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6/30/2025
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Bill that would prevent insurers from increasing premiums because of policy inquiries becomes law
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STATE HOUSE — Legislation introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa and Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis to prevent insurance companies from increasing a policyholder’s premium for asking about the terms of a policy has become law.
The measure (2025-H 5570B, 2025-S 0084Aaa) prohibits casualty insurers from assessing any premium surcharge or penalty against an insured solely for inquiring about the terms of the insured’s policy.
“This prevents the practice of insurance companies treating a policy inquiry as a claim,” said Representative Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry). “For instance, if policyholders call their insurance company to determine what the deductible is on a broken windshield, and then opt to pay for the windshield themselves, then insurance companies should not be able to assess a penalty or increase a premium, by treating that inquiry the same way they would a claim. This has happened in the past, often unbeknownst to policyholders, and it should be illegal.”
The original bill was amended to clarify that premium increases would not be allowed “solely for” policy inquiries. Both the Rhode Island Insurance Federation and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association testified in support of the amended bill.
“This has been a practice that specifically targets the elderly and those who may not have a computer to look up the terms of their policy,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich). “Insurance companies should not be allowed to penalize policyholders just for inquiring about a policy deductible.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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