Key Takeaways
- The Ohio Revised Code prohibits misrepresentation, false advertising, and unfair claims practices
- Rebating is prohibited in Ohio with limited exceptions for legitimate discounts
- Twisting and churning are prohibited practices subject to license discipline
- Ohio requires claims to be acknowledged within 15 days and handled promptly
- Unfair discrimination in underwriting is prohibited except for actuarially justified factors
Last updated: January 2026
Unfair Trade Practices
The Ohio Revised Code prohibits various unfair or deceptive practices in the P&C insurance industry.
Misrepresentation
Producers and insurers are prohibited from:
False Statements
- Making false statements about policy terms or benefits
- Misrepresenting the financial condition of an insurer
- Using misleading policy illustrations
- Making false statements about competitors
- Misrepresenting the nature of insurance transactions
Examples of Misrepresentation
| Prohibited Statement | Why It's Misrepresentation |
|---|---|
| "This policy covers everything" | No policy covers all losses |
| "Your rates will never increase" | Rates can and do change |
| "This is the only policy you need" | May not be true |
| "You must buy today or lose rate" | False urgency |
| "Ohio FAIR Plan is same as regular" | Coverage differs |
False Advertising
Ohio prohibits deceptive insurance advertising:
- Ads must be truthful and not misleading
- Must clearly identify as insurance advertisement
- Cannot use testimonials that are not genuine
- Cannot imply government endorsement
- Must include insurer's name
- Cannot guarantee claims payment beyond policy terms
Rebating
Rebating is offering inducements not specified in the policy:
Prohibited Practices
- Returning part of premium to insured
- Offering gifts of substantial value
- Paying for referrals to non-licensed persons
- Sharing commission with non-licensed persons
- Any valuable consideration not in the contract
Permitted Practices
- Premium financing arrangements
- Legitimate filed discounts
- Dividends specified in policy
- De minimis promotional items (pens, calendars)
Exam Tip: Ohio prohibits rebating but allows de minimis promotional items of nominal value.
Twisting and Churning
Twisting
Making misrepresentations to induce replacement:
- Falsely claiming existing policy is inadequate
- Misrepresenting policy values
- Hiding costs of replacement
- Exaggerating benefits of new policy
Churning
Excessive replacement of policies to generate commissions:
- Multiple replacements for same client
- Pattern of replacements in book of business
- Ignoring client's best interests
Penalties
| Violation | Potential Penalty |
|---|---|
| First offense | Warning to suspension |
| Per violation | Fines |
| Pattern of violations | License revocation |
| Consumer harm | Restitution required |
Unfair Claims Practices
Ohio has specific claims handling requirements:
Claims Timeline Requirements
| Action | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Acknowledge claim | 15 days |
| Begin investigation | Promptly upon receipt |
| Request additional info | 15 days if needed |
| Accept or deny claim | Reasonable time |
| Pay claims | Promptly after settlement |
Prohibited Claims Practices
- Misrepresenting policy provisions to claimants
- Failing to acknowledge claims promptly
- Failing to communicate claim decisions
- Denying claims without reasonable investigation
- Offering substantially less than reasonable value
- Delaying payment to force settlement
- Not attempting good faith settlement when liability clear
- Using litigation or appeal to coerce unfair settlement
Unfair Discrimination
Ohio prohibits unfair discrimination in P&C insurance:
Prohibited Factors
Cannot discriminate based on:
- Race or color
- Religion
- National origin
- Disability (unless actuarially justified)
- Gender (with actuarial exceptions)
Permitted Underwriting Factors
- Driving record
- Claims history
- Credit score (with disclosures)
- Territory (geographic location)
- Years of experience
Test Your Knowledge
Within how many days must an Ohio insurer acknowledge receipt of a P&C claim?
A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge
Which of the following is considered rebating in Ohio?
A
B
C
D