In Ohio, like all states, most laws are made up of statutes and administrative rules. Ohio insurance law is no exception. For starters, the Ohio legislature passes Ohio insurance statutes that affect the whole state. Along the way, the legislature created an Ohio Superintendent of Insurance, who is the head of the Ohio Department of Insurance. This administrative agency has the statutory authority to create various Ohio insurance rules. Consumers, Ohio insurance agents and Ohio insurance companies should certainly know how to find these statutes and rules on Ohio insurance. However, they should also know who to contact to get assistance if a legal issue arises related to Ohio insurance laws.
Ohio Insurance Statutes:
For starters, anyone can find insurance statutes online. The Ohio Revised Code’s Title 39 is devoted completely to insurance law. You can find a copy of the title on Ohio’s official website at Codes.ohio.gov/orc/39. You can then read the section titles and click to read the text of each section.
Reading Ohio insurance statutes can be a difficult task for laypersons. This is best left to lawyers if you have a specific problem or those interested in studying for an Ohio insurance exam, which may contain questions on statutes that comprise Ohio insurance law.
But one of the things that may be of interest to Ohio insurance consumers is Chapter 3999: Crimes Relating to Insurance. If you feel that you have been deceived or lied to by an Ohio insurance company or agent, you might be able to find something in these Ohio insurance crimes that will help you lodge a complaint against an Ohio insurance agent or company. Read below for information about how to lodge a complaint related to Ohio insurance laws.
Ohio Insurance Rules:
Administrative rules can be just as important as legislative statutes. They have the same effect as statutes because rules are promulgated under authority granted by the legislature. To find Ohio insurance rules online, go to Ohio’s official website at codes.ohio.gov/oac/3901. The Ohio insurance rules are part of the Ohio Administrative Code. This code is simply the overall set of Ohio administrative rules and regulations promulgated based on authority granted by the Ohio legislature.
By clicking on that link, you can read the Ohio administrative rules that are created by the Ohio Department of Insurance. Of particular importance to insurance agents is Chapter 3901-5 Agents, Licensing, Continuing Education. Read that section if you are interested in becoming an Ohio insurance agent and your ongoing responsibilities.
If you are an Ohio insurance consumer, you may also wish to look through the various rules to find out more about the type of Ohio insurance policy you have purchased or intend to purchase. The same goes for the Ohio insurance statutes. Long-term care insurance, life insurance and health insurance all have major portions devoted to them in the Ohio insurance rules.
Getting Help for Problems Related to Ohio Insurance Laws:
For starters, you can call Legal Services at 614-644-2640 if you have a problem related to insurance. While this office will generally not provide legal advice, they might at least answer some questions about Ohio insurance law or lead you in the right direction.
You may also wish to do an agent/agency search before buying an Ohio insurance policy. See the sources below for a link to the agency search.
If you feel you or someone you know or even the public as a whole is a victim of insurance fraud or another violation of Ohio insurance laws, you can file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Insurance. Visit Insurance.ohio.gov/Pages/ComplaintMain.aspx to learn how to file an Ohio insurance complaint.
For existing consumers of Ohio insurance or those interested in buying a policy, the Ohio Department of Insurance attempts to break down and explain Ohio insurance law and related consumer concerns through the Department of Insurance Consumer Services. Visit Insurance.ohio.gov/Consumer/Pages/ConsumerTab1.aspx and read through the publications and information in your area of concern. This will not make you an expert on Ohio insurance laws but may help you make wise decisions related to your Ohio insurance buying needs.
Sources:
Ohio Insurance Agent/Agency Search Tool
