RSA 400-B:1 Purpose.
400-B:1. Purpose.
The intent of this chapter is to provide clear record retention and production instruction to entities licensed by the department.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005.
MARKET CONDUCT RECORD RETENTION AND PRODUCTION
RSA tit. XXXVII, ch. 400-B
in effectRSA 400-B:2 Definitions.
400-B:2. Definitions.
All definitions contained in RSA 417 are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, for the purposes of this chapter:
I. "Application and accompanying records" means any written or electronic application form, any enrollment form, any document or record thereof, used to add coverage under any existing policy, questionnaire, telephone interview form, paramedical interview form, or any other document used to question or underwrite an applicant for any policy issued by an insurer or for any declination of coverage by an insurer.
II. "Claim file and accompanying records" means the file maintained to show clearly the inception, handling, and disposition of each claim. The claim file shall be sufficiently clear and specific so that pertinent events and dates of these events can be reconstructed.
III. "Complaint" means any written or electronically transmitted communication primarily expressing a grievance.
IV. "Declination" or "declined underwriting file" means all written or electronic records concerning coverage for which an application has been submitted to the insurer or its producer but the insurer has made a determination not to issue a policy or not to add additional coverage when requested.
V. "Department" means the insurance department.
VI. "Examiner" means a market conduct examiner or any other examiner authorized or designated by the commissioner to conduct an examination pursuant to this chapter.
VII. "Grievance" for health insurance purposes, means a written complaint submitted by or on behalf of a covered person regarding the:
(a) Availability, delivery, or quality of health services, including a complaint regarding an adverse determination made pursuant to utilization review;
(b) Claims payment, handling, or reimbursement for health care services; or
(c) Matters pertaining to the contractual relationship between a covered person and a health carrier.
VIII. "Inquiry" means a specific question, criticism, or request made in writing to an insurer by an examiner.
IX. "Related entity" includes a person authorized to act on behalf of the insurer in connection with the business of insurance.
Source. 2005, 221:1. 2006, 196:14. 2009, 178:2, eff. Sept. 11, 2009.
RSA 400-B:3 Records Required for Market Conduct Purposes.
400-B:3. Records Required for Market Conduct Purposes.
I. An insurer or related entity licensed to do business in this state shall maintain its books, records, and documents in a manner so that the commissioner can readily ascertain during an examination the insurer's compliance with state insurance laws and rules and with the standards outlined in the NAIC Market Regulation Handbook, including, but not limited to, company operations and management, policyholder service, marketing, producer licensing, underwriting, rating, complaint/grievance handling, and claims practices.
II. For a health insurer, the insurer or related entity shall maintain its books, records, and documents in a manner so that the practices of the insurer regarding network adequacy, utilization review, quality assessment and improvement, and provider credentialing may be ascertained during a market conduct examination.
III. These records shall be retained for the current year plus 5 years.
IV. The producer of record, if the insurer does not maintain such information, shall maintain a file for each policy sold, and the file shall contain all work papers and written communications in his or her possession pertaining to the policy documented therein. These records shall be retained for the current year plus 5 years.
V. During an examination of the insurer, the insurer shall provide a copy of the written contract entered into with each third party vendor or service provider as requested by an examiner within the time frames set forth in RSA 400-B:10.
Source. 2005, 221:1. 2009, 178:3, eff. Sept. 11, 2009.
RSA 400-B:4 Policy Record File.
400-B:4. Policy Record File.
I. A policy record file shall be maintained for each policy issued, and shall be maintained for the duration of the current policy term plus 5 years, or for life insurance policies and annuity contracts, for the time the policy or contract is in force and 5 years thereafter. Policy records shall be maintained to show clearly the policy period, basis for rating, and any imposition of additional exclusions from or exceptions to coverage. If a policy is terminated, either by the insurer or the policyholder, documentation supporting the termination and account records indicating a return of premiums, if any, shall also be maintained. Policy records need not be segregated from the policy records of other states if the records are readily available to market conduct examiners as required under this chapter.
II. Policy records shall include the following:
(a) Any application and accompanying records for each contract. The application shall bear a clearly legible means by which an examiner can identify a producer involved in the transaction. The examiners shall be provided with information clearly identifying the producer involved in the transaction;
(b) Any declaration pages (the initial page and any subsequent pages), the insurance contract, any certificates evidencing coverage under a group contract, any endorsements or riders associated with a policy, any termination notices, and any written or electronic correspondence to or from the insured pertaining to the coverage. If any of these records has already been filed with the commissioner, a separate copy of the record need not be maintained in the individual policy files to which the record pertains; provided, that it is clear from the insurer's other records or systems that the record applies to a particular policy and that any data contained in the record relating to the policy, as well as the actual policy issued to the insured, can be retrieved or recreated;
(c) Any binder; and
(d) Any guidelines, manuals, or other information necessary for the reconstruction of the rating, underwriting, policy owner service, and claims handling of the policy. The maintenance at the site of a market conduct examination of a single copy of each of the above shall satisfy this requirement. These types of records include, but are not limited to, the application, the policy form including any amendments or endorsements, rating manuals, underwriting rules, credit reports or scores, claims history reports, previous insurance coverage reports (e.g., MIB), questionnaires, internal reports, and underwriting and rating notes.
