SLIDE 1: State Guaranty Association

Disclaimer: In most states it is a violation of the Insurance code to use the Guaranty Association as an inducement to buy a policy. Guaranty associations are not a selling point for an insurance policy.

“Unfair Marketing Practices” No insurer or insurance intermediary may make use in any manner of the protection given policyholders by guaranty association statute as a reason for buying insurance.

SLIDE 2: What is it?

State guaranty associations provide coverage (up to the limits spelled out by state laws) for policyholders of insolvent insurers licensed to do business in the state.

When an insurer is declared insolvent the guaranty association:
1. Analyzes the commitments to policyholders.
2. Ensures that covered claims are paid.
3. May arrange for covered policies to be transferred to another insurer.

SLIDE 7: What is the average coverage limit?

Guaranty associations have maximum benefit limits. Limits vary from state to state, but most states provide at least:

Analysis:

Article 77 of the New York Insurance Law, also known as The Life Insurance Company Guaranty Corporation of New York Act, establishes and governs the Life Insurance Company Guaranty Corporation of New York (“LICGCNY”), which is the fund that covers life insurance policies, health insurance policies, annuity contracts, funding agreements (and contracts supplemental to such policies, contracts or funding agreements) issued to a New York resident by a life insurance company licensed to transact life or health insurance or annuities in New York at the time the policy, contract or agreement was issued or at the time the insurer becomes an impaired or insolvent insurer. ¹ SeeInsurance Law § 7703.

These inquiries implicate Insurance Law § 7718, which prohibits insurance producers from exploiting the existence of LICGCNY as a means to promote the sale of insurance. That statute provides as follows:

Linked-In Profile or Similar Websites as Advertising

The first question is whether the use of a Linked-In profile page or similar website for the promotion of insurance, insurers, or insurance agents, or brokers constitutes advertising under the New York Insurance Law. The answer to this inquiry is “yes.” The language of Insurance Law § 7718 is very broadly worded, as indicated by the inclusion of the phrase “…or in any other way” in the statute. The scope of the statute is such that any means of communication will qualify as an advertisement, announcement or statement under the statute. This is consistent with the intent of the law, which is to prohibit allusions to LICGCNY to induce the purchase of insurance.

Insurance Producers’ Use of General Discussions of Guaranty Funds

The second question involves the propriety of an insurance producer speaking or writing about guaranty funds, even in general terms, in connection with the solicitation of annuities to lawyers or their personal injury clients. A similar question was addressed by an Office of General Counsel Opinion dated January 26, 2009 (the “2009 opinion”). At issue in that opinion was the propriety of a trade association brochure that included the following statement: “State insurance guaranty associations provide an additional level of protection for future structured settlement recipients.”

The 2009 opinion concluded that the use of the statement was improper, despite its general nature. This conclusion was made even though no direct reference was made to LICGCNY because the making of a statement directed at New York residents, whose only guaranty fund coverage would be from LICGCNY should a life insurer fail to meet its obligations, constitutes an implied reference to LICGCNY. Therefore, in the context of marketing insurance to New York residents, even a general discussion of guaranty funds is proscribed by Insurance Law § 7718.

Use of a Disclaimer

The third question is whether an express disclaimer in marketing materials, such as a statement to the effect that the existence of guaranty funds is not a reason to buy insurance, or a direct reference to the prohibition set forth in Insurance Law §7718, would be sufficient to allow guaranty fund references to be made in such marketing materials. To allow the use of a purported disclaimer would in fact run counter to the very purpose of the statute in that it would expressly countenance the making of a “statement which uses the existence of the corporation for the purpose of sales, solicitation or inducement to purchase any form of insurance covered.…” Accordingly, an ostensibly “protective” disclaimer would not be permitted.

The Proper Response to Inquiries About LICGCNY

The final question asks how insurance producers should handle inquiries about the LICGCNY. First, it is always proper to refer an inquirer to the Insurance Department. In addition, the statute itself provides that an insurer that is a member of LICGCNY may, upon a written inquiry, provide information regarding LICGCNY in a form that has been prepared by the LICGCNY and approved by the Superintendent. This refers to LICGCNY’s “Policyholder Protection” brochure, which is available at LICGCNY’s website at http://www.nylifega.org/ . The brochure is also available at the Department’s website at the following address: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/consumer/life/licgc_brochure.pdf.