Sec. 8. (a) Coverage for damage due to mine subsidence must be available as an additional form of coverage under any insurance policy providing the type of insurance described in Class 3(a) of IC 27-1-5-1 to directly cover one (1) or more structures located in a county identified under section 6 of this chapter. The mine subsidence coverage must be available in an amount adequate to indemnify the insured to the extent of:

(1) the loss in actual cash value of the covered structure due to mine subsidence, less a deductible that:

(A) must be equal to two percent (2%) of the insured value of the structure under the policy; but

(B) must be:

(i) no less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250); and

(ii) no more than five hundred dollars ($500); and

(2) up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for additional living expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by an insured who is temporarily displaced as a direct result of damage caused by mine subsidence to the covered structure in which the insured resides, if no other type of coverage provided by the policy of the insured indemnifies the insured for these living expenses.

An insured who elects to purchase coverage under subdivision (1) may waive coverage under subdivision (2) at the election of the insured.

(b) An insurer proposing to issue a policy providing the type of insurance described in Class 3(a) of IC 27-1-5-1 to cover one (1) or more structures located in a county identified under section 6 of this chapter shall inform the prospective policyholder of the availability of mine subsidence coverage under this section. An insurer shall inform the prospective policyholder of the availability of mine subsidence coverage under this subsection when a policy described in this subsection is issued.

(c) When an insurer informs a prospective policyholder of the amount of the premium for the mine subsidence coverage that is available as an additional form of coverage under a policy as required by subsection (a), the premium for the mine subsidence coverage must be stated separately from the premium for the other coverage provided by the policy. The amount of the premium for mine subsidence coverage provided by an insurer under this section must be set according to the premium level set by the commissioner under section 10 of this chapter.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (f), an insurance policy providing the type of insurance described in Class 3(a) of IC 27-1-5-1 to directly cover one (1) or more structures located in a county identified under section 6 of this chapter must include the mine subsidence coverage provided for under subsection (a) if the prospective insured (before issuance of the policy) or the insured (before renewal of the policy) indicates that the coverage is to be included in the policy.

(e) An insurer is not required to provide mine subsidence coverage under subsection (a) under any insurance policy in an amount exceeding the amount that is reimbursable from the fund under section 9(a)(4) of this chapter.

(f) An insurer must decline to make the mine subsidence coverage provided for under subsection (a) available to cover a structure evidencing unrepaired mine subsidence damage, until necessary repairs are made. An insurer may also decline to make the mine subsidence coverage available under an insurance policy if the insurer has:

(1) declined to issue the policy;

(2) declined to renew the policy; or

(3) canceled all coverage under the policy for underwriting reasons unrelated to mine subsidence.

As added by P.L.164-1986, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.29-1987, SEC.2; P.L.150-1990, SEC.1; P.L.124-1992, SEC.4; P.L.1-1993, SEC.206; P.L.116-1994, SEC.57; P.L.91-1998, SEC.9; P.L.132-2001, SEC.3; P.L.182-2001, SEC.3; P.L.101-2016, SEC.4.