Notice of protections for victims of domestic violence under §2612 of the New York Insurance Law
Summary of §2612
New York Insurance Law §2612 provides certain rights to victims of domestic violence, including privacy protections and protections from discrimination, each of which is described below.
New York Insurance Law requires insurance companies to withhold from a policyholder the address and phone number of a domestic violence victim who is covered by an insurance policy, if a valid order of protection from a New York court is provided to the insurance company. If a child is the subject of the order of protection, identifying information about the child and victim parent will also be protected.
In addition, the New York Insurance Law provides that the fact that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence cannot be used as an underwriting criterion. The New York Insurance Law also prohibits insurers from taking any of the following actions solely because a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence:
- Refusing to issue or renew or denying or canceling any insurance policy or contract;
- Demanding or requiring a greater premium or payment from any person;
- Designating domestic violence as a preexisting condition, for which coverage will be denied or reduced; or
- Fixing any lower rate or discriminating in the fees or commissions of agents or brokers for writing or renewing a policy that insures a victim of domestic violence.
Procedure for providing us an alternative address
If you are covered by one of our policies and have an order of protection against a policyholder or other person covered by a Hanover policy, you may send us a copy of the order of protection and any alternative address, telephone number, or other method of contact that you would like us to use, to:
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, MA 01653
Attn: Chief Privacy Officer
508-855-1000
Additional Information
The description of §2612 of the New York Insurance Law provided above is only a summary of the law. The complete text of §2612 is available on the New York State Legislature’s website, which can be accessed by clicking here.
The New York State Office for the prevention of domestic violence’s website has additional information and resources and can be accessed here.
To contact the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline, please call 800-942-6906.
Last updated: December 2014
This notice is being provided on behalf of the following Hanover Companies: Allmerica Financial Alliance Insurance Company - Allmerica Financial Benefit Insurance Company - Campmed Casualty & Indemnity Co. Inc. - Citizens Insurance Company of America - The Hanover American Insurance Company - The Hanover Insurance Company - The Hanover National Insurance Company - Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company - Verlan Fire Insurance Company - Nova Casualty Company - AIX Specialty Insurance Company