Information for New York and Illinois Victims of Domestic Violence

New York Insurance Law §2612, prohibits insurers from discriminating against customers based on their being or having been a victim of domestic violence. This law states that no insurer, solely because a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence, may:

1. refuse to issue or renew, deny or cancel any insurance policy
2. demand or require a greater premium or payment from any person or
3. designate domestic violence as a preexisting condition, for which coverage will be denied/reduced

The fact that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence is not a permitted underwriting criterion.

Additionally, New York Insurance Law §2612 and Illinois Insurance Code §355b provide important protections for victims of domestic violence. These laws establish processes an insurer must follow to protect the confidentiality of a covered person covered under a policy of insurance when that person properly presents the insurer with a valid order of protection obtained against the policyholder, or submits a reasonable request to protect their confidentiality, as described below.

If a person covered by an insurance policy issued to another person as the policyholder delivers to the insurer a valid order of protection against the policyholder or other insured under the policy, the insurer is prohibited for the duration of the order from disclosing to the policyholder or such other insured the address and telephone number of the insured, or of any person or entity providing covered services to the insured. If a child is the covered person under the policy, this right extends to the child's parent or guardian.

The insurer should also honor a reasonable request by a person covered by an insurance policy to receive communications of claim related information by alternative means or at alternative locations if the person clearly states that disclosure of all or part of the information could endanger the person.

If you are a GEICO customer and wish to initiate a request for confidentiality in connection with a valid order of protection, or if disclosure of information about your claim to the policyholder or another insured person covered under the same policy would endanger you, please contact us by phone or send a copy of the valid order of protection or reasonable request to: Protect@geico.com. If you are unable to email a copy, please mail it to us at GEICO PO BOX 9506, Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Attention Underwriting.

Along with your submission of a valid order of protection or reasonable request, you may provide us with an alternative address, telephone number or other method by which to contact you. The written request should: include the insured's name who is requesting protection (or on behalf of whom such protection is being requested); contain a statement that disclosure of all or part of the claim related information to which the request pertains could endanger the requesting individual (or person on whose behalf such protection is being requested); request additional protection on their policy from the release or disclosure of such information; and specify an alternative address, telephone number and/or other reasonable methods of contact.

You may revoke your request at any time by sending a letter to the address above. Requests should include policy number, phone number, name of the requestor, name of the individual the protection is against, and a statement requesting to remove protection. Note, requests made pursuant to a valid order of protection will be honored for the duration of the order.

We will implement your request within three (3) business days of our receipt of a valid order of protection or reasonable request as described above. Once implemented, we will not share your address, telephone number, other contact method, or any other information from which there is a reasonable basis to believe the foregoing could be obtained, to the policyholder or other insured covered under the same policy against whom you have a valid order of protection or to whom disclosure of the information would endanger you, without your express consent.

For additional assistance in New York, please contact the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline.

NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: (800) 942-6906
Spanish language: (800) 942-6908
In NYC: (800) 621-HOPE (4673) or dial 311
TTY: (866) 604-5350

For additional assistance in Illinois, please contact the Illinois State Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Hotline.

Illinois Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Hotline:1-877-TO END DV or 1-877-863-6338(Voice)
TTY: 1-877-863-6339

Please be advised that the employees at GEICO have up to three business days to implement the necessary protocol to secure your contact information and other confidential information.