Contemporaneous with the State of Emergency declared by Governor Eric R. Greitens in Executive Order 17-13, the Missouri Department of Insurance has issued Bulletin 17-04 requesting all insurers licensed in Missouri allow coverage to remain in effect for any Missourian who resides in a county where severe flooding has occurred and who has had their ability to timely act or respond to an insurer materially affected by the flood.

Insurers should also consider providing a grace period during which impacted Missourians can take actions necessary to keep their policies in force.

The department is also requesting health insurers consider providing out-of-network coverage at no greater cost than in-network coverage to Missourians who receive out-of-network care due to flooding or who are not able to reach their regular health care provider due to flooding.

“The department appreciates the assistance and cooperation of insurers as Missourians continue to recover from this historic and unprecedented flooding event,” said Chlora Lindley-Myers, director of the department.

Missourians who have questions or concerns about their insurance coverage should contact the department's Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or visit insurance.mo.gov.