Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 742.016 (2026)

Policy constitutes entire contract; oral representations by insured

✓ current as of May 2026
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      742.016 Policy constitutes entire contract; oral representations by insured. (1) Except as provided in ORS 742.043, every contract of insurance shall be construed according to the terms and conditions of the policy. When the contract is made pursuant to a written application therefor, if the insurer delivers a copy of such application with the policy to the insured, thereupon such application shall become a part of the insurance policy. Any application that is not so delivered to the insured shall not be a part of the insurance policy and the insurer shall be precluded from introducing such application as evidence in any action based upon or involving the policy. Any oral representations by the insured that are not included in an application shall not be a part of the insurance policy and the insurer shall be precluded from introducing such representations as evidence in any action based upon or involving the policy.

      (2) If any life or health insurance policy is reinstated or renewed, and the insured or assignee or beneficiary with a vested interest under such policy shall make written request to the insurer for a copy of the application, if any, for such reinstatement or renewal, the insurer shall, within 30 days after the receipt at its home or branch office of such request and of satisfactory evidence of such requesting beneficiary’s vested interest, deliver or mail to the person making such request a copy of such application. If such copy shall not be so delivered or mailed, the insurer shall be precluded from introducing such application as evidence in any action based upon or involving such policy or its reinstatement or renewal.

      (3) This section does not apply to surety insurance. [Formerly 736.305 and then 743.045]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 38 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1990–2026 · leading case: DeJonge v. Mut. of Enumclaw, 843 P.2d 914 (Or. 1992).
DeJonge v. Mut. of Enumclaw, 843 P.2d 914 (Or. 1992). · cites it 16× “) In 1917, the legislature first enacted the substantial equivalent of ORS 742.016 (formerly ORS 736.305 and then ORS 743.”
QBE Ins. v. Creston Court Condo., Inc., 58 F. Supp. 3d 1137 (D. Or. 2014). · cites it 24× “1992); see also Or.Rev.Stat. § 742.016. If the contract’s provisions are defined within the contract, the contractual definitions are applied.”
Allianz Global Risks v. ACE Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 483 P.3d 1124 (Or. 2021). · cites it 3× “” ORS 742.016(1). And “policy” is defined as “the written contract or written agreement for effecting insur- ance * * * and includes all clauses, riders, indorsements and papers which are a part thereof.”
Collver v. Salem Ins. Agency, Inc., 887 P.2d 836 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 5× “043, that the application for insurance was not part of the oral binder, and that regardless, ORS 742.016 prohibits the introduction of the application for insurance into evidence because it was not attached to any policy that was issued.”
Bennett v. Farmers Ins. Co., 26 P.3d 785 (Or. 2001). “This court’s rationale for that holding, in addition to other policy considerations concerning insurance coverage, was the legislative rule established in ORS 742.016(1), the statutory parol evidence rule applying to written contracts of insurance.”
Factory Mut. Ins. Co. v. Peri Formworks Sys., Inc., 223 F. Supp. 3d 1133 (D. Or. 2016). · cites it 2× “2d 703 ; see also Or. Rev. Stat. § 742.016 (providing that “every contract of insurance shall be construed according to the terms and conditions of the policy”).”
Hoffman Constr. Co. of Alaska v. Fred S. James & Co., 836 P.2d 703 (Or. 1992). “The insurance policy in the present case does not define the crucial term, “amount recoverable.”
North Pac. Ins. v. Hamilton, 22 P.3d 739 (Or. 2001). “ORS 742.016; Hoffman, 313 Or at 469 . The policy “must be viewed by its four corners and considered as a whole.”
Hunters Ridge Condo. Ass'n v. Sherwood Crossing, LLC, 395 P.3d 892 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). “Hoffman, 313 Or at 469 ; ORS 742.016(1) (providing that, with some exceptions, “every contract of insurance shall be construed according to the terms and conditions of the policy”); see also Leach v.”
Holloway v. Repub. Indem. Co. of Am., 147 P.3d 329 (Or. 2006). “(citing ORS 742.016). If an insurance policy explicitly defines the phrase in question, we apply that definition.”
Interstate Fire & Cas. Co. v. Archdiocese of Portland, 864 P.2d 346 (Or. 1993). · cites it 2× “ORS 742.016; Hoffman Construction Co. v. Fred S.”
Colony Ins. Co. v. Victory Constr. LLC, 239 F. Supp. 3d 1279 (D. Or. 2017). · cites it 2× “) § 742.016). Courts begin with the wording of the policy, “applying any definitions that are supplied by the policy itself and otherwise presuming that words have their plain, ordinary meanings.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 742.016(1) — 14 cases
DeJonge v. Mut. of Enumclaw, 843 P.2d 914 (Or. 1992). “) In 1917, the legislature first enacted the substantial equivalent of ORS 742.016 (formerly ORS 736.305 and then ORS 743.”
Allianz Global Risks v. ACE Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 483 P.3d 1124 (Or. 2021). “” ORS 742.016(1). And “policy” is defined as “the written contract or written agreement for effecting insur- ance * * * and includes all clauses, riders, indorsements and papers which are a part thereof.”
Bennett v. Farmers Ins. Co., 26 P.3d 785 (Or. 2001). “This court’s rationale for that holding, in addition to other policy considerations concerning insurance coverage, was the legislative rule established in ORS 742.016(1), the statutory parol evidence rule applying to written contracts of insurance.”
Hunters Ridge Condo. Ass'n v. Sherwood Crossing, LLC, 395 P.3d 892 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). “Hoffman, 313 Or at 469 ; ORS 742.016(1) (providing that, with some exceptions, “every contract of insurance shall be construed according to the terms and conditions of the policy”); see also Leach v.”
Summit Real Est. Mgmt., LLC v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 445 P.3d 905 (Or. Ct. App. 2019).
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