2019 Montana Code Annotated
Title 33. Insurance and Insurance Companies
Chapter 15. The Insurance Contract
Part 11. Property or Casualty Insurance -- Premium Changes, Cancellation, and Claim Information
33-15-1101. Purpose -- applicability

33-15-1101. Purpose -- applicability. (1) The purpose of this part is to protect the public with regard to insurance transactions that involve cancellation, renewal, nonrenewal, or premium increases on contracts of property or casualty insurance by:

(a) regulating the grounds for midterm cancellation of an insurance policy;

(b) except as provided in 33-15-1108, prohibiting midterm increases in premiums;

(c) increasing the opportunity for insureds to shop for replacement or substitute insurance;

(d) reducing the opportunity for breach of contract, misrepresentation by omission or untimely disclosure, and unfair discrimination among insureds; and

(e) increasing the opportunity for insurance producers to compete freely.

(2) This part applies to those forms of insurance defined in 33-1-206 and 33-1-210, except to the extent they conflict with chapter 23 of this title.

(3) This part does not limit the activities that may constitute undefined unfair trade practices prohibited by 33-18-1003. The commissioner may apply other provisions of this code to insurance transactions involving cancellation, renewal, nonrenewal, or premium increases on contracts of property or casualty insurance. Policies may provide terms more favorable to insureds than are required by this part. The rights provided by this part are in addition to and do not prejudice any other rights that the insured may have under common law, statutes, or rules.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 120, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 713, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 501, L. 2003.