Contact: Ed Domansky
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
850-413-2515
Tom Zutell
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
850-413-5092
Jonathan Beeton
Communications Director
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
202-812-1715
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today announced that the Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has filed an
administrative complaint against the American General Life Insurance Co. (American General) seeking to suspend or revoke its certificate of authority to write insurance policies in Florida and requiring the company to cease and desist from unfair trade practices as defined in the Freedom to Travel Act, Section
626.9541(1)(dd), Florida Statutes.
The complaint specifically cites multiple counts of American General refusing to provide policies or limiting the amount, extent or kind of life insurance based solely on the individual's future lawful travel plans.
"When assessing their life insurance needs, consumers should not have to worry about how their travel plans might affect their ability to get insurance," said General Counsel Steve Parton. "Seeking to suspend a company's license is not something we take lightly; however, given that these actions are in clear violation of the law, the Office is left with little choice. The Office has warned American General in the past, but they have refused to change their practices."
The most high-profile incident involved U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, (D-FL), who in 2005 submitted a life insurance application to American General seeking to increase her current life insurance policy. She had indicated on her application that she had future plans for international travel. While Wasserman Schultz did not address specifics in the application, American General later called and spoke with her husband who indicated that there was a possibility that she may plan future travel to Israel.
"Having personally experienced this kind of discriminatory behavior, I am glad to see that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is taking this extreme action against American General," said Wasserman Schultz. "As Americans, the ability to travel freely is a right we cherish. Our legal travel choices should not adversely impact our ability to purchase life insurance."
This is the first time the Office has sought to suspend or revoke a life insurance company's license for violating the Freedom to Travel Act.
About the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. Business units within the Office are organized based on regulatory expertise and include the areas of life and health, property and casualty, specialty lines and other regulated insurance entities. It is within the Office that the mission of public protection is implemented through regulatory oversight of insurance company solvency, policy forms and rates, market conduct performance and new company entrants to the Florida market.
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