Section 500.2108 - Filing of manual or plan; statement of character and extent of coverage; maintaining rates in effect for eligible persons; insurer as member of or subscriber to rating organization; deviations; certification, contents, and public inspection of filing; trade secret; contract or policy to be in accordance with filings; automobile insurance compliance with chapter 24; redlining practices prohibited(1) On the effective date of a manual of classification, manual of rules and rates, rating plan, or modification of a manual of classification, manual of rules and rates, or rating plan that an insurer proposes to use for home insurance, the insurer shall file the manual or plan with the director. For automobile insurance, an insurer shall file a manual or plan described in this subsection in accordance with subsection (6). Each filing under this subsection must state the character and extent of the coverage contemplated. An insurer that is subject to this chapter and that maintains rates in any part of this state shall at all times maintain rates in effect for all eligible persons meeting the underwriting criteria of the insurer.(2) An insurer may satisfy its obligation to make filings under subsection (1) by becoming a member of, or a subscriber to, a rating organization licensed under chapter 24 or chapter 26 that makes the filings, and by filing with the director a copy of its authorization of the rating organization to make the filings on its behalf. This chapter does not require an insurer to become a member of or a subscriber to a rating organization. An insurer may file and use deviations from filings made on its behalf. The deviations are subject to this chapter.(3) A filing under this section must be accompanied by a certification by or on behalf of the insurer that, to the best of the insurer's information and belief, the filing conforms to the requirements of this chapter.(4) A filing under this section must include information that supports the filing with respect to the requirements of section 2109. The information may include 1 or more of the following: (a) The experience or judgment of the insurer or rating organization making the filing.(b) The interpretation of the insurer or rating organization of any statistical data it relies on.(c) The experience of other insurers or rating organizations.(d) Any other relevant information.(5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the department shall make a filing under this section and any accompanying information open to public inspection on filing. An insurer or a rating organization filing on the insurer's behalf may designate information included in the filing or any accompanying information as a trade secret. The insurer or the rating organization filing on behalf of the insurer shall demonstrate to the director that the designated information is a trade secret. If the director determines that the information is a trade secret, the information is not subject to public inspection and is exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. As used in this subsection, "trade secret" means that term as defined in section 2 of the uniform trade secrets act, 1998 PA 448, MCL 445.1902. However, trade secret does not include filings and information accompanying filings under this section that were subject to public inspection before January 11, 2016.(6) For automobile insurance, an insurer shall file a manual or plan in accordance with chapter 24, except that the manual or plan must remain on file for a waiting period of 90 days before it becomes effective, which period may not be extended by the director, and the waiting period applies regardless of whether supporting information is required by the director under section 2406(1). Upon written application by the insurer, the director may authorize a filing that he or she has reviewed to become effective before expiration of the waiting period.(7) An insurer shall not make, issue, or renew a contract or policy except in accordance with filings that are in effect for the insurer under this chapter.(8) A filing under this chapter must specify that the insurer will not refuse to insure, refuse to continue to insure, or limit the amount of coverage available because of the location of the risk, and that the insurer recognizes those practices to constitute redlining. An insurer shall not engage in redlining as described in this subsection.Amended by 2019, Act 21,s 12, eff. 6/11/2019.Amended by 2015, Act 141,s 2, eff. 1/11/2016.Add. 1979, Act 145, Eff. 1/1/1981.