Chapter Ins 25

Ins 25.17(4) (4) Joint relationships.

Ins 25.17(4)(a) (a) If two or more consumers jointly obtain an insurance product or service from a licensee, the licensee may provide a single opt out notice. The licensee’s opt out notice shall explain how the licensee will treat an opt out direction by a joint consumer, as explained in par. (e).

Ins 25.17(4)(b) (b) Any of the joint consumers may exercise the right to opt out. The licensee may do either of the following:

Ins 25.17(4)(b)1. 1. Treat an opt out direction by a joint consumer as applying to all of the associated joint consumers.

Ins 25.17(4)(b)2. 2. Permit each joint consumer to opt out separately, subject to par. (c).

Ins 25.17(4)(c) (c) If a licensee permits each joint consumer to opt out separately, the licensee shall permit one of the joint consumers to opt out on behalf of all of the joint consumers.

Ins 25.17(4)(d) (d) A licensee may not require all joint consumers to opt out before it implements any opt out direction.

Ins 25.17(4)(e) (e) Example. If John and Mary are both named policyholders on a homeowner’s insurance policy issued by a licensee and the licensee sends policy statements to John’s address, the licensee may do any of the following, but it shall explain in its opt out notice which opt out policy the licensee will follow:

Ins 25.17(4)(e)1. 1. Send a single opt out notice to John’s address, but the licensee shall accept an opt out direction from either John or Mary.

Ins 25.17(4)(e)2. 2. Treat an opt out direction by either John or Mary as applying to the entire policy. If the licensee does so and John opts out, the licensee may not require Mary to opt out as well before implementing John’s opt out direction.

Ins 25.17(4)(e)3. 3. If the licensee permits John and Mary to make different opt out directions, the licensee shall do all of the following:

Ins 25.17(4)(e)3.a. a. It shall permit John and Mary to opt out for each other.

Ins 25.17(4)(e)3.b. b. If both opt out, the licensee shall permit both of them to notify it in a single response, such as on a form or through a telephone call.

Ins 25.17(4)(e)3.c. c. If John opts out and Mary does not, the licensee may only disclose nonpublic personal financial information about Mary, but not about John and not about John and Mary jointly.

Ins 25.17(5) (5) Time to comply with opt out. A licensee shall comply with a consumer’s opt out direction as soon as reasonably practicable after the licensee receives it.

Ins 25.17(6) (6) Continuing right to opt out. A consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time.

Ins 25.17(7) (7) Duration of the consumer’s opt out direction.

Ins 25.17(7)(a) (a) A consumer’s direction to opt out under this section is effective until the consumer revokes it in writing or, if the consumer agrees, electronically.

Ins 25.17(7)(b) (b) When a customer relationship terminates, the customer’s opt out direction continues to apply to the nonpublic personal financial information that the licensee collected during or related to that relationship. If the individual subsequently establishes a new customer relationship with the licensee, the opt out direction that applied to the former relationship does not apply to the new relationship.

Ins 25.17(8) (8) Delivery. When a licensee is required to deliver an opt out notice by this section, the licensee shall deliver it according to s. Ins 25.25.

Ins 25.17 History History: Cr. Register, June, 2001, No. 546, eff. 7-01-01.

Ins 25.20 Ins 25.20 Revised privacy notices.

Ins 25.20(1) (1) General rule. Except as otherwise authorized in this chapter, a licensee shall not, directly or through an affiliate, disclose any nonpublic personal financial information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party other than as described in the initial notice that the licensee provided to that consumer under s. Ins 25.10, unless all of the following have occurred:

Ins 25.20(1)(a) (a) The licensee has provided to the consumer a clear and conspicuous revised notice that accurately describes its policies and practices.

Ins 25.20(1)(b) (b) The licensee has provided to the consumer a new opt out notice.

Ins 25.20(1)(c) (c) The licensee has given the consumer a reasonable opportunity, before the licensee discloses the information to the nonaffiliated third party, to opt out of the disclosure.

Ins 25.20(1)(d) (d) The consumer does not opt out.

Ins 25.20(2) (2) Examples.

Ins 25.20(2)(a) (a) Except as otherwise permitted by ss. Ins 25.50, 25.55, and 25.60, a licensee shall provide a revised notice before it does any of the following:

Ins 25.20(2)(a)1. 1. Discloses a new category of nonpublic personal financial information to any nonaffiliated third party.

Ins 25.20(2)(a)2. 2. Discloses nonpublic personal financial information to a new category of nonaffiliated third party.

Ins 25.20(2)(a)3. 3. Discloses nonpublic personal financial information about a former customer to a nonaffiliated third party, if that former customer has not had the opportunity to exercise any opt out right regarding that disclosure.

Ins 25.20(2)(b) (b) A revised notice is not required if the licensee discloses nonpublic personal financial information to a new nonaffiliated third party that the licensee adequately described in its prior notice.

