93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2620


 
Introduced 2/4/2004, by Ira I. Silverstein
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		














215 ILCS 5/236
  from Ch. 73, par. 848







    Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no life company may refuse to insure, refuse to continue to insure, limit the amount or extent or kind of coverage available to an
individual, or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage for reasons associated with an applicant's or insured's past lawful travel experiences.
Effective immediately.



















LRB093 20639 SAS 46482 b




















 


 


A BILL FOR









 














SB2620

LRB093 20639 SAS 46482 b









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    AN ACT concerning insurance.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended  by 
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changing Section 236 as follows:
 



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    (215 ILCS 5/236)  (from Ch. 73, par. 848)



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    Sec. 236. Discrimination prohibited. 

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    (a) No life company doing business in this State shall make 
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or permit any
distinction or discrimination in favor of 
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individuals among insured
persons of the same class and equal 
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expectation of life in the issuance
of its policies, in the 
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amount of
payment of premiums or rates charged for policies of 
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insurance, in the
amount of any dividends or other benefits 
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payable thereon, or in any
other of the terms and conditions of 
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the contracts it makes.

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    (b) No life company shall make or permit any distinction or 
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discrimination
against individuals
with handicaps or 
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disabilities in
the amount of payment
of premiums or rates 
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charged for policies of life insurance, in the amount
of any 
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dividends or death benefits payable thereon, or in any other 
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terms
and conditions of the contract it makes unless the rate 
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differential is
based on sound actuarial principles and a 
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reasonable system of classification
and is related to actual or 
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reasonably anticipated experience directly
associated with the 
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handicap or disability.

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    (c) No life company shall refuse to insure, or refuse to 
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continue to insure,
or limit the amount or extent or kind of 
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coverage available to an
individual, or charge an individual a 
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different rate for the same coverage
solely because of 
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blindness or partial blindness.  With respect to all
other 
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conditions, including the underlying cause of the blindness or

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partial blindness, persons who are blind or partially blind 
 


 









SB2620
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LRB093 20639 SAS 46482 b







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shall be
subject to the same standards of sound actuarial 
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principles or actual or
reasonably anticipated experience as 
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are sighted persons.  Refusal to
insure includes denial by an 
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insurer of disability insurance coverage on
the grounds that 
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the policy defines "disability" as being presumed in the
event 
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that the insured loses his or her eyesight.  However, an insurer 
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may
exclude from coverage disabilities consisting solely of 
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blindness or
partial blindness when such condition existed at 
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the time the policy was issued.

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    (d) No life company shall refuse to insure or to continue 
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to insure an
individual solely because of the individual's 
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status as a member of the
United States Air Force, Army, Coast 
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Guard, Marines, or Navy or solely because
of the individual's 
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status as a member
of the National Guard or Armed Forces 
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Reserve.

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    (e) No life company may refuse to insure, refuse to 
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continue to insure, limit the amount or extent or kind of 
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coverage available to an
individual, or charge an individual a 
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different rate for the same coverage for reasons associated 
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with an applicant's or insured's past lawful travel 
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experiences.

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(Source: P.A. 87-118.)

 

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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.