Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 482-1-106 — Managing General Agents

482 Alabama Department of Insurance

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.01 Authority

This chapter is promulgated by the Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to Section 27-2-17, Code of Ala. 1975, and Section 20 of Act No. 93-675 (Senate Bill 14, 1993 Regular Legislative Session).

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.02 Purpose

This chapter provides the procedures to be followed in the implementation and administration of the Alabama Managing General Agents Act, found at Sections 27-6A-2 through 27-6A-8, Code of Ala. 1975, regarding who must file, when to file, what must be certified and filed annually, what to do in case of termination, and the applicable forms and fees.

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.03 Who Must File

An insurer must file the documents required under Rule 482-1-106-.04 for appointment of a managing general agent (MGA), if the insurer is either of the following:

(a) A foreign insurer holding a certificate of authority to transact insurance business in this state and has any person, firm, association or corporation who does either of the following:

1. Produces, directly or indirectly, and underwrites an amount of gross premium equal to or more than five percent (5%) of the policyholder surplus as reported in any one (1) quarter or year together with one (1) or both of the following:

(i) Adjusts or pays claims in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per claim.

(ii) Negotiates reinsurance on behalf of the insurer.

2. With respect to any risk located in this state, produces, directly or indirectly, and underwrites, and either or both of the following:

(i) Adjusts or pays claims in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per claim or five percent (5%) of the insurer's policyholder surplus in the aggregate per year.

(ii) Negotiates reinsurance on behalf of the insurer.

(b) Domiciled in this state and has any person, firm, association or corporation who produces, directly or indirectly, and underwrites an amount of gross premium equal to more than five percent (5%) of the policyholder surplus as reported in any one (1) quarter or year together with one (1) or both of the following:

1. Adjusts or pays claims.

2. Negotiates reinsurance on behalf of the insurer.

(2) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this rule, no insurer need file for appointment as an MGA any of the following persons:

(a) An employee of the insurer.

(b) A manager of the United States branch of an alien insurer.

(c) An underwriting manager which, pursuant to contract, manages all the insurance operations of the insurer, is under common control with the insurer and has its transactions with the insurer subject to the provisions of Chapter 29 of the Alabama Insurance Code, known as the Alabama Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act.

(d) The authorized attorney-in-fact acting on behalf of subscribers of a reciprocal or inter-insurance exchange.

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.04 Filings Required Within 30 Days Of Appointment Of An MGA

(1) Any insurer who is required under Rule 482-1-106-.03 to file for appointment of a managing general agent (MGA) must complete and file all of the following within thirty (30) days of that appointment:

(a) The appointment Form AL-MGA-1. This form must list all information requested, including, but not limited to, the name and Alabama insurance producer license number of the MGA. Attached to Form AL-MGA-1 shall be both of the following exhibits, unless the insurer has obtained an express waiver from the Commissioner:

1. A copy of a fidelity bond for the protection of the insurer in the minimum amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) with no deductible.

2. A copy of the MGA's errors and omissions liability policy with coverage limits in the minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or 25% of the gross amount of direct written premium received by an insurer for the previous calendar year that is attributable to the MGA, whichever is greater.

(b) A duplicate copy of the executed contract between the MGA and the insurer. Form AL-MGA-2 is the form which must be used by all insurers domiciled in this state as the contract. An insurer not domiciled in this state must also use Form AL-MGA-2, unless the insurer is domiciled in a state having a law substantially similar to the Alabama Managing General Agents Act and the insurer files a contract which complies with the provisions of the MGA Act.

(c) A nonresident MGA must appoint the Alabama Commissioner of Insurance as the MGA's agent for service of process, which is included on the Form AL-MGA-1.

(d) If the MGA is a business entity, it shall also file a certificate of existence, if a domestic business entity, or a certificate of authority, if a foreign business entity [either of which can be obtained from the Alabama Secretary of State], at the time of filing the original application.

(e) If the insurer did business with the MGA in the previous year, it shall also file a copy of the annual independent financial examination of the MGA as required in Section 27-6A-5(1) and described further in Rule 482-1-106-.05.

(2) The fidelity bond or commercial crime policy and errors and omissions liability policy referred to in Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (1) above shall have been issued by an insurer authorized in this state and otherwise acceptable to the Commissioner, and shall not be written by the insurer or an affiliate of the insurer contracting with the MGA. The errors and omissions policy coverage limits [set at $1,000,000 or 25% of the gross amount of direct written premium received by the insurer for the previous calendar year that is attributable to the MGA, whichever is greater] and the fidelity bond or commercial crime policy coverage limits [set at the greater of $100,000 or 25% of the premium written by the MGA on behalf of the appointing insurer in Alabama for the previous calendar year, whichever is greater] shall be adjusted accordingly on or before April 1st of each year.

