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CHAPTER 64. PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE
POLICY FORMSSec.
64.1. Purpose.
64.2. Applicability.
64.3. Short sentences.
64.4. Simple wording.
64.5. Definitions.
64.6. Index.
64.7. Introduction.
64.8. Policy structure.
64.9. Legibility.
64.10. Narrative or outline form.
64.11. Conditions.
64.12. Testing.
64.13. Filing requirements.
64.14. Approved forms.Authority The provisions of this Chapter 64 issued under The Insurance Department Act of 1921, particularly section 354 (40 P. S. § 477b); sections 206, 506, 1501 and 1502 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 66, 186, 411 and 412), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 64 adopted January 10, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 76, unless otherwise noted.
§ 64.1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Departments readability program is an auto insurance policy that is understandable to a person of average intelligence and education. Towards this end, this chapter is promulgated to inform the insurers licensed in the Commonwealth of the standards the Department will use in determining whether to approve a given policy form. Licensed insurers are advised that policy forms that do not conform substantially with the standards set forth in this chapter will not be approved for use in this Commonwealth.
§ 64.2. Applicability.
(a) This chapter applies to policies providing auto liability, medical payments, physical damage or uninsured motorists insurance on private passenger automobiles owned or rented under a long term lease or contract by an individual or husband and wife who are resident in the same household on a specified car basis. A private passenger automobile, for the purposes of this section includes the following:
(1) A motor vehicle of the private passenger or station wagon type which is neither used for transporting goods or passengers for hire nor rented to others without a driver.
(2) A motor vehicle with a pick-up body, a delivery sedan or panel truck, not customarily used in the occupation, profession or business of the insured other than farming or ranching. A motor vehicle used in the course of driving to or from work, which otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of this rule, shall be classified as a private passenger automobile.
(3) An automobile owned by a farm family, copartnership or corporation which is principally garaged on a farm or ranch and otherwise meets the definitions set forth in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be considered a private passenger automobile owned by two or more relatives resident in the same household.
(b) The requirements of this chapter applies to policy forms covering risks mentioned in this section received by the Department for approval after the effective date of this chapter. Its requirements apply to policy forms for auto insurance as defined in this section presently approved for use in this Commonwealth beginning 1 year after the effective date of this chapter.
§ 64.3. Short sentences.
Sentences should be as short as possible. Sentence structure should be primarily simple. Compound and complex sentences shall be avoided where possible.
§ 64.4. Simple wording.
Policy forms shall be written in simple words. The words should convey meanings clearly and directly. Legal sounding words should be avoided. Present tense and positive statements should be used wherever possible. Gerunds, participles and infinitives should be avoided. Words should be used in their commonly understood senses.
§ 64.5. Definitions.
Definitions should be limited to words which cannot be properly explained or qualified in the text. Terms should reflect their defined meanings.
§ 64.6. Index.
(a) Policy forms should include an index at the beginning of the form. The index should give a comprehensive listing of policy parts in a logical sequence. Index listings should clearly state the contents of each section. The index should provide a useful guide to use of the form.
(b) A good index should include the following:
(1) Who is insured under each coverage.
(2) What is covered under each coverage.
(3) What is not covered under each coverage.
(4) Words defined.
(5) How to file a claim under each coverage.
(6) What to do if you are sued.
(7) Change in the policy.
(c) If the index does not appear on the cover, the backside of the cover or the first page after the cover, its location should be noted on the cover page.
§ 64.7. Introduction.
Policy forms should be introduced by a brief explanation of the fact that the policy is a contract between the company and the policyholder.
§ 64.8. Policy structure.
For clarity, each coverage (in forms with two or more coverages) should be arranged separately with its related exclusions, conditions and other provisions. Claim filing procedures should either be stated in a separate section and keyed to each coverage section or set forth in the section pertaining to each coverage.
§ 64.9. Legibility.
(a) The policy and endorsements shall be printed in upright type at least as large as 10-point modern type, 1-point leading (11-point spacing). The legibility should be comparable to that of Century type. No insurer, however, shall be required to use a specific type face as long as the type selected meets this standard of readability. The Department will consider the following type faces as being legible as Century type, although this list is not intended to be exhaustive but is intended solely as an indication of the legibility of a type face that is required:
(1) Aldine.
(2) Baskerville.
(3) Bodoni.
(4) Bodoni Book.
(5) Century Schoolbook.
(6) Journal.
(7) Press Roman.
(8) Times Roman.
(b) The column width or line length of the body text of the policy should not exceed 4 inches per column. This maximum is based upon the assumption that ten-point Century Roman type, two points leaded will be used. If an insurer uses a different type size any corresponding adjustment in column width should maintain the following ratio:
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(c) Margins should be adequate for purposes of readability.
(d) The contrast and legibility of the color of ink and the color of paper of the policy should be substantially the equivalent of that of black ink on white paper.
(e) Contract section headings should be in a contrasting color, type-face, or size.
Source The provisions of this § 64.9 amended October 7, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2893. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (19092).
Cross References This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 151.9 (relating to standards for disclosure statement and residents agreement).
§ 64.10. Narrative or outline form.
Policy forms may be prepared in narrative or outline form. If the narrative form is used, frequent section headings should be used to permit ease in locating provisions. If the outline form is used a maximum of three levels of division should be used. Care should be taken to avoid fragmentation in the outline form.
§ 64.11. Conditions.
Conditions should be incorporated in the sections to which they apply. Conditions relating to a specific coverage should be included with that coverage. Conditions relating to claims procedures should be included in a section on how to file a claim. Avoid using a series of unrelated conditions which relate to other parts of the policy individually or which could be combined in a section on what to do if you are sued or on policy changes.
§ 64.12. Testing.
(a) Policy forms should have a total readability score of 40 or more on the Flesch Scale. The Flesch Scale testing procedure is given in Appendix A.
(b) Forms with a Flesch Test score of less than 40 may be approved where the length of sentences and words are sufficiently compensated for by compliance with other standards in this chapter.
(c) A Flesch Test score of 40 or more will not permit approval of a form which does not meet other standards in this chapter.
§ 64.13. Filing requirements.
(a) Policy forms filed for approval should be accompanied by a Flesch readability analysis and test score in accord with the procedure set out in Appendix A.