Over $600k Recovered By State Insurance Department

HARTFORD — Insurance Commissioner Thomas R. Sullivan announced August 11, that Connecticut Insurance Department staff recovered $630,424, on behalf of consumers, from complaints resolved in the second quarter.

Department staff received 1,372 new complaints/ inquiries in the second quarter, down slightly from near 1,500 received in the first quarter.

Inquiries and complaints received by the department vary by insurance product line. Not all inquires or complaints submitted to the insurance department are subject to recovery.

This quarter, 55 percent or $348,195 of the recovered funds came from complaints related to accident and health product lines, 18 percent or $116,564 from life and annuity product lines, and 17 percent or $105,843 from property and casualty product lines.

Of all incoming complaints, accident and health product lines topped the list with 44 percent. Auto followed with 31 percent, homeowners and farmers had 13 percent, and life and annuities, general liability, and fire insurance account for the remaining 12 percent.

“With the department’s assistance, consumers are getting the help they deserve,” said Commissioner Sullivan.

Each quarter, inquiries received by the public are analyzed by the department’s Consumer Affairs Division. The Consumer Affairs Division pays particular attention to trends that may affect consumers and necessitate consumer outreach initiatives.

Complaints are made in five categories; Marketing/Sales, Premium/Rating, Underwriting, Unfair Claim Practice, and Other. This quarter, almost 40 percent of complaints were attributed to Unfair Claim Practices. Marketing/Sales and Premium/Rating each received 8 percent of the total complaints.

In addition to assisting consumers with insurance complaints, the Insurance Department Consumer Affairs Division is available to answer questions and provide information that will help consumers make a more educated decision about insurance. Consumer Affairs staff distributed 227 pamphlets this quarter on topics ranging from individual health coverage, to homeowners insurance, to complaint filing procedures.

The Connecticut Insurance Department’s Consumer Affairs Unit offers free consumer outreach programs on a number of insurance topics. Speakers will talk to groups or organizations on the insurance topic they choose and will answer any general questions individuals or groups haveabout insurance.

Consumers interested in filing a complaint / inquiry or learning more are encouraged to visit the insurance department website at www.ct.gov/cid, or call toll free 800-203-3447, or direct at 860-297-3900 for more information.