Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: In 2005, the legislature enacted HB 1034 authorizing the commissioner to place an insurer under administrative supervision under specified circumstances. These new rules establish the process for the administrative supervision of an insurer or carrier, requirements for the plan of correction an insurer or carrier must prepare and follow when it is subject to an administrative supervision order, and procedures for the administrative supervisor authorized under the commissioner's order.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 48.02.060, 48.31.435.

     Other Authority: RCW 48.31.400, 48.31.900.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-17-123 on August 19, 2009.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Kacy Scott, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, phone (360) 725-7041, fax (360) 586-3109, e-mail KacyS@oic.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 6, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: November 9, 2009.

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner

OTS-2589.2

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION OF INSURERS
NEW SECTION
WAC 284-16-600   Purpose.   The purpose of this regulation, WAC 284-16-600 through 284-16-650, is to establish standards and procedures for the administrative supervision of insurers exceeding their powers or engaging in methods or practices that render the continuance of their business financially hazardous to their policyholders, creditors or the general public.

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     (1) The term "exceeded its powers" has the meaning set forth at RCW 48.31.020 (2)(a).

     (2) The term "financially hazardous" means the standards set forth at WAC 284-16-310.

     (3) "Insurer" has the meaning set forth at RCW 48.31.020(1) and 48.31.021.

     (4) "Plan of correction" is an insurer's written plan to address or correct the commissioner's requirements to abate the findings and determination in the commissioner's order for administrative supervision.

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     (a) The insurer is in a condition which makes its continued operation financially hazardous to its policyholders, creditors or the general public; or

     (b) The insurer has exceeded its powers.

     (2) In making a determination in subsection (1) of this section, the commissioner will consider:

     (a) The conditions in RCW 48.31.020 (2)(a) to determine whether an insurer has exceeded its powers; or

     (b) The findings in RCW 48.31.400(1), standards in WAC 284-16-310, and authorized actions in WAC 284-16-320(1) to determine whether an insurer is in financially hazardous condition.

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     (2) The contents of a plan of correction must address the specific facts and circumstances that led to the order. The plan of correction must include all of the following elements necessary to fully address the list of requirements contained in the administrative supervision order:

     (a) An executive summary identifying the objective goals of the plan with key implementation dates and a projected date for full statutory compliance;

     (b) A background description of the insurer describing its history, ownership structure, relationships with affiliates, management structure, key employees, and overall operating structure of its organization;

     (c) The financial condition of the insurer summarizing its major categories of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and debt and capital structure based on actual annual results for the previous two calendar years and monthly financial forecasts and assumptions for the next three year period to include any specific business plans by function from the date of the commissioner's order;

     (d) The causes of the financially hazardous condition or exceeding its powers situation giving rise to supervision proceedings;

     (e) The proposed corrective actions specifically identifying operational changes, contractual changes, management changes, and internal control structure changes;

     (f) A proposal for monitoring and reporting systems to provide periodic reviews of progress and comparisons of actual results with the plan of correction objectives;

     (g) An agreement that the insurer will provide a copy of any notice, request, or other communication from any other regulatory authority that is received by the insurer under administrative supervision to the administrative supervisor or designee within five business days after receipt by the insurer; and

     (h) Any other element necessary to fully address a requirement contained in the administrative supervision order.

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     (2) If the commissioner and the insurer agree on the plan of correction, the commissioner will issue a written order to carry out the plan of correction. The insurer must not implement its plan of correction prior to receiving written approval by the commissioner.

     (3) If the insurer fails to timely submit or the commissioner and the insurer are unable to agree to a plan of correction, the commissioner may enter an order requiring the insurer to take such corrective actions as may be reasonably necessary to remove the causes and conditions giving rise to the need for administrative supervision.

     (4) Failure of the insurer to timely submit a plan of correction is a violation of the applicable provisions of Title 48 RCW.

     (5) A copy of the commissioner's order approving the plan of correction or the order requiring the insurer to take corrective actions will be provided to the insurer and to the administrative supervisor.

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     (2) The administrative supervisor will establish appropriate disbursement limits consistent with good internal control principles to facilitate prompt payment of claims and payables.

     (3) Unless the processing of claims is an issue identified in the list of requirements referenced in RCW 48.31.400 (2)(b), the administrative supervisor will allow claims to be processed in the ordinary course of business.

     (4) The administrative supervisor will promptly acknowledge every insurer's request for approval of actions identified in the administrative supervision order or plan of correction that requires approval. To the extent feasible, the administrative supervisor will act on an insurer's requests within five business days after receipt.

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