Section 284-83-105 - Standards for marketing(1) Every issuer or entity marketing long-term care insurance coverage in this state, directly or through its insurance producers, must: (a) Establish marketing procedures and insurance producer training requirements to ensure that: (i) Any marketing activities, including any comparison of policies, by its insurance producers, other representatives, or employees are fair and accurate; and(ii) Excessive insurance is not sold or issued.(b) Display prominently by type, stamp or other appropriate means, on the first page of the outline of coverage and policy the following notice: "Notice to buyer: This policy may not cover all of the costs associated with long-term care incurred by the buyer during the period of coverage. The buyer is advised to review carefully all policy limitations."
(c) Provide copies of the disclosure forms required in WAC 284-83-035(3), 284-83-170 and 284-83-190 to the applicant.(d) Inquire and otherwise make every reasonable effort to identify whether a prospective applicant or enrollee for long-term care insurance already has health or long-term care insurance and the types and amounts of any such insurance. For qualified long-term care insurance policies, an inquiry into whether a prospective applicant or enrollee for long-term care insurance has health care coverage is not required.(e) Every issuer or other entity marketing long-term care insurance must establish auditable procedures for verifying compliance with this subsection.(f) If the state in which the policy or certificate is to be delivered or issued for delivery has a senior insurance counseling program approved by its commissioner, at time of solicitation for long-term care insurance the issuer must provide written notice to the prospective policyholder and certificate holder that the counseling program is available and provide its name, address and telephone number.(g) For long-term care insurance policies, use the terms "noncancellable" or "level premium" only when the policy or certificate conforms to WAC 284-83-020(1)(c).(h) Provide an explanation of contingent benefit upon lapse provided for in WAC 284-83-130(4)(c) and, if applicable, the additional contingent benefit upon lapse provided to policies with fixed or limited premium paying periods in WAC 284-83-130(4)(d).(2) In addition to the practices prohibited in chapters 48.30 RCW and 284-30 WAC, the following acts and practices are prohibited: (a) Twisting, as defined in RCW 48.30.180.(b) High pressure tactics. Employing any method of marketing having the effect of or tending to induce the purchase of insurance through force, fright, threat, whether explicit or implied, or undue pressure to purchase or recommend the purchase of insurance.(c) Cold lead advertising. Making use directly or indirectly of any method of marketing which fails to disclose in a conspicuous manner that a purpose of the method of marketing is solicitation of insurance and that contact will be made by an insurance producer or insurance company.(d) Misrepresentation. Misrepresenting a material fact in selling or offering to sell a long-term care insurance policy.(3)(a) With respect to the obligations set forth in this subsection, the primary responsibility of an association, as defined in RCW 48.83.020(6)(b), when endorsing or selling long-term care insurance must be to educate its members concerning long-term care issues in general so that its members can make informed decisions. Associations must provide objective information regarding long-term care insurance policies or certificates endorsed or sold by the associations to ensure that members of the associations receive a balanced and complete explanation of the features in the policies or certificates that are being endorsed or sold.(b) The issuer must file with the commissioner the following material: (i) The policy and certificate;(ii) A corresponding outline of coverage; and(iii) All advertisements requested by the commissioner.(c) The association must disclose in any long-term care insurance solicitation: (i) The specific nature and amount of the compensation arrangements (including all fees, commissions, administrative fees and other forms of financial support) that the association receives from endorsement or sale of the policy or certificate to its members; and(ii) A brief description of the process under which the policies and the issuer issuing the policies were selected.(d) If the association and the issuer have interlocking directorates or trustee arrangements, the association must disclose that fact to its members.(e) The board of directors of associations selling or endorsing long-term care insurance policies or certificates must review and approve the insurance policies as well as the compensation arrangements made with the issuer.(f) The association must also: (i) At the time of the association's decision to endorse the selling of long-term care insurance policies or certificates, engage the services of a person with expertise in long-term care insurance not affiliated with the issuer to conduct an examination of the policies (including its benefits, features, and rates) and update the examination thereafter in the event of material change;(ii) Actively monitor the marketing efforts of the issuer and its producers; and(iii) Review and approve all marketing materials or other insurance communications used to promote sales or sent to members regarding the policies or certificates. Subsections (3)(f)(i) through (f)(iii) of this section do not apply to qualified long-term care insurance policies.
(g) No group long-term care insurance policy or certificate may be issued to an association unless the issuer files with the commissioner the information required in this subsection.(h) The issuer must not issue a long-term care policy or certificate to an association or continue to market such a policy or certificate unless the issuer certifies annually that the association has complied with the requirements set forth in this section.(i) Failure to comply with the filing and certification requirements of this section constitutes an unfair trade practice.Wash. Admin. Code § 284-83-105
Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.83.070, 48.83.110, 48.83.120, 48.83.130(1), and 48.83.140(4)(a). 08-24-019 (Matter No. R 2008-09), § 284-83-105, filed 11/24/08, effective 12/25/08.