Illinois Statutes Chapter 215. Insurance § 5/901. Group legal expense insurance authorized

§ 901. Group legal expense insurance authorized. Any insurance company authorized to write legal expense insurance in this State shall have the power to issue group legal expense insurance policies. No policy, certificate, endorsement, rider, or application which becomes or is designed to become a part of any such policy of group legal expense insurance may be issued or delivered in this State unless a copy of the form shall have been filed with the Director of Insurance in accordance with Section 143 of this Code. Such policy, certificate, endorsement, rider, or application must contain those provisions required by Sections 902 through 906 of the Code. No such policy, certificate, endorsement, application or rider shall contain any provision which would interfere with the freedom of choice by the insured in the selection of attorneys except that the insurer may select and contract with attorneys to verify plan coverage and to provide the insureds with legal services which consist of initial advice and consultation. Nothing herein shall prevent an insured, after plan coverage has been verified, from choosing to go directly to his or her own attorney of choice for initial advice and consultation, subject to applicable policy limitations. Every such policy, certificate, endorsement, application or rider shall prominently display language advising the insured of such freedom of choice by the insured in the selection of attorneys and that no company issuing such policy, certificate, endorsement, application or rider may require, suggest or recommend the use of any attorney or firm of attorneys, provided, however, that dissemination by an insurer of the names of attorneys who have agreed to accept legal expense insurance benefits as payment for certain legal services shall not constitute a requirement, suggestion or recommendation of the use of any attorney or firm of attorneys. The foregoing shall not prohibit referral of insured by the insurer to any lawyer referral service authorized or operated by a state, county, local or other bar association. Any insurance company issuing such policies shall in no way interfere with the attorney-client relationship nor with the independent exercise of professional judgment by any attorney.