April 8, 2020

Dept. of Labor/Insurance Dept. Updates

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Department of Labor Updates

The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) publishes and provides updates on their website in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

They are currently working to process an unprecedented number of claims. Unfortunately, the large number of new claims is taxing the system and delays are being reported. Typically, the agency receives about 3,000 new claims per week, but in the last three weeks it has received more than 280,000 claims. The backlog estimate has increased to 5-6 weeks, versus 3-5 weeks, and the estimated time to receive a reply to email has increased to 5-7 business days, up from 3-5 business days.

From the CT DOL website:

The CT Labor Department is working diligently to analyze the federal pandemic relief details found within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on 3/27/2020. We appreciate your patience as we await guidance from USDOL, and work with technical experts to develop additional programming within the CTDOL Unemployment Insurance system to accommodate the new federal relief programs.

At this time we have no additional information regarding the timeframe within which we will implement these federal programs, but will update this website and FAQs as soon as we have new information. We are working hard to serve the citizens of CT and ask that you check our FAQs on this website DAILY for updates. http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/DOLCOVIDFAQ.PDF

Connecticut Insurance Department Resource Webpage

The Connecticut Insurance Department knows people have many insurance related questions and concerns during this unprecedented time. To help, they have a dedicated resource page on the Department website with FAQ’s, information, Bulletins, and Notices.

They also published bulletins and notices on various topics, including:

Bulletins

Bulletin IC-39 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak and testing issued
Bulletin IC 40 – 60-Day Grace Period for Insurance Premium Payments Due to the Disruption Caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak. The Governor’s Executive Order No. 7S works in conjunction with Bulletin IC- 40

* The 60-day grace period is not automatically applied through Bulletin IC-40 or E.O. No. 7S insureds need to call their carrier to have the grace period applied to their insurance policy.

Bulletin IC-41 – Extension of Coverage for Personal Delivery Drivers During the Coronavirus (COVID19) Pandemic

Notices

License Renewals & Continuing Education
License expiration dates will be extended to 6/30/20 for those whose licenses expires between 3/24 – 5/31
Licensed Ins. Producers whose CE compliance period expires between 3/24 – 5/31 will be granted an extension to complete the required CE credits to 6/30/20
Network Adequacy Annual Filing
Extends the network adequacy annual filing to the Department from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020
CID Interpretive Guidance No. 1 for the Governor’s Executive Order No. 7S
Provides clarification on the Governor’s E.O. No. 7S

Business Interruption Insurance

As a matter of law, CID does not have the authority to require insurers to pay for a business interruption insurance issue that is not expressly covered in a policy or contract. This insurance is written and priced in order to provide a balance between availability and affordability. Explicit inclusions and exclusions are contract matters that we cannot overrule ex post facto. As with terrorism, epidemic coverage in regards to business interruption insurance is too big for any single state to address. The Federal Government should act to provide a backstop as it does for terrorism, and as has been proposed in the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020.

The Department has developed Business Interruption Insurance information and FAQs which are on our resource page
The NAIC official statement on Business Interruption Insurance can be found here
NCOIL letter to Congress on Business Interruption Insurance can be found here

Inquiries/Complaints

If you have questions, inquiries or complaints, you can contact the Department directly through various methods:

Email: insurance@ct.gov
Phone: (860)297-3900
Online: https://portal.ct.gov/CID/Consumer-Affairs/File-a-Complaint-or-Ask-a-Question