1. As used in this section unless otherwise indicated, “insurer” includes:

(a) All corporations, associations, partnerships and natural persons engaged as principals in the business of insurance, including a fraternal benefit society, a nonprofit corporation offering dental, hospital and medical services, a health maintenance organization, a prepaid limited health service organization, an organization for dental care, a dental plan, an optometric plan or a similar health service plan; and

(b) Interinsurance exchanges and mutual benefit societies.

2. It is unlawful for any insurer to transact an insurance business in this State as set forth in subsection 3, without a certificate of authority from the Commissioner. This section does not apply to:

(a) Any transaction for which a certificate of authority is not required pursuant to NRS 680A.070.

(b) Attorneys at law acting in the ordinary relation of attorney and client in the adjustment of claims or losses.

(c) Transactions in this State involving any policy of insurance or annuity contract issued before January 1, 1972.

(d) Transactions in this State relative to a policy issued or to be issued outside this State involving insurance on vessels, craft or hulls, cargoes, marine builder’s risk, marine protection and indemnity or other risk, including strikes and war risks commonly insured under ocean or wet marine forms of policy.

3. Any of the following acts in this State effected by mail or otherwise by or on behalf of an unauthorized insurer constitutes the transaction of an insurance business in this State:

(a) The making of or proposing to make, as an insurer, an insurance contract.

(b) The making of or proposing to make, as guarantor or surety, any contract of guaranty or suretyship as a vocation and not merely incidental to any other legitimate business or activity of the guarantor or surety.

(c) The taking or receiving of any application for insurance.

(d) The receiving or collection of any premium, commission, membership fees, assessments, dues or other consideration for any insurance or any part thereof.

(e) The issuance or delivery of contracts of insurance to residents of this State or to persons authorized to do business in this State.

(f) Directly or indirectly acting as an agent for or otherwise representing or aiding on behalf of another any person or insurer in the solicitation, negotiation, procurement or effectuation of insurance or renewals thereof or in the dissemination of information as to coverage or rates, or forwarding of applications, or delivery of policies or contracts, or inspection of risks, a fixing of rates or investigation or adjustment of claims or losses or in the transaction of matters after effectuation of the contract and arising out of it, or in any other manner representing or assisting a person or insurer in the transaction of insurance with respect to subjects of insurance that are resident, located or to be performed in this State. The provisions of this paragraph do not prohibit full-time salaried employees of a corporate insured from acting in the capacity of an insurance manager or buyer in placing insurance on behalf of such an employer.

(g) The transaction of any kind of insurance business specifically recognized as transacting an insurance business within the meaning of the statutes relating to insurance.

(h) The transacting or proposing to transact any insurance business in substance equivalent to any of the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (g), inclusive, in a manner designed to evade the provisions of the statutes.

4. The venue of an act committed by mail is at the point where the matter transmitted by mail is delivered and takes effect.

5. The failure of an insurer transacting insurance business in this State to obtain a certificate of authority does not impair the validity of any act or contract of the insurer and does not prevent the insurer from defending any action at law or suit in equity in any court of this State, except that no insurer transacting insurance business in this State without a certificate of authority may maintain an action in any court of this State to enforce any right, claim or demand arising out of the transaction of such business until the insurer has obtained a certificate of authority. In the event of a failure by an unauthorized insurer to pay any claim or loss within the provisions of an insurance contract, any person who assisted or in any manner aided directly or indirectly in the procurement of the insurance contract is liable to the insured for the full amount of the claim or loss in the manner provided by the provisions of the insurance contract.

(Added to NRS by 1971, 1681; A 1971, 1940; 1987, 485; 1991, 2032; 1993, 2391)