A CONSUMER GUIDE TO
AUTO
INSURANCE
FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO
AUTO
INSURANCE
FOR TEEN &
YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Who We Are ....................................................1
Introduction ....................................................1
Required Auto Insurance Coverage ...................................2
Other Coverage Options ...........................................4
Consequences of Failing to Maintain the Minimum Required Insurance.......6
Factors Affecting Auto Insurance Premiums ............................7
Tips for Reducing Auto Insurance Premiums ...........................8
Driving Information and Tips for Young Drivers.........................9
Information About the Privilege to Drive for Young Drivers ...............10
What To Do if You Can’t Find Insurance as a Young Driver ...............11
Where to Obtain More Information .................................12
How to File a Complaint..........................................12
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
WHO WE ARE
e Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) is an independent state agency that
regulates Maryland’s insurance marketplace and protects consumers by ensuring
that insurers and insurance producers (agents and brokers) act in accordance with
insurance laws. We produced this guide to help educate Maryland residents about
auto insurance for teen and young adult drivers.
e Insurance Administration is also responsible for investigating and resolving
complaints and questions concerning insurers that conduct business in Maryland.
INTRODUCTION
Most teens can’t wait to earn the privilege to drive . . . alone and away from parents’
protective eyes. Statistics show that teenagers are at the highest risk of a crash or
injury during their fi rst two years of driving. Much of this is due to a simple lack
of experience. Driver error is also precipitated by such distractions as talking on a
cell phone, sending or reading text messages, conversing with passengers, smoking,
eating or listening to music.
Did you know that this simple lack of experience, combined with any driving
infractions, will greatly aff ect the auto insurance
premiums your family pays? at is why the
Maryland Insurance Administration has prepared this
guide. It provides an overview of Maryland’s insurance
laws and helpful tips on how to reduce your family’s
auto insurance premiums.
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
REQUIRED AUTO
INSURANCE COVERAGE
Maryland law requires that each motor vehicle owner obtain insurance coverage on
a motor vehicle before it is registered. Coverages mandated by law include liability
coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and personal injury protection; other
coverages, as discussed later, are optional. ese mandatory coverages are described
generally below. To determine the specific terms of coverage and monetary limits you
have under your policy, you will need to read your policy forms and endorsements.
• Liability Coverage: is mandatory coverage pays for damages to another
person or another person’s property that result from an accident where you
are at fault. is coverage typically extends to a member of your family
who is living with you or to a person to whom you gave permission to
operate your vehicle. If you’re sued because of the accident, this coverage
will also pay the cost of your legal defense. Liability coverage is often split
into two separate coverages: (1) bodily injury, and (2) property damage.
1. Bodily Injury (BI): When another person sustains injuries or dies as
a result of an accident for which you are at fault, BI coverage pays that
person’s damages up to the policy maximum. Although the terms of
coverage are defined in each policy, such damages generally include
medical expenses and lost income, as well as pain and suffering. e
policy may provide coverage to passengers in your vehicle, operators
and passengers in another vehicle involved in the accident and/or to
a pedestrian(s). For all policies written or renewed after January 1,
2011, Maryland law requires the minimum bodily injury coverage
each driver must have is $30,000 per person per accident and
$60,000 total per accident.
2. Property Damage (PD): Property damage coverage pays, up to the
policy limits, for damages to another person’s car or property, such as
fences, mailboxes, buildings, utility poles, signs or trees, that are the
result of an accident where you are at fault. Maryland law requires
that each driver have, at minimum, property damage coverage in the
amount of $15,000 per accident.
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A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
Although state law sets a minimum level of coverage, you may purchase higher
limits of both types of coverages if you wish. Also, by law, your insurer must
offer you liability coverage for claims made by a family member in the same
amount as the liability coverage for claims made by a nonfamily member.
