Canine Exclusions in New York State under the Recent Rule Initiated by Governor Kathy Hochul
As a claims adjuster in New York State, it is important to be aware of the recent rule initiated by Governor Kathy Hochul regarding canine exclusions in insurance policies. This new rule has significant implications for handling and resolving claims involving dog-related incidents.
Effective January 1, 2022, insurance companies in New York State are no longer allowed to exclude coverage for certain dog breeds or discriminate against dogs based on their breed. Insurance policies can no longer contain exclusions or limitations based solely on a dog’s breed.
This new rule applies to all insurance policies, including homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, and liability insurance. It also applies to new and existing policies, meaning that insurance companies must remove any breed-specific exclusions from existing policies.
As a claims adjuster, this new rule has several implications for your work. First and foremost, it means that you cannot deny coverage or limit a policyholder’s liability based solely on their dog’s breed. Instead, you must assess each claim based on the specific circumstances of the incident and the policy language.
When investigating a claim involving a dog-related incident, it is important to carefully review the insurance policy to identify any exclusions or limitations that may still apply. While breed-specific exclusions are no longer allowed, there may still be other exclusions or limitations related to dog bites or other incidents involving dogs.
As a claims adjuster in New York State, it is important to be aware of the recent rule initiated by Governor Kathy Hochul regarding canine exclusions in insurance policies. While this new rule eliminates breed-specific exclusions, there may still be other exclusions or limitations that apply. Therefore, it is essential to carefully review the insurance policy and assess each claim based on the specific circumstances of the incident and the policy language.