Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 27, 2006 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) applauds the Florida state legislature for passing and Gov. Jeb Bush for signing into law the Travel-Related Insurance Bill (HB 299).  

The Travel Related Insurance Bill prohibits life insurance companies from using a person's travel history or current travel plans as a reason to deny life insurance coverage unless the rejection is based on sound actuarial principles or is related to actual or reasonably anticipated experience.  Similar laws have been passed in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Washington.

Major life insurance companies have been denying new or renewed life insurance policies to anyone who has recently traveled or who has plans to go to any country about which the U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning.  More than two dozen countries are on the list now, including Israel.  Once denied life insurance, applicants have sometimes found it extremely difficult or expensive to get life insurance anywhere.  Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida Regional Director, stated, "Florida residents who apply for life insurance will no longer be denied coverage simply because of past or future travel to Israel, without any evidence of increased risk."  

ADL advocated strongly on behalf of the bill (HB 299) including providing testimony to the Florida House Insurance Committee.  Rosenkranz added, "The ADL is very pleased with this new bill and proud of the role we were able to play to end this injustice against travelers."