Use of Statistics

Section 2010 Section 2010.90  Use of Statistics a)         An advertisement relating to the dollar amounts of claims paid, the number of persons insured, or similar statistical information relating to any insurer or policy shall not use such statistical information unless it pertains to the insurer's Medicare supplement insurance business.  Such an advertisement shall not imply that such statistics are derived from a policy advertised unless such is the fact, and when applicable to other policies or plans shall specifically so state. 1)         An advertisement shall specifically identify the Medicare supplement insurance policy to which statistics relate and, where statistics are given which are applicable to a different policy, it must be stated clearly that the data do not relate to the policy being advertised. 2)         An advertisement using statistics which describe an insurer, such as assets, corporate structure, financial standing, age, product lines or relative position in the insurance business, may be irrelevant and, if used at all, must be used with extreme caution because of the potential for misleading the public.  As a specific example, an advertisement for Medicare supplement insurance which refers to the amount of life insurance which the company has in force or the amounts paid out in life insurance benefits is not permissable unless the advertisement clearly indicates the amount paid out for each line of business. b)         An advertisement shall not represent or imply that claim settlements by the insurer are "liberal" or "generous," or use words of similar import, or state or imply that claim settlements are or will be beyond the actual terms of the contract.  An unusual amount paid for a unique claim for the policy advertised is misleading and shall not be used. c)         The source of any statistics used in an advertisement shall be identified in such advertisement.