OIR Submits “Freedom to Travel” Report
by: Travis Miller
The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issued its report regarding travel insurance policies and practices on March 3, 2008. The “Freedom to Travel Act” which passed in 2006 requires the Office to submit an annual report to the legislature. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty submitted the 2008 Freedom to Travel Report to legislative leaders describing OIR’s efforts to implement the act which was codified into law at Section 626.9541(1)(dd), Florida Statutes. The legislation placed strict limitations on insurance companies’ ability to deny or increase premiums for life insurance based on foreign travel.
The report to the President of the Florida Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the Office’s second report. Since the 2007 Freedom to Travel Report to the legislature, the Office has fined seven companies a total of $108,000 for noncompliance with this statute.