ORS 746.015
Discrimination

  • noncompliance
  • hearing

(1)

No person shall make or permit any unfair discrimination between individuals of the same class and equal expectation of life, or between risks of essentially the same degree of hazard, in the availability of insurance, in the application of rates for insurance, in the dividends or other benefits payable under insurance policies, or in any other terms or conditions of insurance policies.

(2)

Discrimination by an insurer in the application of its underwriting standards or rates based solely on an individual’s physical disability is prohibited, unless such action is based on sound actuarial principles or is related to actual or reasonably anticipated experience. For purposes of this subsection, “physical disability” shall include, but not be limited to, blindness, deafness, hearing or speaking impairment or loss, or partial loss, of function of one or more of the upper or lower extremities.

(3)

Discrimination by an insurer in the application of its underwriting standards or rates based solely upon an insured’s or applicant’s attaining or exceeding 65 years of age is prohibited, unless such discrimination is clearly based on sound actuarial principles or is related to actual or reasonably anticipated experience.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

An insurer may not, on the basis of the status of an insured or prospective insured as a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence, do any of the following:

(A)

Deny, cancel or refuse to issue or renew an insurance policy;

(B)

Demand or require a greater premium or payment;

(C)

Designate domestic violence or sexual violence, physical or mental injuries sustained as a result of domestic violence or sexual violence or treatment received for such injuries as a condition for which coverage will be denied or reduced;

(D)

Exclude or limit coverage for losses or deny a claim; or

(E)

Fix any lower rate for or discriminate in the fees or commissions of an insurance producer for writing or renewing a policy.

(b)

The fact that an insured or prospective insured is or has been a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence shall not be considered a permitted underwriting or rating criterion.

(c)

Nothing in this subsection prohibits an insurer from taking an action described in paragraph (a) of this subsection if the action is otherwise permissible by law and is taken in the same manner and to the same extent with respect to all insureds and prospective insureds without regard to whether the insured or prospective insured is a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence.

(d)

An insurer that complies in good faith with the requirements of this subsection shall not be subject to civil liability due to such compliance.

(e)

For purposes of this subsection, “domestic violence” means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members:

(A)

Attempting to cause or intentionally or knowingly causing physical injury;

(B)

Intentionally or knowingly placing another in fear of imminent serious physical injury; or

(C)

Committing sexual abuse in any degree as defined in ORS 163.415 (Sexual abuse in the third degree), 163.425 (Sexual abuse in the second degree) and 163.427 (Sexual abuse in the first degree).

(f)

For purposes of this subsection, “sexual violence” means the commission of a sexual offense described in ORS 163.305 (Definitions) to 163.467 (Private indecency), 163.427 (Sexual abuse in the first degree) or 163.525 (Incest).

(5)

If the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services has reason to believe that an insurer in the application of its underwriting standards or rates is not complying with the requirements of this section, the director shall, unless the director has reason to believe the noncompliance is willful, give notice in writing to the insurer stating in what manner such noncompliance is alleged to exist and specifying a reasonable time, not less than 10 days after the date of mailing, in which the noncompliance may be corrected.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

If the director has reason to believe that noncompliance by an insurer with the requirements of this section is willful, or if, within the period prescribed by the director in the notice required by subsection (5) of this section, the insurer does not make the changes necessary to correct the noncompliance specified by the director or establish to the satisfaction of the director that such specified noncompliance does not exist, the director may hold a hearing in connection therewith. Not less than 10 days before the date of such hearing the director shall mail to the insurer written notice of the hearing, specifying the matters to be considered.

(b)

If, after the hearing, the director finds that the insurer’s application of its underwriting standards or rates violates the requirements of this section, the director may issue an order specifying in what respects such violation exists and stating when, within a reasonable period of time, further such application shall be prohibited. If the director finds that the violation was willful, the director may suspend or revoke the certificate of authority of the insurer.

(7)

Affiliated workers’ compensation insurers having reinsurance agreements which result in one carrier ceding 80 percent or more of its workers’ compensation premium to the other, while utilizing different workers’ compensation rate levels without objective evidence to support such differences, shall be presumed to be engaging in unfair discrimination. [1967 c.359 §568; 1977 c.331 §1; 1979 c.140 §1; 1987 c.676 §2; 1987 c.884 §53; 1997 c.564 §1; 1999 c.59 §229; 2003 c.364 §134; 2007 c.70 §319; 2010 c.67 §1; 2013 c.681 §35]

Source: Section 746.015 — Discrimination; noncompliance; hearing, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors746.­html.

