Nondiscrimination Standards in Insurance Expanded

On April 13, 2021, Gov. Carney signed SB 32 into law. The new law, effective immediately, expands the nondiscrimination standards in insurance. Specifically, a carrier may not discriminate in the offer of an insurance policy or the premiums charged based on gender identity or race.

For this purpose, gender identity is defined as a gender-related identity, appearance, expression or behavior of a person, regardless of the person's assigned sex at birth. Gender identity may be demonstrated by consistent and uniform assertion of the gender identity or any other evidence that the gender identity is sincerely held as part of a person's core identity; provided, however, that gender identity shall not be asserted for any improper purpose.

For this purpose, race is expanded to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and a protective hairstyle (such as braids, locks and twists).

Insurers and plan sponsors should be aware of these changes to the nondiscrimination standards.

SB 32 »