III. A declined underwriting file shall be maintained and shall include an application, any documentation substantiating the decision to decline an issuance of a policy, any binder issued without the insurer issuing a policy, any documentation substantiating the decision not to add additional coverage when requested, and the declination notification. Notes regarding requests for quotations that do not result in a completed application for coverage need not be maintained for purposes of this chapter. The insurer shall retain declined underwriting files for the current year plus 5 years.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005. 2021, 56:2, eff. July 24, 2021.
RSA 400-B:5 Claim File.
400-B:5. Claim File.
I. A claim file and accompanying records shall be maintained for the calendar year in which the claim is closed plus 5 years. The claim file shall be maintained to show clearly the inception, handling, and disposition of each claim. The claim file shall be sufficiently clear and specific so that pertinent events and dates of these events can be reconstructed. A claim file shall, at a minimum, include the following items:
(a) For property and casualty: the file or files containing the notice of claim, claim forms, proof of loss, or other form of claim submission, settlement demands, accident reports, policy reports, adjusters' logs, claim investigation documentation, inspection reports, supporting bills, estimates and valuation worksheets, medical records, correspondence to and from insureds and claimants or their representatives, notes, contracts, declaration pages, certificates evidencing coverage under a group contract, endorsements or riders, work papers, any written communication, any documented or recorded telephone communication related to the handling of a claim, including the investigation, payment, or denial of the claim, copies of checks, drafts, check numbers and amounts, numeric identifying information for debit cards, bank cards, or other similar cards, including date of issue and amounts, releases, all applicable notices, correspondence used for determining and concluding claim payments or denials, subrogation and salvage documentation, any other documentation created and maintained in a paper or electronic format, necessary to support claim handling activity, and any claim manuals or other information necessary for reviewing the claim.
(b) For life and annuity: the file or files containing the notice of claim, claim forms, proofs of loss, medical records, correspondence to and from insureds and claimants or their representatives, claim investigation documentation, claim handling logs, copies of checks or drafts, check numbers and amounts, releases, correspondence, all applicable notices, and correspondence used for determining and concluding claim payments or denials, any written communication, any documented or recorded telephone communication related to the handling of a claim, including the investigation, and any other documentation, maintained in a paper or electronic format, necessary to support claim handling activity.
(c) For health: the file or files containing the notice of claim, claim forms, medical records, bills, electronically submitted bills, proofs of loss, correspondence to and from insureds and claimants or their representatives, claim investigation documentation, health facility pre-admission certification or utilization review documentation, claim handling logs, copies of explanation of benefit statements, any written communication, any documented or recorded telephone communication related to the handling of a claim, including the investigation, copies of checks or drafts, or check numbers and amounts, releases, correspondence, all applicable notices, and correspondence used for determining and concluding claim payments or denials, and any other documentation, maintained in a paper or electronic format, necessary to support claim handling activity.
II. Where a particular document pertains to more than one file, insurers may satisfy the requirements of this section by making available, at the site of an examination, a single copy of each document.
III. Documents in a claim file received from an insured, the insured's agent, a claimant, the department or any other insurer shall bear the initial date of receipt by the insurer, date stamped in a legible form of ink, in an electronic format, or some other permanent manner. Unless the company provides the examiners with written procedures to the contrary, the earliest date indicated on a document shall be considered the initial date of receipt.
IV. If an insurer, as its regular business practice, places the responsibility for handling certain types of claims upon company personnel other than its claims personnel, the insurer need not duplicate its files for maintenance by claims personnel. These claims records shall be maintained as part of the records of the insurer's operations and shall be readily available to examiners.
Source. 2005, 221:1. 2014, 31:1, eff. July 26, 2014.
RSA 400-B:6 Licensing Records.
400-B:6. Licensing Records.
Records to be maintained relating to the insurer's compliance with licensing requirements shall include the licensing records of each producer associated with the insurer. Licensing records shall be maintained to show clearly the licensing status of the producer at the time of solicitation, negotiation, or procurement, as well as the dates of the appointments and terminations of each producer. A screen print from the producer database (PDB) may serve to provide adequate proof only of a producer's current licensing status.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005.
RSA 400-B:7 Complaint Records.
400-B:7. Complaint Records.
The complaint records required to be maintained under RSA 417 shall include a complaint log or register, or grievance log or register for health insurers, in addition to the actual written complaints. The complaint log or register shall show clearly the total number of complaints for the current year plus the immediately preceding 5 years, the classification of each complaint by line of insurance and by complainant, the nature of each complaint, the insurer's disposition of each complaint, the time it took to process each complaint, and the complaint number assigned by the department, if applicable. If the insurer maintains the file in a computer format, the reference in the complaint log or register for locating the documentation shall be an identifier such as the policy number or other code. The codes shall be provided to the examiners at the time of an examination.
Source. 2005, 221:1. 2006, 196:15, eff. July 30, 2006.
RSA 400-B:8 Format of Records.
400-B:8. Format of Records.
I. Any record required to be maintained by an insurer may be created and stored in the form of paper, photograph, magnetic, mechanical, or electronic medium; or any process that accurately forms a durable reproduction of the record, so long as the record is capable of duplication to a hard copy that is as legible as the original document. Documents that are produced and sent to an insured by use of a template and an electronic mail list shall be considered to be sufficiently reproduced if the insurer can provide proof of mailing of the document and a copy of the template. Documents that require the signature of the insured or insurer's producer shall be maintained in any format listed in this chapter; provided, that evidence of the signature is preserved in that format.
II. The maintenance of records in a computer-based format shall be archival in nature, to preclude the alteration of the record after the initial transfer to a computer format. Upon request of an examiner, all records shall be capable of duplication to a hard copy that is as legible as the original document. The records shall be maintained according to written procedures developed and adhered to by the insurer. The written procedures shall be made available to the commissioner during an examination.
III. Photographs, microfilms, or other image-processing reproductions of records shall be equivalent to the originals and may be certified as the same in actions or proceedings before the commissioner unless inconsistent with RSA 541-A.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005.
RSA 400-B:9 Location of Files.
400-B:9. Location of Files.
I. All records required to be maintained under this chapter shall be kept in a location that will allow the records to be produced for examination within the time period required. When, under normal circumstances, someone other than the insurer maintains a required record or type of record, the other person's responsibility to maintain the records shall be set forth in a written agreement, a copy of which shall be maintained by the insurer and shall be available to the examiners for purposes of examination.
II. If required by law or otherwise available, the insurer shall maintain disaster preparedness or disaster recovery procedures that include provisions for the maintenance or reconstruction of original or duplicate records at another location. These procedures shall be provided for review during the examination.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005.
RSA 400-B:10 Time Limits to Provide Records and to Respond to Examiners.
400-B:10. Time Limits to Provide Records and to Respond to Examiners.
I. Initial data requests shall be submitted to a company at least 30 days prior to the commencement of the on-site examination, desk audit, or other form of review to provide ample time for the company to prepare the materials requested by the examining state. Paragraphs II and III shall apply to requests for supplemental data and information not anticipated at the time of the initial request as specified herein.
II. As a means to facilitate the examination and to aid in the examination in accordance with RSA 400-A:37, an insurer shall provide any requested document or written response to an inquiry submitted by an examiner within 10 working days, or such other time period as mutually agreed upon by the examiner and the insurer. When the requested document or response is not produced by the insurer within the specified time period, a violation shall be deemed to have occurred unless the insurer can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the requested record cannot reasonably be provided within the specified time period of the request.
III. Additional records requested by the commissioner shall be made available for the examination upon the date specified by the examiner-in-charge.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005.
RSA 400-B:11 Confidential Materials.
400-B:11. Confidential Materials.
Original records required to be provided during a market conduct examination shall be returned to the insurer following the examination. If the records relate to an inquiry made by an examiner, copies of the records shall become a part of the work papers of the examination. Examination work papers obtained as part of a market conduct examination are privileged and confidential and not subject to the provisions of RSA 91-A.
Source. 2005, 221:1, eff. Sept. 3, 2005.
RSA 400-B:12 Penalties.
400-B:12. Penalties.
Any insurer or related entity who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter may, upon hearing, except where other penalty is expressly provided, be subject to suspension or revocation of its certificate of authority or license, and an administrative fine not to exceed $2,500 per violation.
Source. 2008, 153:3, eff. June 6, 2008.
RSA 400-B:13 Rulemaking.
400-B:13. Rulemaking.
The commissioner may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, as necessary for the purposes of this chapter.
Source. 2015, 91:1, eff. Aug. 4, 2015.
Source: New Hampshire General Court (gc.nh.gov)URL: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-XXXVII-400-B.htmFetched: 10/20/2026