Missouri Claims Compliance
Key regulatory requirements, correspondence deadlines, and mandated forms for Missouri (MO).
Quick Reference
Key Deadlines
Requirements
- Mandated Forms
- Catastrophe Rules
- Separate P&C / Life & Health
- Fraud Warning
- Depreciation Notice
- E-Delivery (no specific statutory or regulatory requirement found)
Regulatory Authority
Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI)
Phone: 800-726-7390 or 573-751-4126; Website: insurance.mo.gov or dci.mo.gov; Address: P.O. Box 690, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0690
Bad Faith: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 375.420
Lines of Business
Key Statutes
- Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 375.1000 to 375.1018
- Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 20 §§ 100-1.010 to 100-1.100
Missouri handles claims correspondence according to specific state regulations. Requirements vary depending on the line of business and specific claim circumstances.
Acknowledgment
Every claim must be acknowledged within 10 business days of receipt. The acknowledgment should identify the insurance policy and coverage at issue.
Denial
A written denial must be issued within 15 business days. The denial must reference the specific policy provisions, conditions, or exclusions relied upon.
Statutory Language
No specific statutory language mandated beyond standard disclosures.
LOB-Specific Requirements
Regulatory requirements for Missouri, grouped by line of business. Select a chip to filter.
- SOL Notice In Denial Required
- Yes
- Unfair Claims Practices Act RefStatutory
- Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 375.1000 to 375.1018
- Prompt Payment Statute RefStatutory
- No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found for a separate prompt payment act; prompt settlement standards are codified within the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act and Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 20 § 100-1.050
- HO Specific RequirementsStatutory
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 379.140 (Company not to deny value); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 379.150 (Partial loss by fire)
- Public Adjuster RegulationsStatutory
- No insurance company shall make payment of any insurance claim to a public adjuster unless the name of the insured is added as a joint payee on any claim check or draft; the payment must be sent to the address designated by the insured (Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 20 § 100-1.100(1))
- Depreciation Notice RequiredStatutory
- All adjustments based on betterment or depreciation must be documented in the claim file, itemized, explained, and must be fair and reasonable (Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 20 § 100-8.040)
- Proof Of Loss RequirementsStatutory
- No insurer shall deny any claim based upon the insured's failure to submit a written notice of loss within a specified time following any loss, unless this failure operates to prejudice the rights of the insurer (Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 20 § 100-1.020(1)(D))
- Suit Limitation PeriodStatutory
- Standard statutory limitations apply regardless of policy wording; all parts of any contract or agreement which either directly or indirectly limit the time in which any suit or action may be instituted shall be null and void (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 431.030)
Missouri Case Law
Published decisions that shape claim-handling and correspondence practice in Missouri. Pair these with the statutory deadlines above.
- Case Law
Dhyne v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co
188 S.W.3d 454 (2006)
Bad FaithCommercial PropertyAmerican College of Coverage Counsel. Qureshi v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co.
- Case Law
Brown v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co
776 S.W.2d 384 (1989)
Reservation of RightsWorkers' Comp. Available at: https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/supreme-court/1989/71290-0.html
- Case Law
Allen v. State Farm Mut. Automobile Ins. Co
753 S.W.2d 616 (1988)
Bad FaithCommercial PropertyJustia. Laster v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 693 S.W.2d 195 (1985).
- Case Law
Laster v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co
693 S.W.2d 195 (1985)
Bad FaithCommercial Property - Case Law
Dyer v. General American Life Ins. Co
541 S.W.2d 702 (1976)
Bad FaithCommercial PropertyRoach Law. Missouri Law on Bad-Faith Insurance.
- Case LawReservation of RightsCommercial PropertyWorkers' Comp
and reaffirmed in State ex rel. Rimco, Inc. v. Dowd (1993), Missouri views a defense under an ROR as an inherent conflict of interest, because the insurer may have an incentive to develop facts establishing non-coverage rather than defeating the insured's liability .
Show 7 more cases
- Case Law
Zumwalt v. Utilities Ins. Co
228 S.W.2d 750 (1950)
Bad FaithCommercial PropertyKC Attys. Missouri Bad Faith Insurance Law.
- Case LawReservation of RightsAuto
. Available at: https://www.bakersterchi.com/a-review-of-allen-v-bryers
- Case LawClosing LettersAuto
if an insurer fails to fully apprise the insured of the specific reasons for denying a claim in a written denial letter, the insurer is estopped from asserting those unwritten defenses in subsequent litigation, provided the insured can demonstrate prejudice resulting from the lack of notice .
- Case LawBad FaithGeneral LiabilityProfessional Liability
held that this statutory cap was unconstitutional as applied to common law torts that existed at the time the state constitution was adopted (1820), because it violated the right to a trial by jury . However, the caps remain fully enforceable for statutory causes of action .
- Case LawClosing LettersCommercial Auto
the Missouri Court of Appeals evaluated a vexatious refusal claim . In its defense, GEICO relied heavily on its claim file documentation, demonstrating that it communicated with the insured's attorney and properly documented its closure. The court record explicitly noted the insurer's internal file documentation: "closing letter b/c filing with a/c emailed to [Claimant]" .
- Case Law
Shobe v. Kelly
2009
Status UpdatesCommercial Auto. In Shobe, the Missouri Court of Appeals established that bad faith may be proven by direct or circumstantial evidence, heavily emphasizing an insurer's communication failures. The court explicitly listed the following communication-based failures as evidence of bad faith:
- Case LawReservation of RightsCommercial Property
Missouri views a defense under an ROR as an inherent conflict of interest, because the insurer may have an incentive to develop facts establishing non-coverage rather than defeating the insured's liability .
Historical court cases are for reference only and may be superseded, distinguished, or abrogated.
Applicable Letter Templates
No letter templates currently found for this jurisdiction.