1232

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 424

CHAPTER 424
(Senate Bill 45)

AN ACT concerning

Insurance - Discrimination Against Physically Handicapped
or Disabled Persons

FOR the purpose of prohibiting providers of life, health,
property, casualty, motor vehicle, and surety insurance
from engaging in certain discriminatory practices on
the basis of the physical handicap or disability of
their policyholders; and relating generally to
discrimination by insurers against persons with a
physical handicap or disability.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 48A — Insurance Code

Section 223, 226(c), 234A(a) and (b), 234AA(a), (b),

and (d) , and 240C(d)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1972 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 48A — Insurance Code

Section 240F-1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 48A — Insurance Code

223.

(a) (1) No person shall make or permit any unfair
discrimination between individuals of the same class and
equal expectation of life in the rates charged for any
contract of life insurance or of life annuity or in the
dividends or other benefits payable thereon, or in any other
of the terms and conditions of such contract.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions in
this section, an insurer may not make or permit any
differential in ratings, premium payments or dividends for
any reason based on the blindness OR OTHER PHYSICAL HANDICAP