Listed below are the latest updates coming from the office of CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. These are the items LBW sees as being most relevant to our clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This page will be updated as new items are released.
Reach out to your LBW team member with any questions about how these items relate to your own insurance program. We'll help you make sense of it all!
June
June 17, 2020
Makes 3 major changes to Work Comp premium guidelines related to COVID-19
- Employers can reclassify an employee if the employee's duties have changed to a clerical classification that has reduced risk from the employee's previous classification. The change is retroactive to March 19, 2020 (the start of the CA Stay-At-Home order) and concludes 60 days after the order is lifted.
- Payroll given to employees who were not working may be excluded from premium calculations. This includes sick or family leave time.
- Claims related to a COVID-19 diagnosis will be excluded from future rate calculations.
These new regulations will take effect July 1, 2020.
May
April
April 14, 2020
Commissioner Lara requires insurance companies to fairly investigate all business interruption claims caused by COVID-19
April 13, 2020
Commissioner Lara Orders Insurance Companies to Refund Premiums to Drivers and Businesses Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency
April 10, 2020
Insurance Commissioner Lara extends auto insurance coverage to delivery drivers for California’s essential businesses
| March |
March 30, 2020
Commissioner Lara directs health insurance companies to provide increased telehealth access during COVID-19 emergency
March 26, 2020
Commissioner Lara Orders Insurance Data on Business Interruption Coverage to Assist California Small Businesses
March 18, 2020
Insurance Commissioner Lara Calls for 60-Day Insurance Premium Grace Period Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
March 5, 2020
Governor Newsom and Commissioner Lara Waive Consumer Cost-Sharing for COVID-19 Testing