Maryland Regulator Reminds Insurers of Producer Rules
Bulletin 26-28, issued November 10, 2026, covers producer licensing, appointments, and termination reporting for all insurers in the state.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Insurance
The Maryland Insurance Administration issued Bulletin 26-28 on November 10, 2026, reminding insurers authorized to transact business in Maryland of their producer compliance obligations across all lines of business. The agency said its market conduct examinations have repeatedly found producer-related failures.
Why it matters
The bulletin restates requirements meant to reduce fraud and protect Maryland policyholders, since insurers may not accept business or pay commissions to individuals without an active Maryland license. Its emphasis on recurring examination findings signals that producer oversight remains an enforcement focus in the state.
The bulletin sets specific deadlines: a 30-day window to update the internal producer register after a new appointment, and license-status checks at least every 31 days under COMAR 31.03.13.03(A). Insurers must also notify the Commissioner within 30 days of any for-cause appointment termination.
The players
Maryland Insurance Administration
The Maryland Insurance Administration is the state agency that licenses insurers and producers, conducts market conduct examinations, and enforces the state's insurance code.
The details
Bulletin 26-28 applies to every insurer authorized to transact business in Maryland and addresses licensing verification, internal appointments, register maintenance, written appointment confirmation, and for-cause termination reporting. Insurers may rely on a report from the National Insurance Producer Registry for license monitoring, and terminations are submitted through the MIA online enforcement portal or by email to the Enforcement Division.
Timeline
November 10, 2026: Maryland Insurance Administration issues Bulletin 26-28 on producer compliance.
Within 30 days of any new producer appointment: insurers must update their internal producer register.
Every 31 days: insurers must check whether registered producers' licenses have been suspended or revoked.
Within 5 business days of a license lapse: insurers must terminate the producer's appointment.
Within 30 days of a for-cause termination: insurers must notify the Commissioner.
Regulatory Baseline
The bulletin restates requirements already set in Maryland Insurance Code § 10-103, which bars selling insurance without an active license and a formal insurer appointment. It applies the same appointment and register-maintenance duties found in COMAR 31.03.13 to every insurer in the state.
Policyholders buying coverage through agents in Maryland benefit from insurers verifying that producers hold active licenses and valid appointments. Insurers must act on license lapses and for-cause terminations within set deadlines, which limits how long an unlicensed seller can operate.
The takeaway
Before buying a policy in Maryland, consumers can ask the agent for their license number and confirm it is active with the insurer that will issue the policy. Verifying the producer's appointment protects against purchases made through unlicensed sellers.
Further reading
For broader context on how state rules shape coverage, see Insurance coverage news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Insurance Business.