(3) The contract referred to in Subparagraph (b) of Paragraph (1) above shall contain all of the statutorily required provisions, including a requirement that the MGA provide the insurer with a copy of any claim file at its request or as soon as it becomes known to the MGA that the claim has the potential to exceed $10,000 or exceeds the amount set by the insurer, whichever is less, or that the claim is closed by payment of an amount in excess of $10,000 or an amount set by the insurer, whichever is less.

History

• Author: Commissioner of Insurance
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. Amended: October 9, 2013; effective October 199, 2013. Filed with LRS October 9, 2013. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.05 What Must Be Certified And Filed Annually

(1) Each insurer which has appointed a managing general agent (MGA) shall annually file, for each appointed managing general agent, each of the following, as applicable:

(a) A completed certification on Form AL-MGA-4, whereby the insurer will certify the existence or performance of the continued obligations imposed by Section 27-6A-5, Code of Ala. 1975.

(b) A copy of the report issued at the conclusion of the annual independent financial examination of the MGA as of the end of the prior fiscal or calendar year. The independent financial examination shall be an audit by a certified public accountant, as required by Section 27-6A-5(1), Code of Ala. 1975, and should be filed even if the MGA appointment is terminated prior to year-end or is allowed to expire at year-end.

(c) If the MGA establishes loss reserves, a copy of the most recent annual opinion of an actuary attesting to the adequacy of loss reserves established for losses incurred and outstanding on business produced by the MGA, as required by Section 27-6A-5(2), Code of Ala. 1975.

(2)(a) Each year, on or about October 1, the Department will send to every insurer with an appointed Managing General Agent (MGA) a copy of the MGA Certification Form (Form AL-MGA-4), along with the instructions for renewing the MGA appointment for the next year.

(b) It is the insurer's responsibility to correctly complete and file this annual certification prior to December 31. Any incomplete or incorrect Certification Form (Form AL-MGA-4) will not be considered filed until in compliance with all instructions.

(c) Any MGA appointment not renewed as required above shall be deemed to have expired at midnight on December 31.

(3) If the independent financial examination report submitted reflects the MGA has a negative shareholder’s equity, the insurer must also submit a statement acknowledging this along with a copy of the insurer’s supervision plan for the MGA.

History

• Author: Commissioner of Insurance
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. Amended: October 9, 2013; effective October 199, 2013. Filed with LRS October 9, 2013. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.06 Termination Of Appointment

Within thirty (30) days after the termination of appointment of a managing general agent (MGA), an insurer shall complete and file Form MGA-3.

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.07 Forms And Fees

(1) Forms. The forms referred to in this chapter (AL-MGA-1, AL-MGA-2, AL-MGA-3 and AL-MGA-4) are attached hereto as Exhibits 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, may be freely copied or may be obtained from the Department of Insurance, Producer Licensing Division.

(2) Fees. Documents filed pursuant to this chapter shall be accompanied by the fees set forth in Section 27-4-2, Code of Ala. 1975, as follows:

(a) These fees will be charged for the filing of the appointment form (AL-MGA-1): $155.00, representing an application fee of $30.00 and a license (appointment) fee of $125. An application will be returned without processing if not accompanied by the fees as indicated above.

(b) These fees will be charged for the filing of the certification form (AL-MGA-4): $75.00, representing the annual continuation of license (appointment) fee of $75.00. The certification will be returned without processing if not accompanied by the fees as indicated above, which may result in the cancellation of the license.

(c) No fee is charged for the filing of the termination form (AL-MGA-3).

(d) All checks and money orders should be made payable to "Commissioner of Insurance, State of Alabama."

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.08 Retaliatory Provisions

Pursuant to Section 27-3-29, Code of Ala. 1975, if an applicant's state of domicile imposes any taxes, licenses or other fees, in the aggregate, or deposit requirements or other material obligations, prohibitions or restrictions in excess of the licenses or other fees, in the aggregate, or other material obligations set forth in this state, the same taxes, licenses or other fees, deposit requirements and other material obligations, prohibitions and restrictions shall be imposed on the applicant.

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-.09 Effective Date

This chapter shall become effective upon its approval by the Commissioner of Insurance, and upon its having been on file as a public document in the office of the Secretary of State for ten days.

History

• Author: Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §27-2-17 & §20, Act 93-675.
• New Rule: August 1, 1994; effective August 11, 1994. Amended: August 19, 2002; effective August 29, 2002. Filed with LRS August 19, 2002. Rule is not subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-106-A Appendix A Forms

Appendix A

Forms

Form AL-MGA-1 Application for Managing General Agent (MGA) Appointment

Form AL-MGA-2 Managing General Agents Contract

Form AL-MGA-3 Managing General Agent (MGA) Termination

Form AL-MGA-4 Managing General Agent (MGA) Certification