NOTE: You may want to consider buying higher coverage limits, because the state
minimums may not be enough to fully protect you in the event of a serious accident
claim or lawsuit. Most vehicles today are worth more than $15,000, and medical bills
for injuries could easily exceed $30,000 per person or $60,000 per accident if several
people are injured. If you are found at fault for an accident, and the damages exceed
your insurance limits, you can be held personally responsible for those amounts not
covered by your insurance. You should decide if your financial condition warrants your
purchase of higher coverage limits. e higher coverage limits will result in a higher
insurance premium for your policy. You might wish to obtain quotes for policies with
different coverage limits so that you know you are getting the coverage you want at a
price you can afford.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): is mandatory coverage pays you
and the occupants of your vehicle for bodily injuries or property damage
arising out of an accident involving an uninsured vehicle or a hit-and-run
vehicle. It will also protect you in the event that you are a pedestrian struck
by an uninsured motor vehicle. For all policies written or renewed after
January 1, 2011, Maryland law requires, at minimum, uninsured motorist
coverage of $30,000 per person per accident and $60,000 total per accident
for bodily injury and $15,000 per accident for property damage. By statute,
you are entitled to purchase UM bodily injury coverage in the same amounts
as the liability bodily injury coverage you have on your policy or you may
choose to waive any amount of coverage in excess of the statutory minimums.
In Maryland, UM coverage also includes underinsured motorist coverage,
which is known as UIM coverage. It provides you with property damage
and bodily injury protection in the event you are involved in an accident
where the at-fault driver has an insurance policy with liability limits that are
less than your UM limits, and your damages or injuries exceed the at-fault
driver’s available limits. You then can claim the difference under your own
insurance policy.
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance
provides reimbursement for some types of lost income and medical expenses
for injuries sustained as a result of an accident, regardless of fault. Maryland law
requires minimum coverage of $2,500. If you choose to purchase PIP coverage
for all insured drivers and residents of the household above 16 years of age,
this is known as “Full PIP.” You may, however, elect not to purchase a portion
of Full PIP. When you decline to purchase PIP for any listed driver and family
members of your household (over 16 years of age), this is known as “Limited
PIP”. Some policyholders who have health insurance coverage may choose to
waive PIP coverage in order to reduce the premium on the policy. Please note,
however, that PIP is designed to ensure that medical expenses are paid promptly
to limit the economic harm you may suffer due to injuries from an auto
accident. Many policyholders pay the extra expense associated with PIP in order
to have coverage for lost wages. Others purchase PIP so that they have a second
source of recovery when being treated for accident-related injuries. If you meet
certain conditions, MAIF and some other insurance companies may permit you
to reject all PIP coverage. Ask your producer or company to learn more.
OTHER COVERAGE
OPTIONS
ere are other types of coverages, including collision and comprehensive coverage,
which, while not legally required, are worth your consideration. If you have an
auto loan, your lender may require you to carry comprehensive and/or collision
coverages to protect the lender’s financial interest in your vehicle.
• Collision Coverage: Pays for repairs to your vehicle or, in the event of a
total loss, will pay you the fair market value of your vehicle prior to the
accident, when the vehicle is in a collision or overturns. Collision coverage
is available regardless of who caused the accident, but is subject to a
deductible.
• Comprehensive Coverage (also known as Other an Collision): Pays for
damage to your car resulting from causes other than an accident, such as
vandalism, theft, glass breakage not resulting from an accident, or hitting
an animal with a car. is coverage is also subject to a deductible.
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
Depending on the age and value of your car, these coverages may or may not be
benefi cial. If your car is older, the premiums for comprehensive and collision
coverage may cost more than the car is worth. However, if your vehicle has a value
to you and you could not aff ord to be without the vehicle or money for the vehicle,
you may wish to consider purchasing these coverages as the potential loss to you
may be greater than the cost of the coverages. In general, you can expect your
insurance premium to increase if you add these coverages to your policy. However,
if you choose a higher deductible, your premium will be lower. ( is is because
you, rather than your insurance company, are assuming more risk.)
