Do NOT Sell Life Insurance in Person: Pennsylvania

Insurance may be essential, but, in Pennsylvania officials' eyes, agent-client air sharing is not.

Jessica Altman (Credit: House Energy and Commerce)

Agents and brokers in Pennsylvania who complete insurance sales in person now run their risk of losing their licenses.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has issued a “stay at home” order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many mayors and governors, Wolf has been trying to slow the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) — the virus that causes COVID-19 pneumonia, COVID-19 heart inflammation, and COVID-19 kidney inflammation — by calling for many workers to stay at home.

The Pennsylvania order closes all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania, and it applies to in-person insurance sales and insurance brokerage, according to Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman.

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“While insurance is considered a life-sustaining business, especially during the unprecedented health crisis that we’re experiencing today, in-person sales and brokerage are not designated as life-sustaining, and have a detrimental effect on the safety and well-being of all Pennsylvanians,” Altman said in an announcement issued Monday.

“Pennsylvanians are encouraged to immediately contact the department if they receive an unexpected in-person solicitation at their home or life-sustaining business.”

The Pennsylvania department will notify the state police about any producers who violate the stay-at-home order, and it may revoke the license of a producer who repeatedly violates the order, officials said.

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