Section 284-24A-065 - Questions and answers(1)Our insurance company uses insurance scoring bands (a range of scores) to determine what to charge a consumer based on their personal insurance score. Does an insurer have to file its insurance scoring bands? Yes. If an insurer uses insurance scoring bands for rating purposes, the insurer must file them (and any future changes to those bands). The bands are part of the rating plan and must be supported by actuarial analysis.(2)What types of data can an insurer use to support a credit-based rating plan? A credit-based rating plan must be based on the experience of the insurer, an affiliated insurer under the same management, or a licensed rating organization. The commissioner will accept data from other states where comparable credit-based rating plans are in effect.(3)The law says an insurer cannot use the number of credit inquiries to set rates or to deny insurance. Can an insurer consider the amount of time since the most recent inquiry? Yes. The law prohibits an insurer from considering the number of credit-seeking or promotional inquiries. It does not prohibit an insurer from considering the length of time since the most recent inquiry about a consumer's credit rating.(4)The law says an insurer cannot use collections identified with a medical industry code to set rates or to deny insurance. Not all credit vendors provide industry codes for collection accounts. If a vendor searches for medical references in a text field, would that action comply with the law? Yes. Collections identified with a medical industry code cannot be used. If medical history is not coded or identified, insurers and vendors are not required to perform additional research.(5)The law says an insurer cannot use the initial purchase or finance of a vehicle or house that adds a new loan to the consumer's existing credit history to set rates or to deny insurance. Can my company use the number of such loans and/or the outstanding balance of such loans?An insurer may not use the initial purchase of a home or vehicle to affect eligibility for insurance or insurance premiums. The initial purchase is the first loan taken out to buy a home or vehicle.
An insurer may evaluate any subsequent borrowing by a consumer.
A method an insurer or vendor can use to comply with the law is to eliminate vehicle and home loans from the consumer's debt load calculation.
(6)The law says an insurer cannot use the total available line of credit to set rates or to deny insurance.Can my company use number of credit lines with limits over a set amount?The law prohibits use of data related to the consumer's total available line of credit. Any attribute that evaluates the total amount of credit available to a consumer is prohibited.
Your insurer may use the debt/credit ratio or other ratios that consider the actual debt load.
Wash. Admin. Code § 284-24A-065
Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.18.545, 48.19.035, and 48.30.010. 05-02-026 (Matter No. R 2004-01), § 284-24A-065, filed 12/29/04, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.18.100, 48.18.120, 48.19.080, 48.19.370, 48.30.010, 49.60.178, 48.18.545(7), 48.19.035(5). 02-19-013 (Matter No. R 2001-11), § 284-24A-065, filed 9/6/02, effective 10/7/02.