§ 58-3-25.  Discriminatory practices prohibited.

(a) No insurer shall after September 1, 1975, base any standard or rating plan for private passenger automobiles or motorcycles, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, upon the age or sex of the persons insured.

(b) No insurer shall refuse to insure or refuse to continue to insure an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage, solely because of blindness or partial blindness or deafness or partial deafness.  With respect to all other physical conditions, including the underlying cause of the blindness or partial blindness or deafness or partial deafness, individuals who are blind or partially blind shall be subject to the same standards of sound actuarial principles or actual or reasonably anticipated experience as are sighted individuals or individuals whose hearing is not impaired.  Refusal to insure or refusal to continue to insure includes denial by an insurer providing disability insurance on the grounds that the policy defines disability as being presumed in the event that the insured loses his eyesight or hearing:  Provided that an insurer providing disability insurance may except disability coverage for blindness, partial blindness, deafness, or partial deafness when those conditions existed at the time the application was made for the disability insurance policy.  The provisions of this subsection shall be construed to supplement the provisions of G.S. 58-63-15(7) and G.S. 168-10.  This subsection shall apply only to the underwriting of life insurance, accident, health, or accident and health insurance under Articles 1 through 66 of this Chapter, and annuities.

(c) No insurer shall refuse to insure or refuse to continue to insure an individual; limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual; or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage, because of the race, color, or national or ethnic origin of that individual.  This subsection supplements the provisions of G.S. 58-3-120, 58-33-80, 58-58-35, and 58-63-15(7). (1975, c. 666, s. 1; 1985, c. 267, s. 1; 1989, c. 485, s. 22; 1991, c. 720, s. 67.)