Released: September 12, 2008

Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon announced today the issuance of Emergency Rules 24 and 25 that will provide assistance to Louisiana insureds who need protection for insurance matters in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. The action taken by Commissioner Donelon was authorized when Governor Bobby Jindal issued Executive Order BJ 08-93 on September 9, 2008, granting the Commissioner temporary authority to implement emergency insurance rules following Hurricane Gustav.

As part of the executive order, Commissioner Donelon has issued Emergency Rules 24 and 25, retroactive to August 30, 2008, and expiring on September 30, 2008. These emergency rules apply to insureds in 43 parishes outlined in the Hurricane Gustav federal disaster declaration approved by President Bush.
Emergency Rules 24 and 25 are applicable to insureds in the following 43 parishes:

Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, LaSalle, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

Commissioner Donelon says Emergency Rules 24 and 25 apply to any and all types of insurance and include the following provisions for the period August 30 until September 30, 2008:

• Policyholders affected by Hurricane Gustav in the above parishes will receive an extension of time, until September 30, 2008, to pay insurance premiums due on or after August 30, 2008, without any late fees, penalties, cancellation or non-renewal.
• Policyholders with health insurance coverage in the above parishes may receive out-of-network medical care and a 30-day supply of prescription medication without penalty.
• Insurance companies cannot cancel or non-renew any policy of insurance for insureds who reside in the above parishes.
• No policy of insurance can be cancelled or non-renewed because of a Hurricane Gustav claim.

Commissioner Donelon says Emergency Rules 24 and 25 require policyholders in the 43 impacted parishes to provide their insurer with written notice in order to qualify for the protection. The written notice must detail how the policyholder was impacted by Hurricane Gustav, whether by evacuation, displacement, temporary relocation or loss of power. Policyholders who experienced an interruption in U.S mail service must obtain a written certification from an appropriate parish or municipal authority to submit to their insurance company to obtain the protection of Emergency Rule 24 or 25.

To view Emergency Rules 24 and 25, visit the Department of Insurance Web site: www.ldi.state.la.us