OTHER OPTIONAL COVERAGES TO CONSIDER:
• Rental Reimbursement: is coverage pays
the cost of renting a vehicle while your damaged
vehicle is repaired, when you are at fault for an
accident. e policy will establish the maximum
allowable daily rate and maximum number
of days for which a rental will be paid; the
maximum generally allowed is 30 days.
• Transportation Expense Coverage: is
coverage pays for additional transportation costs (i.e. car rental, bus or
train fare) while your vehicle is repaired following an accident or a loss.
• Towing and Labor: is coverage will reimburse you if your vehicle has to
be towed as a result of an accident or mechanical breakdown.
• Medical Payments Coverage: is coverage provides you with additional
money to pay for medical expenses arising out of a motor vehicle accident,
regardless of fault. is is in addition to any PIP benefi ts you may purchase.
GAP Insurance: It can be devastating fi nancially if your brand-new vehicle, with a
brand-new loan, is stolen or totaled in an accident, because a traditional insurance
policy only will pay the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle at the time of the
loss, even if the car owner owes more than the amount of the loan he took out to
pay for the vehicle. If you only have traditional coverages, situations can arise where
the car owner - though not at fault for the accident – will be left without a car and
have to continue to make payments on the loan. GAP insurance eliminates this
problem by paying the diff erence between your automobile’s ACV paid pursuant to
an automobile insurance policy and the outstanding balance on the car loan.
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
CONSEQUENCES OF
FAILING TO MAINTAIN
THE MINIMUM REQUIRED
INSURANCE
Maryland law requires all owners of motor vehicles to purchase and maintain the
minimum coverage for bodily injury liability, personal injury protection, property
damage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. State law requires you to
have a minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury
liability coverage, $15,000 in property liability coverage, and identical amounts
of uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage, as well as $2,500 in
Personal Injury Protection coverage. (For more information on Personal Injury
Protection coverage, see page 4.)
By law, when an automobile insurance policy is
cancelled or nonrenewed, the insurer is required to
notify the MVA. If based on the information they
have on record it appears to the MVA that you do
not have insurance coverage, the MVA will contact
you and request that you provide a Maryland
Insurance Certifi cation Form (FR-19) that shows
adequate coverage has been in place since the vehicle
was registered. Insurers are required to provide FR-19
forms free-of-charge, without question, to all policyholders. If coverage cannot be
verifi ed through an insurer, the MVA may assess the vehicle owner a penalty fee for
each day the vehicle was uninsured. Uninsured vehicle owners could:
•
lose license plates and vehicle registration privileges;
• pay uninsured motorist penalty fees for each lapse of insurance - $200 for the
fi rst 30 days, $7 for each day thereafter;
• pay a restoration fee of up to $25 for a vehicle’s registration;
• be prohibited from registering any future vehicles until all insurance violations
are cleared;
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
• be prohibited from renewing a suspended registration until all insurance
violations are cleared;
• have license plates confiscated by an authorized tag recovery agent, once a
registration suspension is in effect; or
• pay a fine of up to $1,000 and/or one year imprisonment for providing false
evidence of insurance.
If you wish to challenge the fine, you must contact the MVA at 410-768-7000.
You also may have to pay a fee to reinstate your vehicle registration.
If your vehicle is uninsured for any period of time, you also may find that your
insurance premium is higher after the lapse. Additionally, you may find that some
insurers will not insure you or your vehicle if there has been a lapse in coverage
while you owned it. Insurers sometimes do this because they have found that those
who drive without insurance present a greater risk for future losses than those
drivers who maintain continuous insurance coverage.
FACTORS AFFECTING
AUTO INSURANCE
PREMIUMS
Rating factors are characteristics that place you within a group of drivers with
similar risk-related characteristics. Companies set rates for each group based on the
claims paid for the policyholders in that group. Some common rating factors are:
• driving record
• age (As young drivers haven’t yet had the time to accumulate a safe driving
record, their insurance rates as well as their parents’ will be affected by both
age and driving record.)
