1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 695B.182 and subject to the approval of the Commissioner, any contract which is authorized pursuant to this chapter may include a provision which requires the parties to the contract to submit for binding arbitration any dispute between the parties concerning any matter directly or indirectly related to, or associated with, the contract. If such a provision is included in the contract:

(a) A person who elects to be covered by the contract must be given the opportunity to decline to participate in binding arbitration at the time the person elects to be covered by the contract.

(b) It must clearly state that the parties to the contract who have not declined to participate in binding arbitration agree to forego their right to resolve any such dispute in a court of law or equity.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the arbitration must be conducted pursuant to the rules for commercial arbitration established by the American Arbitration Association. The insurer is responsible for any administrative fees and expenses relating to the arbitration, except that the insurer is not responsible for attorney’s fees and fees for expert witnesses unless those fees are awarded by the arbitrator.

3. If a dispute required to be submitted to binding arbitration requires an immediate resolution to protect the physical health of a person insured under the contract, any party to the dispute may waive arbitration and seek declaratory relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

4. If a provision described in subsection 1 is included in a contract, the provision shall not be deemed unenforceable as an unreasonable contract of adhesion if the provision is included in compliance with the provisions of subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 1995, 2558)