1. Every rating organization, advisory organization and insurer shall, within a reasonable time after receiving written request therefor and upon payment of such reasonable charge as it may make, furnish to any insured affected by a rate, a prospective loss cost or supplementary rating information made by it, or to the authorized representative of such insured, all pertinent information as to such rate.

[PL 1989, c. 797, §21 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 797, §§37, 38 (AFF).]

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 2320

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Rate: means the cost of insurance per exposure unit, whether expressed as a single number or as a prospective loss cost with an adjustment to account for the treatment of expenses, profit, and individual insurer variation in loss experience, prior to any application of individual risk variation based on loss or expense considerations, and not including minimum premium. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 2302-A
  • Supplementary rating information: means any manual or plan of rates, classification rating schedule, minimum premium, policy fee, rating rule, underwriting rule, statistical plan and any other similar information needed to determine the applicable rate in effect or to be in effect. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 2302-A
2. Every rating organization, advisory organization and insurer shall provide within this State reasonable means whereby any person aggrieved by the application of its rating system may be heard, in person or through an authorized representative, on written request to review the manner in which such rating system has been applied in connection with the insurance afforded that person. If the rating organization, advisory organization or insurer fails to grant or reject such request within 30 days after it is made, the applicant may proceed in the same manner as if that application had been rejected. Any party affected by the action of such rating organization, advisory organization or such insurer on such request may, within 30 days after written notice of such action, appeal to the superintendent, who, after a hearing held upon not less than 10 days’ written notice to the appellant and to such rating organization, advisory organization or insurer, may affirm or reverse such action.

[PL 1989, c. 797, §21 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 797, §§37, 38 (AFF).]

3. Upon a request by a person aggrieved by the application of the rating system or an insurer, or either of their authorized representatives, the person aggrieved has the right to a hearing held by the superintendent without the matter first being heard by the rating organization or insurer pursuant to subsection 2. Such hearing must be held within 60 days following receipt by the superintendent of a written request for a hearing. At least 30 days’ written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing, together with a reasonably accurate description of the subject matter of the hearing, must be provided by the superintendent to the person aggrieved, the insurer and the rating organization. Upon request by any party, the hearing may be continued to allow a reasonable period for conducting investigation of the matter, discovery and preparation of factual and legal materials for the hearing. Each party to a hearing is entitled to only one continuance. Prior to continuation of a hearing, the superintendent shall, upon not less than 5 days’ notice to all parties, conduct an informal prehearing conference at which the parties shall identify the issues to be addressed at the hearing, establish a schedule for all investigation, discovery and hearing preparation reasonably necessary based upon the nature and scope of the hearing and establish a date certain for the hearing.

[PL 1995, c. 317, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1969, c. 132, §1 (NEW). PL 1973, c. 585, §12 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 797, §§21,37,38 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 317, §1 (AMD).