• sex (Young males up to age 26 generally pay higher rates than same-aged
females.)
• address or zip code where the vehicle is primarily garaged
• vehicle type. (Sports and high performance cars cost more to insure.)
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
TIPS FOR REDUCING
AUTO INSURANCE
PREMIUMS
Probably the easiest and least expensive way for a teen to obtain auto insurance is to
be added to his parents’ policy. Parents may add their teenager driver to their policy
by listing him as a driver or, if the parents’ name(s) are listed on the title of the
teen’s vehicle, by adding the vehicle to their policy. Either way, the bottom line is
this: the parents’ rates will increase.
Here are some tips to help teens maintain lower rates:
• Keep a clean driving record. Drivers with accidents and moving
violations usually pay higher premiums than those with clean driving
records. For example, if you have more than one at-fault accident in less
than three years or if you are convicted of any moving violation, your
insurance company may choose to raise your premiums, non-renew your
insurance policy or exclude you as a driver from the policy, which allows
your parents’ premium to stay the same, but prohibits all recovery if you
operate the insured vehicle. If your driver’s license is suspended or revoked,
your insurance company may cancel the policy. If you are covered under
your parents’ policy, your driving record will affect their insurance policy.
• Carefully choose the vehicle you drive. Certain vehicles cost more to
insure because they cost more to repair, are more likely to be damaged
in an accident or are stolen frequently. If you own a sports or other high
performance car, you may pay a higher insurance premium.
• Drive a vehicle with safety features. Some companies offer discounts for
items such as air bags, anti-lock brakes, automatic seatbelts and antitheft
systems.
• Maintain a good credit history. Companies may consider your financial
stability and charge higher premiums based on your financial status (i.e.,
credit card history, amount of credit, how timely you pay your bills, etc.).
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
• Keep your grades up. Some companies off er a discount to young drivers
who maintain good grades, such as a “B” average or better.
• Choose the right payment method. Ask your agent or broker if they
charge a fee for making a premium payment with a credit card. ey
are permitted to charge the actual expenses incurred when a premium
payment is made using a credit card, provided the amount of the fee is
disclosed.
DRIVING INFORMATION
AND TIPS FOR YOUNG
DRIVERS
Insurance rates for teenage drivers are high because
teenage drivers, as a group, have much higher
accident rates than other drivers. According to the
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the leading
contributing factors cited in police reports in young
driver crashes include: not paying attention, driving
too fast for conditions, failure to yield right of way,
and following too closely.
1
To reduce your risk of
an accident, please keep the following in mind while
driving:
• Remain alert when driving. Keep your eyes on the road at all times.
• Stay focused on driving. Don’t let your passengers, or anything else,
distract you while driving.
• Wear your seatbelt. Seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of
injuries and fatalities.
• Never drive when consuming alcohol or taking drugs. is is a good idea
even for some legally-prescribed and over-the-counter drugs until you are
sure of the aff ect they may have on you.
1 Source – www.mva.maryland.gov/Driver-Safety/Young/fastfacts.htm
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE
FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
• If you have a provisional license and are under 18 years of age, state law
prohibits you from using a wireless communication device while driving,
driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. or having a passenger
under the age of 18 unless you are accompanied by a licensed driver who is
at least 21 years old and has driven for three or more years.
• If you are 18 years of age or older and have a learner’s instructional permit
or a provisional driver’s license, you may not use a handheld telephone
while operating a motor vehicle.
• To be eligible for a full driver’s license, a driver cannot have a conviction
for a moving violation in the past 18 months while on a provisional
license.
• If you are under 18 in Maryland, a parent, guardian or other qualifying
adult must cosign your driver’s license application to allow you to drive.
And remember, a cosigner can write a letter and withdraw his/her consent,
allowing the MVA to suspend your license.