Ins 25.20(3) (3) Delivery. When a licensee is required to deliver a revised privacy notice by this section, the licensee shall deliver it according to s. Ins 25.25.

Ins 25.20 History History: Cr. Register, June, 2001, No. 546, eff. 7-1-01.

Ins 25.25 Ins 25.25 Delivery.

Ins 25.25(1) (1) How to provide notices. A licensee shall provide any notices that this chapter requires so that each consumer can reasonably be expected to receive actual notice in writing or, if the consumer agrees, electronically.

Ins 25.25(2) (2) Examples.

Ins 25.25(2)(a) (a) Examples of reasonable expectation of actual notice. A licensee may reasonably expect that a consumer will receive actual notice of its privacy policies and practices if the licensee does any of the following:

Ins 25.25(2)(a)1. 1. Hand-delivers a printed copy of the notice to the consumer.

Ins 25.25(2)(a)2. 2. Mails a printed copy of the notice to the last known address of the consumer separately, or in a policy, billing or other written communication.

Ins 25.25(2)(a)3. 3. For a consumer who conducts transactions electronically, posts the notice on the electronic site and requires the consumer to acknowledge receipt of the notice as a necessary step to obtaining a particular insurance product or service.

Ins 25.25(2)(a)4. 4. For an isolated transaction with a consumer, such as the licensee providing an insurance quote or selling the consumer travel insurance, posts the notice and requires the consumer to acknowledge receipt of the notice as a necessary step to obtaining the particular insurance product or service.

Ins 25.25(2)(b) (b) Examples of unreasonable expectation of actual notice. A licensee may not, however, reasonably expect that a consumer will receive actual notice of its privacy policies and practices if it does any of the following:

Ins 25.25(2)(b)1. 1. Only posts a sign in its office or generally publishes advertisements of its privacy policies and practices.

Ins 25.25(2)(b)2. 2. Sends the notice via electronic mail to a consumer who does not obtain an insurance product or service from the licensee electronically.

Ins 25.25(3) (3) Annual notices only. A licensee may reasonably expect that a customer will receive actual notice of the licensee’s annual privacy notice if it does any of the following:

Ins 25.25(3)(a) (a) The customer uses the licensee’s web site to access insurance products and services electronically and agrees to receive notices at the web site and the licensee posts its current privacy notice continuously in a clear and conspicuous manner on the web site.

Ins 25.25(3)(b) (b) The customer has requested that the licensee refrain from sending any information regarding the customer relationship, the licensee maintains a record of the request and the licensee’s current privacy notice remains available to the customer upon request.

Ins 25.25(4) (4) Oral description of notice insufficient. A licensee may not provide any notice required by this chapter solely by orally explaining the notice, either in person or over the telephone.

Ins 25.25(5) (5) Retention or accessibility of notices for customers.

Ins 25.25(5)(a) (a) For customers only, a licensee shall provide the initial notice required by s. Ins 25.10 (1) (a), the annual notice required by s. Ins 25.13 (1), and the revised notice required by s. Ins 25.20 so that the customer can retain them or obtain them later in writing or, if the customer agrees, electronically.

Ins 25.25(5)(b) (b) Examples of retention or accessibility. A licensee provides a privacy notice to the customer so that the customer can retain it or obtain it later if the licensee does any of the following:

Ins 25.25(5)(b)1. 1. Hand-delivers a printed copy of the notice to the customer.

Ins 25.25(5)(b)2. 2. Mails a printed copy of the notice to the last known address of the customer.

Ins 25.25(5)(b)3. 3. Makes its current privacy notice available on a web site or a link to another web site for the customer who obtains an insurance product or service electronically and agrees to receive the notice at the web site.

Ins 25.25(6) (6) Joint notice with other financial institutions. A licensee may provide a joint notice from the licensee and one or more of its affiliates or other financial institutions, as identified in the notice, as long as the notice is accurate with respect to the licensee and the other institutions. A licensee also may provide a notice on behalf of another financial institution.

Ins 25.25(7) (7) Joint relationships. If two or more consumers jointly obtain an insurance product or service from a licensee, the licensee may satisfy the initial, annual and revised notice requirements of ss. Ins 25.10 (1), 25.13 (1), and 25.20 (1), respectively, by providing one notice to those consumers jointly.

Ins 25.25(8) (8) Multiple insurance products or services. If a consumer or two or more consumers jointly seek to obtain or obtain multiple insurance products or services from a licensee or its affiliates, the licensee may satisfy the initial, annual and revised notice requirements of ss. Ins 25.10 (1), 25.13 (1), and 25.20 (1), respectively, for the licensee and its affiliates by providing one notice to those consumers.

Ins 25.25 History History: Cr. Register, June, 2001, No. 546, eff. 7-1-01.

subch. III of ch. Ins 25 Subchapter III — Limits on Disclosures of Financial Information

Ins 25.30 Ins 25.30 Limits on disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties.

