These are challenging times, but Protective Insurance remains open for business, ready to service claims, renew policies and write new business. We are confident our employees can and will rise to the challenge.
Our first priority is the safety of Protective’s employees. We have transitioned to a work-from-home environment and are investing in technology to make this process better for everyone.
While our business may be conducted remotely, we will continue servicing our customers’ needs with the same standards they have come to expect from us. After all, we are supporting one of America’s most vital industries, trucking.
Colorado Directive
The state of Colorado has directed all insurers to make reasonable accommodation so that policies are not cancelled for nonpayment of premium.
Reasonable accommodations to prevent individuals and businesses from losing coverage due to cancellation for the non-payment of premium include, but are not limited to:
- Extension of premium grace periods;
- Waiver of late payment fees
- A moratorium on cancellations for non-payment;
- Defer any non-renewal underwriting actions; and,
- Provide a continuation of coverage for any expiring policy.
Massachusetts Directive
Massachusetts Division of Insurance (Division) issued Bulletin 2020-30, which advises insurers to continue to provide employers and individuals with as much flexibility as possible to maintain their existing coverage during the COVID-19 crisis. The Division encourages all insurers to proactively provide policyholders with information about their insurance options, including ways to reduce premiums.
Insurers are advised to continue to provide employers and individuals with as much flexibility as possible to maintain their existing coverage despite difficulties making timely payment of premiums during the COVID-19 crisis. Insurers may not impose any new or additional fee in exchange for granting this flexibility.
The Division also expects insurers to maintain customer support services to provide consumers information about their insurance options and to proactively provide policyholders with information about how to contact the insurer to investigate options to prevent loss of coverage.
Read the directive here
New Jersey Directive
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance is directing all admitted property and casualty insurance carriers to provide their insureds who may be experiencing financial hardship with a 90-day grace period to pay insurance premiums so that insurance policies are not cancelled for nonpayment of premium during this challenging time due to circumstances beyond the control of the insured.
A policyholder may elect this 90-day emergency grace period to begin retroactively on April 1, 2020, or May 1, 2020. During this extended grace period, insurers shall not cancel any insurance policy for nonpayment. Insurers are also directed to waive late payment fees and not report late payments to credit rating agencies during the 90-day period. Insurers must also allow affected insureds to pay their premiums over a 12-month period.
This relief is not automatic: the insured must notify the insurer that they are experiencing financial hardship, that they want to continue coverage, and whether they elect the 90-day period to commence 4/1 or 5/1.
Pursuant to NJ Department of Banking and Insurance bulletin No. 20-15, if you cannot make a timely premium payment as the result of financial hardship relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic, you may call the following toll-free number to request alternate payment arrangements, which may include a 90 day grace period to pay premium commencing on April 1, 2020 or May 1, 2020 and payment of the remaining premium due over a 12 month period: 1-800-626-8381.
A complete copy of the regulation may be found at: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/bulletins/blt20_15.pdf.
New York Directive
Read the directive here
If you would like to discuss billing or make alternative payment arrangements or if you have any questions about the below, please contact us at (800) 626-8381.
Oklahoma Directive
The Oklahoma Department of Insurance is directing all property and casualty carriers providing coverage to Oklahoma residents to take the following immediate measures related to the potential impact of COVID-19.
-
Property and casualty carriers shall extend any applicable grace period for nonpayment of premium by forty-five (45) days. This grace period extension does not relieve an insured of the obligation to pay premiums but merely is a deferral of the payment due date. This provision is also applicable to premium financing arrangements.
- Property and casualty carriers shall suspend all claims reporting deadlines for the duration of the emergency declaration and extend all policyholder rights or benefits related to deadlines until 90 days after the state of emergency ends.
Oregon Directive
Workers who have been quarantined or isolated due to a workplace exposure or have contracted COVID-19 in the workplace may be entitled to have their lost wages and medical expenses covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Employers cannot retaliate or discriminate against a worker for filing a workers’ compensation claim or for raising workplace safety concerns.
A flier with information can be found here: Oregon Notice.pdf