• Police offi cers are authorized to stop and detain anyone if they reasonably
believe the individual is, or has been, driving or attempting to drive
a motor vehicle while under the infl uence of alcohol (blood alcohol
concentration of between 0.04 or 0.08), drugs, controlled dangerous
substances or driving while intoxicated (blood alcohol concentration of
0.08 or higher).
Note: e Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
(MVA) publishes a brochure entitled: What Young
Drivers Need to Know About Driving, Drinking &
Drugs. Call 410-768-7000 to obtain a copy of this
brochure. Also, visit www.rookiedriver.com for
more information.
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
WHAT TO DO IF YOU
CAN’T FIND INSURANCE
AS A YOUNG DRIVER
If you cannot fi nd auto insurance through standard insurance companies, talk to
your insurance agent about the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF),
created by statute to insure people who are unable to get insurance through
standard insurers.
To obtain insurance through MAIF, you:
1. must be turned down for auto insurance by two other insurance companies,
or have previously had a policy, but then become uninsured for at least
a year;
2. must have a valid Maryland driver’s license or a registered vehicle in
Maryland; and
3. must not owe MAIF an outstanding premium for prior insurance coverage.
MAIF’s premiums may be higher than those written with a standard insurance
company. However, if you maintain a good driving record while insured with
MAIF, you eventually should be able to return to a standard insurance company.
In addition, if your driving record is poor, and it has
triggered an increase in premium or a nonrenewal of
your parents’ policy, your parents have the option of
excluding you from their policy. If you are excluded,
this means you cannot operate their vehicle(s) because
you are no longer insured under their policy. MAIF
off ers a named non-owners policy that will provide
coverage for you when you operate vehicles owned by
others. is may be a more aff ordable way to provide
coverage for a teen driver. Keep in mind, though, that the coverage provided under
this type of a policy will be for the minimum limits required by the state. If you have
an accident and the damages are greater than the policy limits, you may be personally
responsible for the diff erence.
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Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.insurance.maryland.gov
A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
WHERE TO OBTAIN
MORE INFORMATION
e Maryland Insurance Administration publishes A Consumer Guide to Auto
Insurance and Auto Insurance - A Comparison Guide to Rates. ese are available
online at www.insurance.maryland.gov in the Consumers/Publications section, or
by calling 410-468-2340 or 800-492-6116. Your independent insurance producer
should also be able to provide information and explanations regarding your auto
insurance coverage.
HOW TO FILE
A COMPLAINT
e Maryland Insurance Administration’s primary role is to protect consumers
from illegal insurance practices by making certain that insurers and producers doing
business in Maryland act in accordance with state insurance laws. You may contact
the Insurance Administration to file a complaint against an insurer or producer
who you believe is not acting in accordance with Maryland law.
Maryland’s insurance laws not only govern insurers’ conduct – they also protect
Maryland consumers. Insurers are prohibited from settling claims in an arbitrary
and capricious manner. is means that insurers’ claim settlement practices must
be fair, nondiscriminatory and adhere to Maryland insurance laws.
If you feel that your insurer has acted improperly, you have the right to take action
by filing a complaint with the Maryland Insurance Administration. However, some
disputes may be governed by your policy’s terms and may not be a problem the
Maryland Insurance Administration can resolve for you.
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A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
Complaints must be received in writing. Please provide as much detail as possible,
including copies of pertinent documents. A trained, professional investigator will
handle your complaint. e investigator will contact the insurer/producer to try to
resolve the issue. Meanwhile you will be advised of the steps being taken on your
behalf. Complaint files are not closed until the Maryland Insurance Administration
has made a determination regarding the complaint.
e MIA also established a Rapid Response Program designed to help certain
consumers resolve property and casualty claims (such as auto and homeowners
claims including those made under commercial lines policies) quickly and
without having to file a formal written complaint. For more information about
this program, please contact us at 410-468-2340 or 800-492-6116 ext. 2340.
