Senate committee backs measure requiring insurers to disclose claims‑level counts to inform consumers

The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted Feb. 17 to advance Senate Bill 2777 with amendments designed to improve transparency around insurer payout rates.

Under the amended language described in committee, authorized insurers would be required to disclose to consumers certain claims information: the number of claims open at the beginning of an insurance period, claims closed with payment during the period, claims closed without payment during the period, and claims open at the end of the period. Committee staff recommended removing a proposed requirement that the DCCA Insurance Division publish the data, leaving disclosure obligations with insurers. The committee also defected the bill’s effective date to July 1, 2050.

Committee members did not request further detail on the format or timing of insurer disclosures during the session; discussion was limited and the motion to pass with amendments was adopted. One senator recorded a dissenting 'no' during the roll call, but the recommendation was recorded as adopted by the committee.

Next steps include staff drafting the amended version of the bill and clarifying implementation mechanisms for insurer disclosures if the measure advances.