Virginia Code 38.2-2015: Agreements for equitable apportionment of insurance; reasonable performance standards; Virginia Workers’ Compensation Insurance Plan.
A. Agreements among insurers may be made for the equitable apportionment among them of insurance that may be afforded applicants who are in good faith entitled to insurance but who are unable to procure it through ordinary methods. Insurers may agree among themselves on the use of reasonable rate modifications for the insurance. The agreements and rate modifications shall be subject to the approval of the Commission.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 38.2-2015
- Commission: means the State Corporation Commission. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- rates: means any rate of premium, policy fee, membership fee or any other charge made by an insurer for or in connection with a contract or policy of insurance. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
B. The Commission may require that the agreements contain reasonable performance standards for insurers or agents, or both, with respect to insurance afforded such applicants. The performance standards may contain, but shall not be limited to: (i) original applications, (ii) premium payments, (iii) policy issuance, (iv) policy changes, (v) return premium, (vi) return commission and (vii) administrative procedures for monitoring compliance with the standards.
C. The Commission may approve policy forms and endorsements for use by such insurers with respect to insurance afforded such applicants.
D. All licensed insurers writing workers’ compensation insurance in the Commonwealth shall participate in the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Insurance Plan, which shall provide for the equitable apportionment among the participants of insurance that may be afforded applicants who are in good faith entitled to but who are unable to procure such insurance through ordinary methods. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, insurers and rate service organizations participating in the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Insurance Plan may, in connection with such participation, act in cooperation with each other in the making of rates, rating systems, policy forms, underwriting rules, surveys, inspections, investigations, the furnishing of statistical or other information on losses and expenses, or the conduct of research. The rates and supplementary rate information to be used by such plan shall be approved by the Commission. Such rates shall reflect residual market experience to the extent actuarially appropriate and shall be set so that the amount received in premiums, together with reasonable investment income earned on those premiums, is reasonably expected to be sufficient to pay claims and losses incurred and reasonable operating expenses of the servicing insurers.
Code 1950, § 38-250; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-264; 1964, c. 596; 1966, c. 299; 1980, c. 112; 1986, c. 562; 1993, c. 985.