Ins 25.30(1) (1) Process.

Ins 25.30(1)(a) (a) Conditions for disclosure. Except as otherwise authorized in this chapter, a licensee may not, directly or through any affiliate, disclose any nonpublic personal financial information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party unless all of the following have occurred:

Ins 25.30(1)(a)1. 1. The licensee has provided to the consumer an initial notice as required under s. Ins 25.10.

Ins 25.30(1)(a)2. 2. The licensee has provided to the consumer an opt out notice as required in s. Ins 25.17.

Ins 25.30(1)(a)3. 3. The licensee has given the consumer a reasonable opportunity, before it discloses the information to the nonaffiliated third party, to opt out of the disclosure.

Ins 25.30(1)(a)4. 4. The consumer does not opt out.

Ins 25.30(1)(b) (b) Opt out definition. Opt out means a direction by the consumer that the licensee not disclose nonpublic personal financial information about that consumer to a nonaffiliated third party, other than as permitted by ss. Ins 25.50, 25.55, and 25.60.

Ins 25.30(1)(c) (c) Examples of reasonable opportunity to opt out. A licensee provides a consumer with a reasonable opportunity to opt out if it does any of the following:

Ins 25.30(1)(c)1. 1. ‘By mail.’ The licensee mails the notices required in par. (a) to the consumer and allows the consumer to opt out by mailing a form, calling a toll-free telephone number or any other reasonable means within thirty days from the date the licensee mailed the notices.

Ins 25.30(1)(c)2. 2. ‘By electronic means.’ A customer purchases an insurance service or product from a licensee and agrees to receive the notices required in par. (a) electronically, and the licensee allows the customer to opt out by any reasonable means within 30 days after the date that the customer acknowledges receipt of the notices in conjunction the transaction.

Ins 25.30(1)(c)3. 3. ‘Isolated transaction with consumer.’ For an isolated transaction such as providing the consumer with an insurance quote, a licensee provides the consumer with a reasonable opportunity to opt out if the licensee provides the notices required in par. (a) at the time of the transaction and requests that the consumer decide, as a necessary part of the transaction, whether to opt out before completing the transaction.

Ins 25.30(2) (2) Application of opt out to all consumers and all nonpublic personal financial information.

Ins 25.30(2)(a) (a) A licensee shall comply with this section, regardless of whether the licensee and the consumer have established a customer relationship.

Ins 25.30(2)(b) (b) Unless a licensee complies with this section, the licensee may not, except as permitted in ss. Ins 25.50, 25.55, and 25.60, directly or through any affiliate, disclose any nonpublic personal financial information about a consumer that the licensee has collected, regardless of whether the licensee collected it before or after receiving the direction to opt out from the consumer.

Ins 25.30(3) (3) Partial opt out. A licensee may allow a consumer to select certain nonpublic personal financial information or certain nonaffiliated third parties with respect to which the consumer wishes to opt out.

Ins 25.30 History History: Cr. Register, June, 2001, No. 546, eff. 7-1-01.

Ins 25.35 Ins 25.35 Limits on re-disclosure and reuse of nonpublic personal financial information.

Ins 25.35(1) (1) Redisclosure under exception.

Ins 25.35(1)(a) (a) Information the licensee receives under an exception. If a licensee receives nonpublic personal financial information from a nonaffiliated financial institution under an exception in s. Ins 25.55 or 25.60, the licensee may use or disclose that information only under the following conditions:

Ins 25.35(1)(a)1. 1. The licensee may disclose the information to the affiliates of the financial institution from which the licensee received the information.

Ins 25.35(1)(a)2. 2. The licensee may disclose the information to its affiliates, but the licensee’s affiliates may, in turn, disclose and use the information only to the extent that the licensee may disclose and use the information.

Ins 25.35(1)(a)3. 3. The licensee may disclose and use the information pursuant to an exception in s. Ins 25.55 or 25.60, in the ordinary course of business to carry out the activity covered by the exception under which the licensee received the information.

Ins 25.35(1)(b) (b) Example. If a licensee receives information from a nonaffiliated financial institution for claims settlement purposes, the licensee may disclose the information for fraud prevention, or in response to a properly authorized subpoena. The licensee may not disclose that information to a third party for marketing purposes or use that information for its own marketing purposes.

Ins 25.35(2) (2) Redisclosure outside exception.

Ins 25.35(2)(a) (a) Information a licensee receives outside of an exception. If a licensee receives nonpublic personal financial information from a nonaffiliated financial institution other than under an exception in s. Ins 25.55 or 25.60, the licensee may not disclose the information except to any of the following:

Ins 25.35(2)(a)1. 1. To the affiliates of the financial institution from which the licensee received the information.

Ins 25.35(2)(a)2. 2. To its affiliates, but its affiliates may, in turn, disclose the information only to the extent that the licensee may disclose the information.