Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 83 - INSURANCE (§§ 83-1-1 — 83-NEW-004) › Chapter 71 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SUBJECTS OF ABUSE IN HEALTH, LIFE, AND DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE (§§ 83-71-1 — 83-71-115) › DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SUBJECTS OF ABUSE IN LIFE INSURANCE (§§ 83-71-51 — 83-71-65) › Section 83-71-57 - Unfair discriminatory acts; life insurance

(1)
It is unfairly discriminatory to:
(a)
Deny, refuse to issue, refuse to renew or reissue, cancel or otherwise terminate, restrict or exclude insurance coverage on or add a premium differential to a policy for an applicant or insured on the basis of the applicant's or insured's abuse status; or
(b)
Exclude, limit or deny benefits on a life insurance policy on the basis of an insured's abuse status except as otherwise permitted or required by the laws of this state relating to acts of abuse committed by a life insurance beneficiary.
(2)
When the insurer or insurance professional has information in its possession that clearly indicates that the insured or applicant is a subject of abuse, the disclosure or transfer of confidential abuse information by a person employed by or contracting with an insurer or insurance professional for any purpose or to any person is unfairly discriminatory, except disclosure or transfer:
(a)
To the subject of abuse or an individual specifically designated in writing by the subject of abuse;
(b)
To a health care provider for the direct provision of health care services;
(c)
To a licensed physician identified and designated by the subject of abuse;
(d)
When ordered by the commissioner or a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise required by law;
(e)
When necessary for a valid business purpose to transfer information that includes confidential abuse information that cannot reasonably be segregated without undue hardship. Confidential abuse information may be disclosed only if the recipient has executed a written agreement to be bound by the prohibitions of Sections
83-71-51
through
83-71-65
in all respects and to be subject to the enforcement of Sections
83-71-51
through
83-71-65
by the courts of this state for the benefit of the applicant or the insured, and only to the following persons:
(i)
A reinsurer that seeks to indemnify or indemnifies all or any part of a policy covering a subject of abuse and that cannot underwrite or satisfy its obligations under the reinsurance agreement without that disclosure;
(ii)
A party to a proposed or consummated sale, transfer, merger or consolidation of all or part of the business of the insurer or insurance professional;
(iii)
Medical or claims personnel contracting with the insurer or insurance professional, only where necessary to process an application or perform the insurer's or insurance professional's duties under the policy or to protect the safety or privacy of a subject of abuse (also includes parent or affiliate companies of the insurer or insurance professional that have service agreements with the insurer or insurance professional); or
(iv)
With respect to address and telephone number, to entities with whom the insurer or insurance professional transacts business when the business cannot be transacted without the address and telephone number;
(f)
To an attorney who needs the information to represent the insurer or insurance professional effectively, if the insurer or insurance professional notifies the attorney of its obligations under Sections
83-71-51
through
83-71-65
and requests that the attorney exercise due diligence to protect the confidential abuse information consistent with the attorney's obligation to represent the insurer or insurance professional;
(g)
To the policy owner or assignee, in the course of delivery of the policy, if the policy contains information about abuse status; or
(h)
To any other entities deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
(3)
It is unfairly discriminatory to request information about acts of abuse or abuse status or make use of that information, however obtained.
(4)
Subsection (2) of this section does not preclude a subject of abuse from obtaining his or her insurance records.
(5)
Subsection (1) of this section does not prohibit an insurer or insurance professional from declining to issue a life insurance policy if the applicant or prospective owner of the policy is or would be designated as a beneficiary of the policy, and if:
(a)
The applicant or prospective owner of the policy lacks an insurable interest in the insured;
(b)
The applicant or prospective owner of the policy is known, on the basis of medical, police or court records, to have committed an act of abuse against the proposed insured; or
(c)
The insured or prospective insured is a subject of abuse, and that person, or a person who has assumed the care of that person if a minor or incapacitated, has objected to the issuance of the policy on the ground that the policy would be issued to or for the direct or indirect benefit of the abuser.
(6)
Subsection (3) of this section does not prohibit an insurer or insurance professional from asking about a medical condition or from using medical information to underwrite or to carry out its duties under the policy, even if the medical information is related to a medical condition that the insurer or insurance professional knows or has reason to know is abuse-related, to the extent otherwise permitted under Sections
83-71-51
through
83-71-65
and other applicable law.
(7)
An insurer or insurance professional shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for the death of or injury to an insured resulting from any action taken in a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of Sections
83-71-51
through
83-71-65
. However, this subsection does not prevent an action to investigate or enforce a violation of Sections
83-71-51
through
83-71-65
or to assert any other claims authorized by law.
Laws, 2010, ch. 455, § 12, eff. 7/1/2010.