Signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that allows the courts to award proceeds in addition to the amount of the civil verdict to an insured person who can demonstrate that he or she was denied the benefits of the insurance policy by an insurer who knowingly had no "reasonable basis" for denying these benefits or acted in reckless disregard of the lack of a "reasonable basis" for denying benefits.

Highlights:

- Allows courts to award an insured person up to $250,000, depending on the amount awarded by the verdict, and attorney fees of up to $100,000 in cases related to the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1). - Prohibits litigants who recover these damages from recovering punitive damages, exemplary damages, or additional attorney fees for violations covered by the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that allows the courts to award proceeds in addition to the amount of the civil verdict to an insured person who can demonstrate that he or she was denied the benefits of the insurance policy by an insurer who knowingly had no "reasonable basis" for denying these benefits or acted in reckless disregard of the lack of a "reasonable basis" for denying benefits.

Highlights:

- Allows courts to award an insured person up to $250,000, depending on the amount awarded by the verdict, and attorney fees of up to $100,000 in cases related to the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1). - Prohibits litigants who recover these damages from recovering punitive damages, exemplary damages, or additional attorney fees for violations covered by the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows patients to sue health insurance providers if the insurer denies or doesn't act on a valid insurance claim.

Highlights:

- Requires insured to prove the insurer either denied or didn't act on a valid insurance claim in order to be awarded by the court [sec. 1 (2)]. - Allows the insured to be awarded an additional amount of half of the proceeds already awarded and not to exceed $100,000 [sec. 1 (3) (1)]. - Limits attorney fees to half of the proceeds and in no case more than $40,000 [sec. 1 (3) (2)]. - Requires the commissioner of commerce to determine each year if average insurance premiums have increased by more than 20% due to this act and if so, the law will expire (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows patients to sue health insurance providers if the insurer denies or doesn't act on a valid insurance claim.

Highlights:

- Requires insured to prove the insurer either denied or didn't act on a valid insurance claim in order to be awarded by the court [sec. 1 (2)]. - Allows the insured to be awarded an additional amount of half of the proceeds already awarded and not to exceed $100,000 [sec. 1 (3) (1)]. Limits attorney fees to half of the proceeds and in no case more than $40,000 [sec. 1 (3) (2)].

Full Bill Text