Insurance law in the state of Kansas varies by category. Auto insurance has its own specific laws relating to coverage, just as health insurance has its own laws relating to what questions insurance agents may ask applicants. A constant throughout the insurance industry is education and licensure. No one may sell insurance in Kansas without a license attained through accredited training and testing.
Auto Insurance
Kansas law requires all drivers in the state to have auto insurance. As of November 2010, every automobile policy sold in the state is required to cover at least $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 for accident vehicle damage and $10,000 for property damage other than a vehicle in an accident. Kansas law also requires each policy to have minimum coverages for medical expenses such as rehabilitation and in-home services along with coverage for uninsured or under-insured motorists. Kansas is a "no fault" state meaning it does not assign blame to one party or another in an accident. Insurance companies are responsible for covering all vehicles insured by them in an accident. It is illegal for anyone in the state of Kansas to sell auto insurance policies without proper state certification.
Health Insurance
State health insurance law regulates how insurance agents may operate and construct policies, and Kansas is no exception. According to the Kansas Insurance Department, all health insurance policies in the state are required to clearly state the conditions of policy renewal such as automatic renewal to a certain age. Insurance companies are also restricted from asking "catch all" questions about a person's medical history within the last five years. All questions on a health insurance application are required to be specific. The law does allow insurance companies to ask pre-existing condition exclusion questions by which an applicant may be turned down for coverage. It is illegal for anyone in the state of Kansas to sell health insurance policies without proper state certification.
Worker's Compensation Insurance
Worker's compensation is required by law for all businesses in the state of Kansas. No business can opt out of carrying this coverage. The only condition under which worker's compensation insurance is not required is if the business has a total gross annual payroll of less than $20,000 for all its employees. Under the law, injured employees retain choice of physician to treat injuries though are required to wait seven days before worker's compensation benefits begin. An employer who does not carry worker's compensation insurance and is required to may be leave himself open for civil suit by an injured employee as well as criminal penalties including fines and possible jail time.
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