WAC 284-30-360   Standards for the insurer to acknowledge pertinent communications.  (1) Within ten working days after receiving notification of a claim under an individual insurance policy, or within fifteen working days with respect to claims arising under group insurance contracts, the insurer must acknowledge its receipt of the notice of claim.

     (a) If payment is made within that period of time, acknowledgement by payment constitutes a satisfactory response.

     (b) If an acknowledgement is made by means other than writing, an appropriate notation of the acknowledgement must be made in the claim file of the insurer describing how, when, and to whom the notice was made.

     (c) Notification given to an agent of the insurer is notification to the insurer.

     (2) Upon receipt of any inquiry from the commissioner concerning a complaint, every insurer must furnish the commissioner with an adequate response to the inquiry within fifteen working days after receipt of the commissioner's inquiry.

     (3) For all other pertinent communications from a claimant reasonably suggesting that a response is expected, an appropriate reply must be provided within ten working days for individual insurance policies, or fifteen working days with respect to communications arising under group insurance contracts.

     (4) Upon receiving notification of a claim, every insurer must promptly provide necessary claim forms, instructions, and reasonable assistance so that first party claimants can comply with the policy conditions and the insurer's reasonable requirements. Compliance with this paragraph within the time limits specified in subsection (1) of this section constitutes compliance with that subsection.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.30.010. 09-11-129 (Matter No. R 2007-08), § 284-30-360, filed 5/20/09, effective 8/21/09; 78-08-082 (Order R 78-3), § 284-30-360, filed 7/27/78, effective 9/1/78.]