Regulation · Pennsylvania

Unfair Insurance Practices (Unfair Claims Settlement Practices)

31 Pa. Code Chapter 146

Publisher: Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Edition: 31 Pa. Code, current through 56 Pa.B. 3438
Last checked: 2026-08-31
Status: Pennsylvania Code

Edition and licensing notes

Publisher. Pennsylvania Insurance Department (Pennsylvania Code, pacodeandbulletin.gov)

Edition. 31 Pa. Code, current through 56 Pa.B. 3438 (June 6, 2026)

Status. Pennsylvania Code (31 Pa.

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What this document is

31 Pa. Code Chapter 146 - Unfair Insurance Practices (Unfair Claims Settlement Practices) is a regulation published by Pennsylvania Insurance Department (Pennsylvania Code, pacodeandbulletin.gov). It is one of the Pennsylvania documents that insurance license exam questions are written from, including pennsylvania life & health, pennsylvania property & casualty, pennsylvania personal lines practice questions. This page summarizes it and points to the official version, which is the text to rely on.

Sections cited in practice questions

Each practice answer shows the exact passage it comes from. These are sections of this document that questions cite, with a short excerpt from the source text.

31 Pa. Code § 146.5(a) (Failure to Acknowledge Pertinent Communications)
“Every insurer, upon receiving notification of a claim, shall, within 10 working days, acknowledge the receipt of the notice unless payment is made within the period of time. If an acknowledgment is made by means other than writing, an appropriate notation of the acknowledgment shall be made in the...”
31 Pa. Code § 146.3 (File and record documentation)
“The files shall contain notes and work papers pertaining to the claim in the detail that pertinent events and the dates of the events can be reconstructed.”
31 Pa. Code § 146.9(b) (Comparative negligence)
“Insurers may not use comparative negligence claim settlement standards which are inequitable and which result in compelling claimants to litigate by offering substantially less than the amount due and ultimately recovered in actions brought by the persons.”
31 Pa. Code § 146.7(c)(1) (Standards for Prompt, Fair and Equitable Settlements Applicable to Insurers)
“If the insurer needs more time to determine whether a first-party claim should be accepted or denied, it shall so notify the first-party claimant within 15 working days after receipt of the proofs of loss giving the reasons more time is needed.”
31 Pa. Code § 146.5(a) (Failure to acknowledge pertinent communications)
“Every insurer, upon receiving notification of a claim, shall, within 10 working days, acknowledge the receipt of the notice unless payment is made within the period of time.”
31 Pa. Code § 146.2 (Definitions)
“Claim - A demand for payment by a claimant and not an inquiry concerning coverage.”
31 Pa. Code § 146.6 (Standards for prompt investigation of claims)
“If the investigation cannot be completed within 30 days, and every 45 days thereafter, the insurer shall provide the claimant with a reasonable written explanation for the delay and state when a decision on the claim may be expected.”
31 Pa. Code § 146.7(c)(1) (Standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlements applicable to insurers)
“If the insurer needs more time to determine whether a first-party claim should be accepted or denied, it shall so notify the first-party claimant within 15 working days after receipt of the proofs of loss giving the reasons more time is needed.”
31 Pa. Code Section 146.7(a)(1) (Standards for Prompt, Fair and Equitable Settlements Applicable to Insurers)
“(1) Within 15 working days after receipt by the insurer of properly executed proofs of loss, the first-party claimant shall be advised of the acceptance or denial of the claim by the insurer.”
31 Pa. Code Section 146.5(a) (Failure to acknowledge pertinent communications)
“Every insurer, upon receiving notification of a claim, shall, within 10 working days, acknowledge the receipt of the notice unless payment is made within the period of time. If an acknowledgment is made by means other than writing, an appropriate notation of the acknowledgment shall be made in the...”
31 Pa. Code Section 146.4(f) (Misrepresentation of policy provisions)
“(f) An insurer may not issue checks or drafts in partial settlement of a loss or claim under a specific coverage which checks or drafts contain language which expressly or impliedly releases the insurer or its insured from its total liability.”
31 Pa. Code Section 146.8(c) (Standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlements applicable to automobile insurance)
“(c) Insurers shall, upon the request of the claimant, include the first-party claimant’s deductible, if any, in subrogation demands. Subrogation recoveries shall be shared on a proportionate basis with the first-party claimant, unless the deductible amount has been otherwise recovered. A deduction...”

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