles and coinsurance requirements, as approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall approve those conditions and limitations which are substantially comparable to or exceed the coverage provided under section 431:10C-103.6;
(B) An insurer may make available, and provide at the option of the named insured, deductible and coinsurance arrangements whereby the recipient of care, treatment, services, products, expenses, or accommodations shares in the payment obligation;
(C) No deductible or coinsurance under a policy covered under section 431:10C-302(a)(9) (A) or (B) shall be applied with respect to care, treatment, services, products, or accommodation provided or expenses incurred by an insured during the first twenty-four hours in which emergency treatment has been provided or until the insured patient’s emergency medical condition is stabilized, whichever is longer;
(D)

(i) The optional coverage prescribed in section 431:10C-302(a) (9) (A) and (B) shall apply only to the named insured, resident spouse, or resident relative; and
(ii) “Resident relative” means a person who, at the time of the accident, is related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the named insured or resident spouse and who resides in the named insured’s household, even if temporarily living elsewhere, and any ward or foster child who usually resides with the named insured, even if living elsewhere;
(E) An agreement made under section 431:10C-302(a) (9) must be a voluntary agreement between the insured and the insurer, and no insurer shall require an insured to agree to those policy provisions as a condition of providing insurance coverage. Requiring an agreement as a precondition to the provision of insurance shall constitute an unfair insurance practice and shall be subject to the provisions, remedies, and penalties provided in article 13; and
(F) An insurer providing the coverages authorized in section 431:10C-302(a) (9) (A) and (B) shall demonstrate in rate filings submitted to the commissioner the savings to the insured to be realized under the plan;
(10) An insurer shall make available optional coverage for naturopathic, acupuncture, nonmedical remedial care, and treatment rendered in accordance with the teachings, faith, or belief of any group which relies upon spiritual means through prayer for healing; and
(11) An insurer may make available optional coverage for chiropractic treatment in addition to chiropractic treatment provided under section 431:10C-103.6 for not more than the lesser of the following:

(A) Thirty additional visits at no more than $75 a visit; or
(B) Treatment as defined by the Hawaii Chiropractic Association guidelines in effect on January 25, 1997.

The commissioner shall adopt rules, including policy limits, terms, and conditions as necessary to implement the requirements of this section.

(b) In accordance with the rules adopted by the commissioner, a policy of insurance described in this section shall contain a provision specifying the periods within which claims may be filed and action may be brought against the insurer.

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