NAII Comments on Colorado’s PIP Disclosure Bill

According to the National Association of Independent Insurers, a Colorado bill, HB 1021, which would require auto insurers to issue more extensive and detailed disclosure statements when offering a personal injury protection managed care option is both “unnecessary and unwise” because Colorado law already requires such disclosure.

Testifying before the Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, William G. Imig, local counsel for the NAII, maintained the HB 1021 is unnecessary because if changes are needed in the disclosure regulation, the state insurance commissioner can make them and unwise because the extra disclosures required by the bill are in many respects inaccurate and unnecessary.

Imig stated that the extra disclosure requirements of HB 1021 would make an already long disclosure statement even longer. Imig also pointed out that the Colorado PIP managed care option has been immensely popular with drivers, with some insurers reporting that more than 70 percent of policyholders elect the option at savings of as much as 40 percent.

According to the NAII, current Colorado law requires that a disclosure statement be given to anyone offered the option and also authorizes the state insurance commissioner to promulgate regulations establishing what is required in the disclosure statement. Furthermore, the NAII noted that the current requirements are the result of months of meetings between chiropractors, other medical providers, plaintiffs’ attorneys, insurers and the Division of Insurance.

Topics Colorado