Government Employees Insurance v. Draine

# Government Employees Insurance v. Draine - Plain English Summary **What Happened** Draine, a customer of GEICO insurance, did not return a form offering underinsured motorist coverage (protection that helps if you're hit by someone without enough insurance) during his policy renewal. When Draine later wanted this coverage added, GEICO refused. Draine argued the company should be required to add it anyway. **What the Court Decided** The South Carolina Court of Appeals sided with GEICO. The court ruled that state law requires insurance companies to offer this extra coverage only to new customers purchasing policies for the first time. Customers renewing existing policies don't have the same legal protection. Since Draine was renewing, not a new applicant, GEICO didn't have to add the coverage he missed. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that timing is critical when dealing with insurance options. If you're offered additional coverage during policy renewal, you need to act promptly—insurance companies have no legal obligation to offer it again later. Workers should carefully review renewal documents and respond to all offers before deadlines.