(A) The director or his examiners may conduct an examination under this chapter of an insurer as often as the director or his designee consider appropriate but, at a minimum, shall conduct an examination of every insurer licensed in this State not less frequently than once every five years. When the director or his designee considers it prudent for the protection of policyholders in this State, he may examine or have examined an insurer applying for admission in this State. In scheduling and determining the nature, scope, and frequency of the examinations, the director or his designee shall consider compliance with relevant South Carolina laws and regulations, the results of financial statement analyses and ratios, changes in management or ownership, actuarial opinions, reports of independent certified public accountants, and other criteria set forth in the Examiners' Handbook adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and in effect when the director or his designee exercises his authority under this subsection.
(B) For purposes of completing an examination of an insurer under this chapter, the director or his designee may examine or investigate a person or his business in a manner considered necessary or material by the director or his designee.
(C) In lieu of an examination under this section of a foreign or an alien insurer licensed in this State, the director or his designee may accept an examination report on the insurer prepared by the insurance department for the insurer's state of domicile or port-of-entry state until January 1, 1994. After that time, the reports may be accepted only if one or both of the following apply:
(1) The insurance department at the time of the examination was accredited under the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation Program;
(2) The examination is performed with the participation of one or more examiners who are employed by the accredited insurance department, and who, after a review of the examination work papers and report, state under oath that the examination was performed in a manner consistent with the standards and procedures required by their department.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-13-10 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-601; 1962 Code Section 37-601] has no comparable provisions in 1987 Act No. 155; Former 1976 Code Section 38-5-1220 [1947 (45) 322; 1948 (45) 1734; 1952 Code Section 37-281; 1957 (50) 282; 1960 (51) 1646; 1962 Code Section 37-281] recodified as Section 38-13-10 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 357, Section 1; 1992 Act No. 394, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 537.
Editor's Note
2005 Act No. 27, Section 10, provides as follows:
"The Department of Insurance shall review data reported on annual statements by liability insurers including, but not limited to, paid claims, reserves, loss adjustment expenses, and such additional data as the department may require by promulgation of bulletin, to determine savings related to a decrease in litigation and claims paid pursuant to litigation after the effective date of this act. The department may require special reports from insurers to determine if savings are realized as a result of the provisions of this act. The department shall compile a report of savings realized and submit it for General Assembly review upon request. Costs or expenses associated with the compilation of this report of savings shall be paid by the insurers pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 38. The Department of Insurance shall review premium and losses by line of insurance to determine if appropriate adjustments have been made based upon the department estimates of savings realized pursuant to the provisions of this act."
2005 Act No. 32, Section 14, provides as follows:
"The Department of Insurance shall review data reported on annual statements by liability insurers, including, but not limited to, paid claims, reserves, loss adjustment expenses, and such additional data as the department may require by promulgation of bulletin, to determine savings related to a decrease in litigation and claims paid pursuant to litigation after the effective date of this act. The department may require special reports from insurers to determine if savings are realized as a result of the provisions of this act. The department shall compile a report of savings realized and submit it for General Assembly review upon request. Costs or expenses associated with the compilation of this report of savings shall be paid by the insurers pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 38. The Department of Insurance shall review premium and losses by line of insurance to determine if appropriate adjustments have been made based upon the department estimates of savings realized pursuant to the provisions of this act."
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 13 - Examinations, Investigations, Records, And Reports
Section 38-13-40. Examiners not to be appointed if conflict of interest exists; exceptions.
Section 38-13-50. Insurer to pay cost of examination; civil action to recover costs.
Section 38-13-60. Immunity from liability; recovery of attorney fees and costs if prevailing party.
Section 38-13-70. Investigation of charges; liability for expenses.
Section 38-13-80. Annual statement as to business standing and financial condition.
Section 38-13-90. Publication of assets and liabilities.
Section 38-13-100. Items to be included as liabilities in financial statements.
Section 38-13-110. Treatment of contingent debts or liabilities in financial statements.
Section 38-13-120. Record of business done; inspection by Director or designee.
Section 38-13-130. Records of losses and claims.
Section 38-13-140. Refusal to exhibit records; false statements; confidentiality of replies.
Section 38-13-150. Returns of reinsurance by insurers; effect of refusal.
Section 38-13-160. Director or designee may require special reports; confidentiality of replies.
Section 38-13-170. Penalties for making or aiding in making false statement.
Section 38-13-180. Insurance reserve fund defined.
Section 38-13-200. Penalty for refusal to be examined under oath.
Section 38-13-310. Supplemental report.
Section 38-13-320. Data in supplemental report.
Section 38-13-340. Review of supplemental reports.
Section 38-13-350. Filing of required information.
Section 38-13-360. Penalty for failure to comply with provisions of article.
Section 38-13-700. Periodic examination of unemployment compensation fund; duties of director.
Section 38-13-710. Who may request examination; contents of request.
Section 38-13-730. Verification of data provided by department; sample data testing.
Section 38-13-750. Conflict of interest prohibited.
Section 38-13-760. Department to pay charges.
Section 38-13-810. Purpose; application; findings.
Section 38-13-820. Definitions.
Section 38-13-830. Risk management framework.
Section 38-13-840. Insurers required to conduct ORSA on no less than an annual basis.
Section 38-13-850. ORSA Summary Reports.
Section 38-13-860. Exemptions.
Section 38-13-870. Preparation of ORSA Summary Report; review; requests for information.
Section 38-13-880. Confidentiality.
Section 38-13-900. Effective date.
Section 38-13-1000. Purpose; construction; application.
Section 38-13-1010. Definitions.
Section 38-13-1020. Submission of Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure.
Section 38-13-1030. Rules, regulations, and orders.
Section 38-13-1060. Retention of third-party consultants.