Cook, Kane, Lake, and McHenry
Insurance consumers may experience disruption of mail delivery and displacement from their residences, businesses, and other properties due to the flooding. In order to serve our policyholders and to comply with a request by the Illinois Department of Insurance available here, Starr Indemnity & Liability Company and Starr Surplus Lines Insurance Company (together, “Starr Insurers”), have implemented the safeguards listed below for all lines of business. These safeguards address problems consumers may face due to circumstances beyond their control. We hope these measures provide some peace of mind during the recovery process and help ensure that disaster victims do not lose important insurance coverage during the time they need it most.
Moratorium on cancellations and nonrenewals
Starr Insurers will withdraw any cancellation or nonrenewal notice issued on or after July 12, 2017, on any in-force policy issued to a consumer affected by this disaster (“affected policyholders”), residing in, owning or insuring any property located in or around counties that have been declared disaster areas by Governor Bruce Rauner (“affected property”).
In addition, Starr Insurers will not issue any new cancellation or nonrenewal notices to affected policyholders or for affected property until the moratorium expires on September 30, 2017, or a later time if deemed reasonable given an individual policyholder’s circumstances.
Other insurance-related time-period extensions
Starr Insurers will grant to affected policyholders extensions of any and all policy provisions or other requirements that impose a time limit for an insured or claimant to perform any act, including the submission of a claim or proof of loss, reporting of information, submission of bills, or payment of funds. Such extension will be for 60 days from the last date allowed or required by Starr Insurers or under the terms of the insurance policy, or longer if deemed reasonable given an individual policyholder’s circumstances.
Time-period extension for repairs
In the event repairs on affected property cannot be completed within the time period required under any policy, or within the 90-day time period for repairs prior to termination due to condition of the property [215 ILCS 5/143.27], Starr Insurers will provide consumers with an extension of 60 days to make such repairs.
Cancellation or nonrenewal respecting affected property
Although otherwise allowed under Illinois law, Starr Insurers will refrain from canceling or nonrenewing insurance policies respecting affected property due to “increase in the risk originally accepted” [215 ILCS 5/143.21 and 143.21.1] or due to the geographic location of the risk [215 ILCS 5/155.22].
Other exceptions to policy or contract requirements or rating or underwriting rules
Starr Insurers will consider exceptions to policy or contract requirements, or to other rating or underwriting rules not otherwise listed herein, when such contractual requirements or rating or underwriting rules are not met as a result of this disaster.
Availability of the Illinois Department of Insurance
The Illinois Department of Insurance is available to affected policyholders for filing a complaint regarding any disaster-related dispute or issue. Affected policyholders may call the Illinois Department of Insurance’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-445-5364, or file a complaint online at: https://mc.insurance.illinois.gov/messagecenter.nsf
