Guidance on Commissioner’s Orders and Bulletins Providing Relief to Policyholders During Public Health Emergency

1050 First Street NE, Suite 801 | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-727-8000 | disb.dc.gov Karima M. Woods, Commissioner NOTICE TO: ALL INSURERS AND PREMIUM FINANCE COMPANIES LICENSED AND OPERATING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FROM: KARIMA WOODS, COMMISSIONER DATE: JANUARY 4, 2021 RE: GUIDANCE ON COMMISSIONER’S ORDERS AND BULLETINS PROVIDING RELIEF TO POLICYHOLDERS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY The purpose of this Notice is to inform all insurers and premium finance companies licensed and operating in the District of Columbia of their obligation to policyholders during the public health emergency in the District of Columbia. On December 18, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Mayor of the District of Columbia, executed Mayor’s Order 2020-127 (Order), which extended the Public Health Emergency in the District through March 31, 2021 and the prior Mayor’s Orders implementing relief measures including Mayor’s Order 2020-079, delegating to the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking “the authority vested in the Mayor by section 507(a) of the Act, effective May 27, 2020, D.C. Act 23-326, and section 507(a) of the Congressional Review Act, effective June 8, 2020, D.C. Act 23-328, D.C. Official Code § 7- 2304(b)(15), to waive application of any law administered by DISB to protect the health, safety, and welfare of District residents in response to a public health emergency.” On March 20, 2020 and April 27, 2020, then Acting Commissioner Karima Woods issued Commissioner’s Orders 01-2020 and 03-2020, respectively, and Bulletin 20-IB-2-05/08 on May 18, 2020, to provide relief to District policyholders by directing all health, property and casualty insurers and premium finance companies to modify or refrain from certain activities and business practices to protect insureds. The orders and bulletins provide that the relief measures are to remain in place for the duration of the public health emergency ly, and Bulletin 20-IB-2-05/08 on May 18, 2020, to provide relief to District policyholders by directing all health, property and casualty insurers and premium finance companies to modify or refrain from certain activities and business practices to protect insureds. The orders and bulletins provide that the relief measures are to remain in place for the duration of the public health emergency. As such, all insurers and premium finance companies licensed and operating in the District of Columbia are required to comply with the orders and bulletins through March 31, 2021, or until such time as Mayor Bowser extends, rescinds or otherwise modifies Mayor’s Order 2020-127. The orders and the bulletin can be found on the Department’s website: disb.dc.gov. Any questions or concerns regarding this Notice may be directed to Howard Liebers at howard.liebers@dc.gov. For information and resources regarding the District’s response to COVID-19, please visit: coronavirus.dc.gov.