A new state law prohibits insurance companies from canceling insurance, raising premiums, refusing to issue a policy, or declining to renew a policy solely on the basis that one or more claims have been made for a loss that is a result of a hate crime, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced. The new law will […]
A new state law prohibits insurance companies from canceling insurance, raising premiums, refusing to issue a policy, or declining to renew a policy solely on the basis that one or more claims have been made for a loss that is a result of a hate crime, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced.
The new law will apply to individuals, religious organizations, or nonprofits organized and operated for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, Hochul’s office said in its Dec. 12 announcement.
“New York stands strong against acts of hate wherever they occur, and we will continue to hold perpetrators of these horrific crimes accountable,” Hochul said. “If an individual is targeted for a hate crime, the last thing they should worry about is losing their insurance, and with this legislation we are taking action to protect victims and ensure every New Yorker is treated with dignity and respect.”
The law adds a new section to the insurance law targeting insurers that issue policies in New York. It prohibits them from cancelling, raising the premium, refusing to issue or declining to renew a policy “solely on the basis” that one or more claims have been made against the policy during the preceding five years for a loss that is the result of a hate crime committed against the person or property insured. That is, if the “insured provides evidence to the insurer that the act causing such a loss is a hate crime,” Hochul’s office said.
The law also ensures perpetrators of hate crimes cannot use the legislation to protect themselves from rate increases or cancellations as a result of the crime they themselves committed.
“No one who is the victim of a hate crime should fear reprisals from their insurance company just for reporting what’s happened to them, and every victim should feel comfortable reporting hate to the police to allow justice to be served,” New York State Senator Anna Kaplan (D–Port Washington), who represents a portion of Long Island, said in a statement.
