Important information for State Auto customers in Illinois

2018-05-25

Cook, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties in Illinois have been declared state disaster areas after significant flooding.  In response, the Illinois Department of Insurance has issued Company Bulletin 2017-03.  In accordance with the bulletin, effective immediately, State Auto is implementing the following guidelines to ensure that Illinois policyholders residing in these counties and affected by this disaster do not suffer unnecessary hardship:

  • Moratorium on cancellations and nonrenewals.  We will withdraw any cancellation or nonrenewal notices issued on or after July 12, 2017, on any in-force policy issued to an affected policyholder or respecting affected property in the disaster areas.  In addition, we will not issue any new cancellation or nonrenewal notices to affected policyholders or for affected property in the disaster areas until September 30, 2017, or a later time if deemed reasonable given an individual policyholder's circumstance.
  • Other insurance-related time-period extensions. We will grant to affected policyholders an extension of any and all policy provisions or other requirements that impose a time limit for an insured or claimant to perform any act, including the submission of a claim or proof of loss, reporting of information, submission of bills, or payment of funds. Such extension shall be for a minimum of 60 days from the last date allowed or required under the terms of the contract, or longer if deemed reasonable given an individual policyholder's circumstance.
  • Time-period extension for repairs. In the event repairs on affected property cannot be completed within the time period required under any policy, or within the 90-day time period for repairs prior to termination due to the condition of the property, we will provide consumers with an extension of not less than 60 days to make such repairs.
  • Cancellation or nonrenewal respecting affected property. Although otherwise allowed under Illinois law, we will refrain from canceling or nonrenewing insurance policies respecting affected property due to "increase in the risk originally accepted" or "due to the geographic location of the risk."
  • Other exceptions. We will consider exceptions to our policy or contract requirements, or to other rating or underwriting rules not otherwise listed when such contractual requirements or rating or underwriting rules are not met as a result of this disaster. Exceptions to policy or contract requirements or rating or underwriting rules include instances where an insured is displaced from his or her home and is unable to obtain non-emergency medical services from a network provider.
  • Availability of the Illinois Department of Insurance.  The Illinois Department of Insurance is available to assist consumers. To file a complaint regarding any disaster-related dispute or issue, you may call the Illinois Department of Insurance's toll-free complaint hotline at 1-866-445-5364, or file a complaint online at: https://mc.insurance.illinois.gov/messagecenter.nsf.
  • Contact State Auto.  For further information or assistance, please contact State Auto Customer Services at 1-800-444-9950.  Customer Service is available Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.   

 

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