Participation in the Rapid Response Program is voluntary and does not affect your
right to file a formal complaint with the Maryland Insurance Administration.
For additional information or if you have a complaint, please contact the Maryland
Insurance Administration’s Consumer Complaint Investigation Division at
410-468-2000 or toll-free at 800-492-6116. Consumers may also file their
written complaint in person or by mail.
Consumers may also file a complaint by going online to the Maryland Insurance
Administration’s web site at www.insurance.maryland.gov and under Consumers,
click on File a Complaint.
Note: is publication was produced to help consumers better understand auto
insurance. is publication, however, should not be considered a substitute for you
reading and familiarizing yourself with your auto insurance policy.
Auto insurance policies are contracts with many different parts and terms. As
each consumer’s needs are different and few auto insurance policies are alike, many
consumers benefit from the advice of a knowledgeable insurance producer. Other
consumers, however, are comfortable dealing directly with an insurer’s customer
service representative, who can answer questions and provide advice.
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A CONSUMER GUIDE TO AUTO INSURANCE FOR TEEN & YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS
FILING A CIVIL ACTION FOR A FIRST PARTY PROPERTY &
CASUALTY OR AN INDIVIDUAL DISABILITY CLAIM
A Maryland consumer who has a property and casualty insurance policy (property
and casualty insurance includes automobile, homeowners, fire and/or dwelling,
inland marine, commercial liability policies) or an individual disability policy (a
policy that provides for lost income, revenue, or proceeds in the event that an
illness, accident, or injury results in a disability that impairs an insured’s ability
to work or otherwise generate income, revenue, or proceeds that the insurance
is intendeds to replace) that was issued, sold or delivered in Maryland and
believes that his/her property and casualty insurer or his/her individual disability
insurer failed to act in good faith in making a decision regarding his/her firstparty
insurance claim may seek special damages against the insurer by filing a
civil complaint, in addition to or in place of filing an administrative consumer
complaint with the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA).
e Insurance Article defines good faith as making a judgment based on honesty
and diligence supported by evidence the insurer knew or should have known at
the time the insurer made a decision on the claim. If the Maryland consumer
files a civil complaint and the insurer is found to have failed to act in good faith,
the insured may be entitled to an award with enhanced damages. Such enhanced
damages may include, in addition to the actual contract damages, litigation
expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees not to exceed one third of the actual
damages payable to the insured, and interest at the post-judgment rate.
An explanation of when a consumer can seek these special damages, when a
lawsuit has to be filed with the MIA, and how to make that filing are explained
in a separate MIA publication: “A Guide for Consumers Filing a 27-1001 Civil
Complaint.”
MIA-A-5
(7/24)
is consumer guide should be used for educational purposes only. It is not intended to
provide legal advice or opinions regarding coverage under a specific policy or contract;
nor should it be construed as an endorsement of any product, service, person, or
organization mentioned in this guide. Please note that policy terms vary based on the
particular insurer and you should contact your insurer or insurance producer (agent or
broker) for more information.
is publication has been produced by the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) to
provide consumers with general information about insurance-related issues and/or state
programs and services. is publication may contain copyrighted material which was
used with permission of the copyright owner. Publication herein does not authorize any
use or appropriation of such copyrighted material without consent of the owner.
All publications issued by the MIA are available free of charge on the MIA’s website or
by request. e publication may be reproduced in its entirety without further permission
of the MIA provided the text and format are not altered or amended in any way, and no
fee is assessed for the publication or duplication thereof. e MIA’s name and contact
information must remain clearly visible, and no other name, including that of the
insurer or insurance producer reproducing the publication, may appear anywhere in the
reproduction. Partial reproductions are not permitted without the prior written consent
of the MIA.
People with disabilities may request this document in an alternative
format. Requests should be submitted in writing to the Chief,
Communications and Public Engagement at the address listed below.
200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-468-2000
800-492- 6116
800-735-2258 TTY
www.insurance.maryland.gov
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