Wisconsin Statutes 631.95 – Restrictions on insurance practices; domestic abuse
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Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 631.95
- Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
- Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Property: includes real and personal property. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Qualified: when applied to any person elected or appointed to office, means that such person has done those things which the person was by law required to do before entering upon the duties of the person's office. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Abuse” has the meaning given in s. 813.122 (1) (a).
(b) “Disability insurance policy” has the meaning given in s. 632.895 (1) (a).
(c) “Domestic abuse” has the meaning given in s. 968.075 (1) (a).
(2) General prohibitions. Except as provided in sub. (3), an insurer may not do any of the following:
(a) Refuse to provide or renew coverage to a person, or cancel a person’s coverage, under an individual or group insurance policy or a certificate of group insurance on the basis that the person has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that the person is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse or that a member of the person’s family has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that a member of the person’s family is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(b) Refuse to provide or renew coverage to an employer or other group, or cancel an employer’s or other group’s coverage, under a group insurance policy on the basis that an employee or other group member has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that an employee or other group member is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse or that a member of an employee’s or other group member’s family has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that a member of an employee’s or other group member’s family is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(c) Use as a factor in the determination of rates or any other aspect of insurance coverage under an individual or group insurance policy or a certificate of group insurance the knowledge or suspicion that a person or an employee or other group member has been or is a victim of abuse or domestic abuse or that a member of the person’s or an employee’s or other group member’s family has been or is a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(d) Under an individual or group disability insurance policy or a certificate of group disability insurance, exclude or limit coverage of, or deny a claim for, health care services or items related to the treatment of injury or disease resulting from abuse or domestic abuse on the basis that a person or an employee or other group member has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that a person or an employee or other group member is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse or that a member of the person’s or an employee’s or other group member’s family has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that a member of the person’s or an employee’s or other group member’s family is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(e) Under an individual or group life insurance policy or a certificate of group life insurance, deny or limit benefits in the event that the death of the person whose life is insured results from abuse or domestic abuse on the basis that the person whose life is insured has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that the person whose life is insured is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse or that a member of the family of the person whose life is insured has been, or the insurer has reason to believe that a member of the family of the person whose life is insured is, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(f) Under property insurance coverage that excludes coverage for loss or damage to property resulting from intentional acts, deny payment to an insured for a claim based on property loss or damage resulting from an act, or pattern, of abuse or domestic abuse if that insured did not cooperate in or contribute to the creation of the loss or damage and if the person who committed the act or acts that caused the loss or damage is criminally prosecuted for the act or acts. Payment to the innocent insured may be limited in accordance with his or her ownership interest in the property or reduced by payments to a mortgagee or other holder of a secured interest.
(3) Exceptions and qualifications related to prohibitions.
(a) Disability insurance. In establishing premiums for an individual or group disability insurance policy or a certificate of group disability insurance, an insurer may inquire about a person’s existing medical condition and, based on the opinion of a qualified actuary, as defined in s. 623.06 (1) (h), use information related to a person’s existing medical condition, regardless of whether that condition is or may have been caused by abuse or domestic abuse.
(b) Life insurance. With respect to an individual or group life insurance policy or a certificate of group life insurance, an insurer may, on the basis of information in medical, law enforcement or court records, or on the basis of information provided by the insured, policyholder or applicant for insurance, do any of the following:
1. Deny or limit benefits under such a policy or certificate to a beneficiary who is the perpetrator of abuse or domestic abuse that results in the death of the insured.
2. Refuse to issue such a policy or certificate that names as a beneficiary a person who is or was, or who the insurer has reason to believe is or was, a perpetrator of abuse or domestic abuse against the person who is to be the insured under the policy.
3. Refuse to name as a beneficiary under such a policy or certificate a person who is or was, or who the insurer has reason to believe is or was, a perpetrator of abuse or domestic abuse against the insured under the policy.
4. Refuse to issue such a policy or certificate to a person who is or was, or who the insurer has reason to believe is or was, a perpetrator of abuse or domestic abuse against the person who is to be the insured under the policy.
5. Refuse to issue such a policy or certificate to a person who lacks an insurable interest in the person who is to be the insured under the policy.
