Transactions between an RM and the reinsurer it represents in such capacity shall only be entered into pursuant to a written contract, specifying the responsibilities of each party, which shall be approved by the reinsurer’s board of directors. At least thirty days before such reinsurer assumes or cedes business through such producer, a true copy of such approved contract shall be filed with the director for approval. The contract shall, at a minimum, contain provisions that:

(1) The reinsurance may terminate the contract for cause upon written notice to the RM. The reinsurance may suspend the authority of the RM to assume or cede business during the pendency of any dispute regarding the cause for termination;

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 375.1125

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Director: the director of the department of commerce and insurance. See Missouri Laws 375.001
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Insurer: all insurance companies, reciprocals, or interinsurance exchanges transacting the business of insurance in this state. See Missouri Laws 375.001
  • Property: includes real and personal property. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • United States: includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(2) The RM shall render accounts to the reinsurer accurately detailing all material transactions, including information necessary to support all commissions, charges and other fees received by, or owing to, the RM, and remit all funds due under the contract to the reinsurer on not less than a monthly basis;

(3) All funds collected for the reinsurer’s account shall be held by the RM in a fiduciary capacity in a bank which is a qualified United States financial institution. The RM may retain no more than three months’ estimated claims payments and allocated loss adjustment expenses. The RM shall maintain a separate bank account for each reinsurer that it represents;

(4) For at least twenty-three years after expiration of each contract of reinsurance of medical malpractice insurance transacted by the RM, and for at least ten years after expiration of each contract of reinsurance or any other insurance transacted by the RM, the RM shall keep a complete record for each transaction showing:

(a) The type of contract, limits, underwriting restrictions, classes or risks and territory;

(b) The period of coverage including effective and expiration dates, cancellation provisions and notice required of cancellation, and disposition of outstanding reserves on covered risks;

(c) Reporting and settlement requirements of balances;

(d) The rate used to compute the reinsurance premium;

(e) Names and addresses of reinsurers;

(f) Rates of all reinsurance commissions, including the commissions on any retrocessions handled by the RM;

(g) Related correspondence and memoranda;

(h) Proof of placement;

(i) Details regarding retrocessions handled by the RM, as permitted by subsection 4 of section 375.1130, including the identity of retrocessionaires and percentage of each contract assumed or ceded;

(j) Financial records, including, but not limited to, premium and loss accounts; and

(k) When the RM places a reinsurance contract on behalf of a ceding insurer:

a. Directly from any assuming reinsurer, written evidence that the assuming reinsurer has agreed to assume the risk; or

b. If placed through a representative of the assuming reinsurer, other than an employee, written evidence that such reinsurer has delegated binding authority to the representative;

(5) The reinsurer shall have access and the right to copy all accounts and records maintained by the RM related to its business in a form usable by the reinsurer;

(6) The contract cannot be assigned in whole or in part by the RM;

(7) The RM shall comply with the written underwriting and rating standards established by the insurer for the acceptance, rejection or cession of all risks;

(8) Sets forth the rates, terms and purposes of commissions, charges and other fees which the RM may levy against the reinsurer;

(9) If the contract permits the RM to settle claims on behalf of the reinsurer:

(a) All claims will be reported to the reinsurer in a timely manner;

(b) A copy of claim file will be sent to the reinsurer at its request or as soon as it becomes known that the claim:

a. Has the potential to exceed the lesser of an amount determined by the director or the limit set by the reinsurer;

b. Involves a coverage dispute;

c. May exceed the RM’s claims settlement authority;

d. Is open for more than six months; or

e. Is closed by payment of the lesser of an amount set by the director or an amount set by the reinsurer;

(c) All claim files will be joint property of the reinsurer and RM; however, upon an order of liquidation of the reinsurer such files shall become the sole property of the reinsurer or its estate; the RM shall have reasonable access to and the right to copy the files on a timely basis;

(d) Any settlement authority granted to the RM may be terminated for cause upon the reinsurer’s written notice to the RM or upon the termination of the contract. The reinsurer may suspend the settlement authority during the pendency of the dispute regarding the cause of termination;

(10) If the contract provides for a sharing of interim profits by the RM, that such interim profits will not be paid until one year after the end of each underwriting period for property business and five years after the end of each underwriting period for casualty business or a later period set by the director for specified lines of insurance, and not until the adequacy of reserves on remaining claims has been verified pursuant to subsection 3 of section 375.1130;

(11) The RM shall annually provide the reinsurer with a statement of its financial condition prepared by an independent certified accountant;

(12) The reinsurer shall periodically, and at least semiannually, conduct an on-site review of the underwriting and claims processing operations of the RM;

(13) The RM shall disclose to the reinsurer any relationship it has with any insurer prior to ceding or assuming any business with such insurer pursuant to this contract; and

(14) The acts of the RM shall be deemed to be the acts of the reinsurer on whose behalf it is acting.