Terms Used In Michigan Laws 500.454

  • Department: means the department of insurance and financial services. See Michigan Laws 500.102
  • Director: means , unless the context clearly implies a different meaning, the director of the department. See Michigan Laws 500.102
  • Health maintenance organization: means that term as defined in section 3501. See Michigan Laws 500.106
  • Insurer: means an individual, corporation, association, partnership, reciprocal exchange, inter-insurer, Lloyds organization, fraternal benefit society, or other legal entity, engaged or attempting to engage in the business of making insurance or surety contracts. See Michigan Laws 500.106
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the department shall not authorize an insurer to do business in this state if its name is the same as or closely resembles the name of another insurer organized under or authorized to do business under the laws of this state. However, the department may authorize an insurer to do business in this state if it adds to its corporate name a word, abbreviation, or other distinctive and distinguishing element.
  (2) The department shall issue a certificate of authority to an insurer in the name applied for, and the insurer shall use that name in all its dealings with the department and in the conduct of its affairs in this state. An insurer shall identify the incorporated name of the insurer in any document used or advertising offered in this state.
  (3) The director may disapprove the use of a name of an insurer or health maintenance organization if the director determines that the name is deceptive or misleading.