Governor Signs Wilson Bill Increasing Travel Insurance Protections

COLUMBUS—Gov. Mike DeWine has signed into law a bill sponsored by State Senator Steve Wilson (R-Maineville) that provides increased protections for Ohioans buying travel insurance.

"Establishing this simple yet clear regulatory structure is essential to the continued protection of consumers who buy travel insurance and the growing industry," said Wilson. "It is better we establish this framework now through the legislative process then having an unlevel playing field brought onto the industry due to enforcement actions."

Among other benefits, the new law will:

• Establish consumer protections ensuring travel insurance plans are fair and reasonable.
• Clarify permissible sales practices and the applicability of the state’s unfair trade practices law.
• Impose explicit consumer disclosures in addition to what the state’s insurance law otherwise mandates.
• Prohibit the practice of opt-out sales.
• Establishes uniform meanings of key terms.

Senate Bill 256, now signed into law, builds upon a previous bill sponsored by Wilson that resolved regulatory inconsistencies for travel insurance providers and travel agents.