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: FEBRUARY 5, 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 January 11, 2021, Mayor Muriel Bowser executed Mayor’s Order 2021-004 (Order), which modified Mayor’s Order 2020-127 to extend the Public Health Emergency in the District through March 17, 2021. Mayor’s Order 2020-127, which remains effective, also extended the prior Mayor’s Orders implementing various relief measures including Mayor’s Order 2020-079 that delegated 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 rch 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 two orders and the bulletin state that the relief measures therein provided 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 any and all Commissioner’s Orders or Bulletins issued in response to the public health emergency until the Mayor’s Orders declaring or extending such public health emergency expire or are rescinded. 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. 1050 First Street NE, Suite 801 | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-727-8000 | disb.dc.gov For information and resources regarding the District’s response to COVID-19, please visit: coronavirus.dc.gov.