The Rates and Forms Division is responsible for the review of rates, rules and forms utilized by insurance companies transacting the business of insurance in the State of West Virginia. Rate filings are reviewed to determine whether the premium charged is excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory, or unreasonable in relation to the benefits offered. Rule and Form filings are reviewed to determine whether the terms and conditions are consistent with the Code of West Virginia, the Code of State Rules, the common law of the State of West Virginia and any administrative policies, directives and agency informational letters.

General Information:

For the majority of lines of insurance, West Virginia is a prior approval jurisdiction. The division received approximately 480 filings per month during 2004.

For the convenience of the public, a public access kiosk is located in the Rates and Forms Division. The kiosk contains filings stored on the agency’s in-house imaging system as well as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). All public rate, rule and form filings may be viewed by members of the public during the agency’s normal business hours.

Copy Charges:

Filings are also available for copying in either paper form or electronically. Copying costs shall be twenty-five cents ($0.25) per page. Copying costs for documents that are certified shall be fifty cents ($0.50) per page. The cost for the reproduction of records on computer discs shall be one dollar ($1.00) per disc. A fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) per hour, or quarter fraction thereof, shall be charged for the agency’s time spent in locating and duplicating the requested records beyond the initial quarter hour used to locate such records. Mailing or delivery charges may be charged, at the actual cost, in connection with sending the requested information to the requesting party. An invoice for the total amount of fees will be sent to the requesting party. Payment shall be made by check or money order made payable to the Insurance Commissioner of West Virginia.

Hours and Location:

The Rates and Forms Division staff are available during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday. The Rates and Forms Division is located in the Greenbrooke Building, 1124 Smith Street, Room 301, Charleston, W. Va. Visitor parking is available at the rear of the building. The Rates and Forms Division’s phone number is (304) 558-2094.

Please direct any correspondence to the following address: