Covid-19 Help for Our Insurance Customers

AAA Insurance Team

A recent Executive Order issued by Governor Cuomo, together with recent amendments to the insurance regulations issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services, extend grace periods and give you other rights under certain property/casualty insurance policies if you are an individual and can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the novel coronavirus (“COVID‑19”) pandemic. These grace periods and rights are currently in effect but are temporary, though they may be extended further. Please check the Department’s website at https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/coronavirus for updates.

If you are an individual, generally, personal lines property/casualty insurance policies are covered by these amendments, including auto, homeowners’ and renters’ insurance.

Moratorium on cancellation, non-renewal and conditional renewal

If you are an affected policyholder, there is a moratorium on your insurer cancelling, non-renewing, or conditionally renewing your property/casualty insurance policy for a period of 60 days. If you do not make a timely premium payment and can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, your insurer may not impose any late fees relating to the premium payment or report you to a credit reporting agency or a debt collection agency regarding such premium payment.

Catching up on overdue insurance payments

The regulations also require your insurer to permit you, as an affected policyholder, to pay the overdue premium over a 12-month period if you did not make a timely premium payment due to financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and can still demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This also applies if the insurer sent you a nonpayment cancellation notice prior to March 29, 2020.

How to demonstrate financial hardship

If you, as an affected policyholder, are unable to make a timely premium payment due to financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may submit to your insurer or a statement that you swear or affirm in writing under penalty of perjury that you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the insurer shall accept as satisfactory proof. Such statement is not required to be notarized.

If you have any questions regarding your rights under the Executive Order or regulations, please call us at 1-866-222-0937 or email us at covid19inshelp@northway.aaa.com

There are more resources available click or call to find out more from our carrier partners.

Travelers 866-933-7287
CSAA 800-207-3618
Metlife 800-422-4272
Hanover 866-516-4598
Plymouth Rock 844-204-7318
Progressive 800-876-5581
NYCM 800-234-6926
North Country 800-847-7030
MapFre 800-513-4813