6. For purposes of underwriting; administering a claim under; or determining a person’s eligibility for coverage, a benefit or payment under; such a policy or certificate; or for purposes of servicing such a policy or certificate or an application for such a policy or certificate; inquire about and use information related to a person’s medical history or existing medical condition, regardless of whether that condition is or may have been caused by abuse or domestic abuse. Any adverse underwriting decision based on a person’s medical history or medical condition must be made in conformity with sound actuarial principles or otherwise supported by actual or reasonably anticipated experience.
(c) Disability income or long-term care insurance. With respect to an individual or group disability income or long-term care insurance policy or a certificate of group disability income or long-term care insurance, an insurer may, on the basis of information in medical, law enforcement or court records, or on the basis of information provided by the insured, policyholder or applicant for insurance, do any of the following:
1. Refuse to name as a beneficiary under such a policy or certificate a person who is or was, or who the insurer has reason to believe is or was, a perpetrator of abuse or domestic abuse against the insured under the policy.
2. Refuse to issue such a policy or certificate to a person who is or was, or who the insurer has reason to believe is or was, a perpetrator of abuse or domestic abuse against the person who is to be the insured under the policy.
3. Refuse to issue such a policy or certificate to a person who lacks an insurable interest in the person who is to be the insured under the policy.
4. For purposes of underwriting; administering a claim under; or determining a person’s eligibility for coverage, a benefit or payment under; such a policy or certificate; or for purposes of servicing such a policy or certificate or an application for such a policy or certificate; inquire about and use information related to a person’s medical history or existing medical condition, regardless of whether that condition is or may have been caused by abuse or domestic abuse. Any adverse underwriting decision based on a person’s medical history or medical condition must be made in conformity with sound actuarial principles or otherwise supported by actual or reasonably anticipated experience.
(4) Immunity for insurers. An insurer is immune from any civil or criminal liability for any action taken under sub. (3) or for the death of, or injury to, an insured that results from abuse or domestic abuse.
(5) Use and disclosure of abuse information.
631.95(5)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d) and sub. (3), no person employed by or contracting with an insurer may use, disclose or transfer information related to any of the following:
1. Whether an insured or applicant for insurance or a member of the insured’s or applicant’s family, or whether an employee or other group member of an insured or applicant for insurance or a member of the employee’s or other group member’s family, is or has been, or is with reason believed by the person employed by or contracting with the insurer to be or to have been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
2. Whether an insured or applicant for insurance, or whether an employee or other group member of an insured or applicant for insurance, is a family member or associate of, or in a relationship with, a person who is or has been, or who the person employed by or contracting with the insurer has reason to believe is or has been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
3. Whether an insured or an applicant for insurance employs a person who is or has been, or who the person employed by or contracting with the insurer has reason to believe is or has been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse.
(b) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d), a person employed by or contracting with an insurer may not disclose or transfer information related to the telephone number or address or other location of any of the following individuals, if the person knows that the individual is or has been, or has reason to believe that the individual is or has been, a victim of abuse or domestic abuse:
1. An insured.
2. An applicant for insurance.
3. An employee of an insured or of an applicant for insurance.
4. A group member of an insured or of an applicant for insurance.
(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply if the use, disclosure or transfer of the information is made with the consent of the individual to whom the information relates or if the use, disclosure or transfer satisfies any of the following:
1. Is for a purpose related to the direct provision of health care services.
2. Is for a valid business purpose, including the disclosure or transfer of the information to any of the following:
a. A reinsurer.
b. A party to a proposed or consummated sale, transfer, merger or consolidation of all or part of the business of the insurer.
c. Medical, underwriting or claims personnel under contract or affiliated with the insurer.
d. An attorney representing the interests of the insurer.
e. The policyholder or policyholder’s assignee as a result of delivery of the policy.
3. Is in response to legal process.
4. Is required by a court order or an order of an entity with authority to regulate insurance, or is otherwise required by law.
5. Is required or authorized by the commissioner by rule.
(d) Nothing in this subsection limits or precludes an insured or an applicant for insurance, or an employee or other group member of an insured or applicant for insurance, from obtaining his or her own insurance records from an insurer.