About Us

Kentucky - Lexington

The extent of KLHIGA's protection, as well as the governance and operation of KLHIGA, is mandated by the Kentucky Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act ("the Act"), first effective June 17, 1978, and most recently amended effective June 27, 2019. The Act may be found in Chapter 304, Subtitle 42 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (a link to the Statutes can be found in the Additional Info section of our website).

All insurance companies classified as life insurance companies, health insurance companies or health maintenance organizations ("HMO") and licensed to sell life insurance, accident and health insurance, HMO contracts or annuity contracts in Kentucky are required by law to be members of KLHIGA ("member insurers") and, as such, are subject to assessment of funds as the need arises to carry out the purposes of the Act. Other organizations providing death benefits and health protection, such as fraternal benefit societies, mandatory government pools or entities that operate on an assessment basis, are excluded as member insurers. Consequently, KLHIGA has no obligations with respect to those types of organizations.

In the event a member insurer is found to be insolvent and ordered by the Franklin Circuit Court of Franklin County to be liquidated, KLHIGA becomes activated as of the date of the court order on behalf of the insolvent company's Kentucky resident insurance or HMO contract owners to maintain and service their insurance or HMO contracts and pay benefits and claims subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the law.

The Act establishes maximum limits on the payment of benefits with respect to any one insured life when multiple policies or contracts are owned by the same person or multiple lives are insured by a single policy. Also, certain types of policies and contracts are excluded from coverage under the Act. The Frequently Asked Questions section of our website is designed to inform you about significant limitations and exclusions from coverage.

Guaranty associations substantially similar to KLHIGA exist under the laws of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to protect their residents. KLHIGA, along with all other state associations, voluntarily belong to the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations ("NOLHGA"). The national association provides a ready means to coordinate activities of the state associations to facilitate the handling of insolvencies of insurers and HMOs licensed in more than one state.

To avoid confusion concerning guaranty associations, you should know there is a similarly created association in Kentucky to provide for payment of claims arising under policies written by property and casualty insurance companies (i.e., automobile, homeowners, professional liability and workers compensation). That association is the Kentucky Insurance Guaranty Association ("KIGA"), which is governed by the Kentucky Insurance Guaranty Association Act found in Chapter 304, Subtitle 36 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.

This website exists to provide general information. While every effort is made to keep the site current with respect to the Act and other related laws, it is not intended and should not be relied upon as definitive legal advice.

KLHIGA OPERATIONS

A Board of Directors comprised of six member insurers governs KLHIGA's activities in accordance with the law. An Executive Director, along with independent professionals and servicing agencies hired on an as-needed basis, carry out KLHIGA's responsibilities.

For KLHIGA contact information, please visit the Contact Us page.