(1) Legal expense insurance may be written as individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance. Each contractual obligation for legal expense insurance shall be evidenced by a policy. Each person insured under a group policy shall be issued a certificate of coverage.

(2) No policy or certificate of legal expense insurance may be issued in this state unless a copy of the form has been filed with and approved by the office pursuant to s. 627.410.

(3) The office shall not approve any policy or certificate form which does not meet the following requirements:

(a) Policies shall contain a list and description of the legal services to be supplied or the legal matters for which expenses are to be reimbursed and any limits on the amounts to be reimbursed.

(b) Policies and certificates shall indicate the name of the insurer and the full address of its principal place of business.

(c) Certificates issued under group policies shall contain a full statement of the benefits provided and exceptions thereto but may summarize the other terms of the master policy.

(d) Policies providing for legal services to be supplied by a limited number of attorneys who have executed provider contracts with the insurer, whether the attorney in an individual case is to be selected by the insured or by the insurer, shall provide for alternative benefits if the insured is unable to find a participating attorney willing to perform the services or the attorney selected by the insurer is disqualified or otherwise unable to perform the services. The alternative benefit may consist of furnishing the services of an attorney selected and paid by the insurer or paying the fee of an attorney selected by the insured. The policy shall also provide a procedure that includes impartial review for settling disagreements concerning the grounds for demanding an alternative benefit.

(e) No policy, except one issued by a mutual or reciprocal insurance company, may provide for assessments on policyholders or for reduction of benefits for the purpose of maintaining the insurer’s solvency.

(f) Policies shall contain a statement that the subscriber has a right to file a complaint with The Florida Bar concerning attorney conduct pursuant to the plan.

(g) Policies shall contain a statement that the individual beneficiary has the right to retain, at his or her own expense, except when the policy provides otherwise, any attorney authorized to practice law in this state.

(4) The office may disapprove a policy or certificate form if it finds that the form:

(a) Is unfair, unfairly discriminatory, misleading, or ambiguous or encourages misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the contract;

(b) Provides coverage or benefits or contains other provisions that would endanger the solvency of the insurer; or

(c) Is contrary to law.

History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 495, ch. 97-102; s. 1639, ch. 2003-261.