(a) The commissioner shall, after notice and hearing, withdraw approval of an individual or mass-marketed policy of disability insurance if after consideration of all relevant factors the commissioner finds that the benefits provided under the policy are unreasonable in relation to the premium charged. The commissioner shall, from time to time as conditions warrant, after notice and hearing, promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations, and amendments and additions thereto, as are necessary to establish the standard or standards by which the commissioner shall withdraw approval of any such policy. Any such rule or regulation shall be promulgated in accordance with the procedure provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and shall be effective 90 days after adoption by the commissioner.

(b) Unless the commissioner specifies otherwise in writing in the withdrawals, or subsequent thereto, grants an extension, any such withdrawal shall be effective prospectively and not retroactively on the 91st day following the mailing or delivery of the withdrawal.

(c) As used in this section:

(1) “Mass-marketed policy” means any group or blanket disability insurance policy which is offered by means of direct response solicitation through a sponsoring organization, or through the mails or other mass communications media and under which a person insured pays all or substantially all of the cost of his or her insurance.

(2) “Direct response solicitation” means any offer by an insurer to persons in this state, either directly or through a third party, to effect health insurance coverage which enables the individual to apply or enroll for the insurance on the basis of the offer. It shall not include solicitation for insurance through an employer benefit plan which is defined in Public Law 93-406, nor shall it include such a solicitation through the individual’s creditor with respect to credit health insurance.

(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 106, Sec. 98.)