33-18-233. Administrative penalty for failure to pay promptly. (1) The commissioner may, after a hearing, impose an administrative fine as set forth in subsection (2) on an insurer if he finds that the insurer as a general course of business practice in this state fails to:
     (a) use due diligence in processing all claims;
     (b) pay claims in a timely manner;
     (c) provide proper notice, when required, with respect to the reasons for the insurer's failure to make claim payments when due; or
     (d) pay, without just cause, proper claims arising under coverage provided by its policies, whether such claims are in favor of an insured, in favor of a third person with respect to the liability of an insured to such third person, or in favor of any other person entitled to the benefits of a policy.
     (2) The administrative penalty imposed for violations of 33-18-231 through 33-18-235 may not exceed $1,000 for each separate violation.
     (3) If an insurer can demonstrate that it has consistently paid 90% of the total amount outstanding in claims within 20 working days and all of the amount within 30 working days of receipt of claims during the 6-month period immediately preceding the hearing date, the insurer is not subject to the fine imposed under subsection (2).

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 300, L. 1983.