Property, casualty, and liability insurance; premium increase by insurer without or with material change in circumstances of insured; notice of premium increase

A. (1) No insurer shall be entitled to an additional premium for a commercial property, casualty, or liability insurance policy which has been in effect for more than ninety days or for a noncommercial property, casualty, or liability insurance policy which has been in effect for more than sixty days when there has been no material change in the circumstances of the insured from those stated by the insured in his application for the policy. For an insurance company to be entitled to any additional premium, the insured must receive a billing notice and either an explanation of any premium increase or a statement that asks the insured to contact either the insurance company or its producer if the insured has any questions about the billing notice or the premium increase, within the first sixty days of the effective date of the policy. If the company or agent fails to bill the insured within the first sixty days of the effective date of the policy, the insured shall not be responsible for payment of such additional premium, shall not be penalized for nonpayment of that additional premium, and his policy shall not be cancelled for failure to pay such additional premium. (2) A notice of an additional premium for a commercial property, casualty, or liability insurance policy which has been in effect for less than ninety days or for a noncommercial property, casualty, or liability insurance policy which has been in effect for less than sixty days when there has been a material change in the circumstances of the insured from those stated by the insured in his application for the policy shall be mailed or delivered to the insured at least thirty days prior to the date that the additional premium is due. B. In this Section, "material change" shall mean any change in any matter which, if stated on the application, would have resulted in a different initial premium for the policy. C. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent an insurer from making rate changes at subsequent renewal dates of the policy. D. This Section does not apply to audit type policies where the actual premium is to be determined at a later date. E. This Section does not apply to property subject to ratings by the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana. Acts 1988, No. 359, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 658, §1; Acts 1991, No. 769, §1; Acts 1993, No. 196, §1; Acts 2006, No. 784, §1, eff. June 30, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 787, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 22:1464 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 703, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011. NOTE: Former R.S. 22:1484 redesignated as R.S. 22:1504 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.