Sec.38a-651-3. Policy form approval

(a) Each filing shall be state specific. Only filings with state specific language will be approved.

(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, the Insurance Department shall review all forms filed with the Insurance Commissioner for approval pursuant to Section 38a-651 of the Connecticut General Statutes in the order in which they are received by the Department; provided, however, that in appropriate circumstances the Commissioner may waive this requirement and direct the immediate review of a form filing. The Department shall employ a chronological logging system to facilitate the chronological review of such forms.

(c) Within ninety (90) days after a form is accepted for review, the Insurance Department shall review the form and either approve it or disapprove it. If, upon such review of the form, the Insurance Department determines that additional information from the insurer is necessary in order to ascertain whether the form is contrary to law or is unfair, deceptive or may encourage misrepresentation of the policy, the Department shall make such request to the insurer. The insurer will then have ten (10) days from the date of the request to provide the Department with the additional information; provided that during such time, the insurer may request in writing that the period for responding to the request for information be extended for an additional period of time, not to exceed thirty (30) days. The request for extension shall be considered granted upon its receipt by the Insurance Department. During the pendency of the Insurance Department’s request for information, the ninety (90) day period for Department action shall be tolled. If the insurer fails to comply with such request within the allotted time, the insurer shall be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn its filing and the Department shall close its file without further action.

(d) The Commissioner shall issue a decision disapproving the use of any such form if the schedule of premium rates charged or to be charged is by reasonable assumptions excessive in relation to the benefits provided, or if it contains a provision or provisions which are unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading, deceptive or which encourage misrepresentation of the coverage or which are contrary to any provision of the insurance laws or of any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. Any such decision shall specify the reason for disapproval of the form.

(e) Forms that are approved by the Commissioner shall have the form labeled ‘‘Approved,’’ together with the name and signature of the staff member who acted upon the filing and the date of the approval.

(Effective September 25, 1992; Amended April 23, 2015)