Commissioner's Bulletin # B-0007-20

The record

Jurisdiction

Texas; Texas Department of Insurance · Texas

Level

Sector regulator

Authority

Tex. Ins. Code § 542.059(b); Governor's suspension of March 20, 2020

Issued

2020-03-23 Mar. 23, 2020

Effective

2020-03-23

End

2021-09-20 (canceled and superseded by Bulletin B-0020-21, Ex. 022, for claims submitted on or after September 20, 2021) (read as 2021-09-20)

In force

Mar. 23, 2020 to Sept. 20, 2021

Quarters

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3

Limitation types

Other

Addressees

• all life, accident and health insurers, HMOs, agents, TPAs, utilization review agents, MEWAs
• all property and casualty insurers including workers' compensation insurers
• adjusters
• premium finance companies

Functions reached

• IN insurers (claims handling, billing, cancellation)
• CB policyholders (grace periods) and health care providers awaiting prompt payment
• OP

Collection

State insurance and banking regulators AGY-ST-INSURANCE-BANKING

Operative words

On March 20, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott suspended certain claim-handling deadlines imposed by law. Additionally, the Commissioner of Insurance has determined that the COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster under Texas Insurance Code Section 542.059(b)... Taken together, the Governor's suspension and the Commissioner's declaration have the effect of extending claim-handling deadlines imposed by the state's prompt payment laws for an additional 15 days to help carriers respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. This extension will be in effect until the Governor's suspension and Commissioner's declaration are lifted... TDI expects all carriers to work with policyholders who may experience financial hardships due to the COVID-19 outbreak. TDI encourages carriers to use grace periods for payments, temporary suspension of premium payments, payment plans, and other actions to allow continuing insurance coverage as appropriate.

Enforcement

Notes