Attorney General Opinions

Restricting availability of medical malpractice coverage to members of Oregon Medical Association, (1978) Vol 38, p 1977; Passing increased health insurance premiums resulting from pregnancy coverage on to women employes, (1978) Vol 39, p 328

746.005
Trade practices exempted from prohibitions
746.015
Discrimination
746.018
Discrimination in issuance of burglary, theft, robbery or casualty policies prohibited
746.021
Discrimination under health benefit plans
746.023
Discrimination against living donors or body part donors with respect to life insurance, health insurance or long term care insurance
746.025
Securities or other contracts as inducement to insurance
746.035
Inducements not specified in policy
746.045
Prohibition on rebates
746.055
Title insurance commissions, rebates and discounts
746.065
Personal or controlled insurance
746.075
Misrepresentation generally
746.085
Regulating replacement of life insurance
746.100
Misrepresentation in insurance applications or transactions
746.110
False, deceptive or misleading statements
746.115
Advertisements in languages other than English
746.120
Illegal dealing in premiums
746.125
Limitation on coverage of eye care services
746.130
Insurance connected to sale or rental of property
746.135
Genetic tests and information
746.137
Reimbursement of private emergency responder’s actual expenses in emergency response
746.140
Sale of life insurance with securities
746.145
Workers’ compensation insurance
746.147
Workers’ compensation insurance
746.150
Other insurance
746.155
Applicability of ORS 746.145 and 746.150
746.160
Practices injurious to free competition
746.195
Insurance on property securing loan or credit
746.201
Depository institution to obtain required property insurance when borrower does not
746.213
Definitions for ORS 746.213 to 746.219
746.215
Regulation of depository institutions with regard to insurance sales or solicitations
746.217
Disclosures to customers
746.219
Investigatory powers
746.220
Debtor’s option in furnishing credit life or credit health insurance
746.230
Unfair claim settlement practices
746.233
Unfair claim settlement practices with respect to prior authorizations of health care items or services
746.240
Undefined trade practices injurious to public prohibited
746.260
Driving record not to be considered in issuance of motor vehicle insurance
746.265
Purposes for which abstract of nonemployment driving record may be considered
746.270
Use of past investment or predicted future investment experience in sale of variable life insurance policies
746.275
Definitions for ORS 746.275 to 746.300
746.280
Designation of particular motor vehicle repair shop by insurer prohibited
746.285
Notice of prohibition in motor vehicle repair shops
746.287
Insurer requirement of installation of aftermarket crash part in vehicle
746.289
Insurer offer of crash part warranty
746.290
Notice of prohibition in policies and by adjusters
746.292
Motor vehicle repair shops
746.295
Proof and amount of loss under motor vehicle liability policies
746.300
Liability of insurers and motor vehicle repair shops for damages
746.305
Rules
746.308
Violation of provisions regarding totaled vehicles as violation of Insurance Code
746.310
Representing or aiding unauthorized insurer prohibited
746.320
Service of process equivalent to personal service on unauthorized foreign or alien insurer
746.330
Judgment by default after service of process under ORS 746.320
746.340
Conditions to be met by defendant unauthorized insurer before filing motions or pleadings
746.350
Attorney fee allowable to prevailing party
746.360
Exceptions to application of unauthorized insurer service of process law
746.370
Records of insureds
746.405
Definitions for ORS 746.405 to 746.530
746.422
Inquiries from director to premium finance company
746.425
Applicability of ORS 746.405 to 746.530
746.465
Records required of premium finance companies
746.470
Prohibition against interfering with premium financing recommendation
746.475
Premium finance agreements
746.485
Regulation of service charge for premium financing
746.495
Delinquency charges regulated
746.505
Cancellation of policy by premium finance company
746.515
Return of unearned premiums on cancellation
746.525
Agreement effective as security interest
746.530
Attorney fees
746.600
Definitions for ORS 746.600 to 746.690
746.605
Purpose
746.606
Information privacy standards for health insurers
746.607
Use and disclosure of personal information
746.608
Rules
746.609
Exemptions for health insurers
746.610
Application of ORS 746.600 to 746.690
746.611
Personal representative of deceased person
746.612
No right of action
746.615
Pretext interviews prohibited
746.620
Notice of insurance information practices
746.625
Marketing and research surveys
746.630
Authorization for disclosure of certain information
746.632
Genetic information used for treatment
746.635
Investigative consumer reports
746.640
Access to recorded personal information
746.645
Correction, amendment or deletion of recorded personal information
746.650
Reasons for adverse underwriting decisions
746.655
Information concerning previous adverse underwriting decisions
746.660
Basing adverse underwriting decision on previous adverse decision
746.661
Use of credit history or insurance score
746.662
Filing of insurance scoring models
746.663
Cancellation or nonrenewal of personal insurance policies based on credit history or insurance score
746.665
Limitations and conditions on disclosure of certain information
746.668
Relationship of ORS 746.620, 746.630 and 746.665 to federal Fair Credit Reporting Act
746.670
Investigatory powers
746.675
Service of process on out-of-state insurance-support organizations
746.680
Remedies
746.685
Liability for disclosure of information
746.686
Use of prior claim or inquiry in determination to issue or renew homeowner insurance policy
746.687
Cancellation of homeowner insurance policy
746.688
Use of loss history reports
746.690
Obtaining information under false pretenses prohibited
746.991
Penalties
Green check means up to date. Up to date