Liquidation is similar to bankruptcy. When a company is declared
insolvent by a court of competent jurisdiction, a Liquidator is appointed who
gathers the company’s assets for distribution and determines what liabilities,
such as bills and claim payments, it has. The Liquidator then develops a plan to
distribute the company’s assets according to established law and submits the
plan to the Court for approval. The liquidation process could take several
years. The PA Insurance Department web site, or the web site of the insurance
department of the state where the insurance company is being liquidated, may
provide additional information.
PP&CIGA is an association of insurers
licensed to write property and casualty insurance on a direct basis in The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Subject to statutory limits, PP&CIGA assumes
the insurance policy obligations of licensed insolvent insurers in Pennsylvania
for residents and/or property located in the state. PP&CIGA obtains funds to
meet its obligations by assessing the member companies.
PP&CIGA is not an insurance company. The
only claims PP&CIGA may pay are those defined as “covered claims” in the
Pennsylvania Property & Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association Act, 40 P.S.
§§ 991.1801 et seq., and case law. PP&CIGA was created to provide only a
limited form of protection in the event of insurer
insolvencies.
It is important to note that in addition to several statutory
limits on its payments, PP&CIGA does not provide protection for the
following classes of insurance:
* Life, annuity, disability and
health.
* Mortgage, guaranty, financial guaranty or other forms of
insurance offering protection against investment risks.
* Fidelity or
surety bonds or any other bonding obligations.
* Credit insurance,
vendors’ single interest insurance or collateral protection insurance or any
similar insurance protecting the interests of a creditor arising out of a
creditor/debtor transaction.
* Insurance of warranties or service
contracts.
* Title insurance.
* Ocean marine insurance.
*
Any transaction or combination of transactions between a person, including
affiliates of such person, and an insurer, including affiliates of such insurer,
which involves the transfer of investment or credit risk unaccompanied by
transfer of insurance risk.
* Any insurance provided by or guaranteed by
government.
* Workmen’s compensation and employer’s liability
insurance.
In order for PP&CIGA to become
responsible for the claims liabilities of a member insurer in Pennsylvania, a
court of competent jurisdiction must issue a liquidation order with a finding of
insolvency of the insurer. The Department of Insurance or a court-appointed
liquidator controls the assets of the estate of the insolvent insurer.
PP&CIGA does not have direct access to the assets of the estate. PP&CIGA
actually becomes a creditor against the estate.
After an Order of Liquidation with a finding of insolvency has
been entered, cases are distributed by the Liquidator to the guaranty
association where the insured resides or in the case of a business where they
are principally located.
Your unearned premium is a
covered claim as defined in the statute. However, it can take as long as eight
to ten months until you receive payment, as the information to process your
claim must come from the Liquidator of the insolvent company. PP&CIGA can
pay an amount not exceeding ten thousand ($10,000) dollars per policy for a
covered claim for the return of unearned premium.