Often when consumers call us with insurance problems, we suggest that they file a complaint with our office. And it's not uncommon for people to say something like “Why should I bother? I already called the insurance company, and they gave me their answer.”
First off, don't give up. Filing a complaint with our office can still help.
Here's why: When we receive complaints, we send the paperwork to our contact people at each insurance company. These are usually higher up in the insurance company than the front-line staff who answer customer service questions. Because of their position in the company, the insurance workers we deal with often have more discretion to consider all the factors and make a decision on your claim.
Also, state law says that when an insurance company receives a complaint from our office, the company needs to investigate the issue and respond to us in a timely manner. Sometimes, just the process of having another person from the insurance company take a closer look can lead to a resolution.
Finally, these complaints give our office a window into what’s going on within an insurance company, so the time that you spend filing the complaint can help us see a bigger picture. In the long run, that can help a lot of consumers in addition to you. In some cases, complaints by just a few individuals have led to investigations that resulted in refunds to hundreds of people. (Here's an example of that.)
So if you need help -- and live in Washington -- give us a call at 1-800-562-6900 or send an e-mail to AskMike@oic.wa.gov. (If you live elsewhere, here's how to find your area's insurance regulator.) Our services are free and we won't try to sell you anything. We're the government agency that regulates the insurance industry in Washington state.
Kamis, 10 Mei 2012
Senin, 07 Mei 2012
Prestige Administration ordered to stop selling insurance products in WA
An Arizona company that has sold at least 82 vehicle service contracts illegally in Washington state has been ordered to stop.
Our office has issued a cease-and-desist order against Phoenix-based Prestige Administration Inc.
Our legal affairs investigators found that the company issued at least 82 motor vehicle service contracts or similar products to Washington consumers. (Under Washington law, these contracts are considered a form of insurance.)
The problem is that the company is not authorized to conduct insurance transactions here in Washington. Nor have they registered with our office as a service contract provider.
Here's a key part for consumers who bought those contracts: Nothing in our order prevents the company from fullfilling the terms of the existing contracts.
The company has the right to demand a hearing.
Our office has issued a cease-and-desist order against Phoenix-based Prestige Administration Inc.
Our legal affairs investigators found that the company issued at least 82 motor vehicle service contracts or similar products to Washington consumers. (Under Washington law, these contracts are considered a form of insurance.)
The problem is that the company is not authorized to conduct insurance transactions here in Washington. Nor have they registered with our office as a service contract provider.
Here's a key part for consumers who bought those contracts: Nothing in our order prevents the company from fullfilling the terms of the existing contracts.
The company has the right to demand a hearing.
Jumat, 04 Mei 2012
Agent charged with theft and forgery
An insurance agent in Pierce County has been charged with theft and forgery for allegedly collecting tens of thousands of dollars in payments from clients but not issuing them insurance.
Nancy M. Bishop, who did business as the Nancy Bishop Agency in Puyallup, Wash., was charged Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court with one count of first-degree theft and five counts of forgery.
In late 2009, our office received a complaint from the owner of a construction company. The owner said that she'd made multiple payments to Bishop, but that the company's policy had been cancelled for nonpayment. We launched an audit of Bishop -- which she twice tried to postpone. We found that she owed policyholders more than $131,000.
Our investigation found dozens of instances in which Bishop collected premiums but provided no insurance coverage. She continued to bill clients anyway. She overcharged some customers, according to the records. We found numerous instances in which she received refunds from a finance company but apparently failed to forward those refunds back to her customers.
We also found numerous cases in which forged certificates of insurance, with Nancy Bishop's name at the bottom, were sent to state regulators. Of the 24 such instances we found, there was no actual insurance.
Arraignment is scheduled for May 18.
Nancy M. Bishop, who did business as the Nancy Bishop Agency in Puyallup, Wash., was charged Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court with one count of first-degree theft and five counts of forgery.
In late 2009, our office received a complaint from the owner of a construction company. The owner said that she'd made multiple payments to Bishop, but that the company's policy had been cancelled for nonpayment. We launched an audit of Bishop -- which she twice tried to postpone. We found that she owed policyholders more than $131,000.
Our investigation found dozens of instances in which Bishop collected premiums but provided no insurance coverage. She continued to bill clients anyway. She overcharged some customers, according to the records. We found numerous instances in which she received refunds from a finance company but apparently failed to forward those refunds back to her customers.
We also found numerous cases in which forged certificates of insurance, with Nancy Bishop's name at the bottom, were sent to state regulators. Of the 24 such instances we found, there was no actual insurance.
Arraignment is scheduled for May 18.
Kamis, 03 Mei 2012
Insurance commissioner's statement on Mackey v. McKenna
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler on Thursday issued the following statement about the filing of a private lawsuit against Attorney General Rob McKenna over McKenna’s efforts to overturn federal health care reform:
“As this new lawsuit points out, Attorney General McKenna wants to have it both ways. Shortly after federal health reform passed, McKenna rushed to join fellow conservatives in challenging the law. Two years later, he seems to be trying hard to distance himself from the potential consequences of the case he signed his name to. Simply put, health care for hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians hangs in the balance.
“Mr. McKenna knows that many provisions of the law – such as letting parents keep adult children on their health coverage until age 26, expanding women's coverage, and barring insurers from denying coverage to sick children – are popular. He maintains that the challenge to the individual mandate will not overturn the entire law.
“The problem is that the case he joined seeks to do exactly that: throw out the entire law.
“About 700,000 Washingtonians stand to get free or subsidized health coverage through the health care reform law, starting in 2014. If the court challenge succeeds, those people will lose hope of coverage anytime soon.
"We cannot afford to play politics with people’s lives. History shows that as a nation, we summon the will to try to address health care reform only about once a generation. Hundreds of thousands of uninsured Washington families need meaningful, affordable coverage now. If the court challenge by Mr. McKenna and his conservative colleagues unravels the entire health care reform law, it will be a travesty. Washington's families cannot wait another 20 years.”
“As this new lawsuit points out, Attorney General McKenna wants to have it both ways. Shortly after federal health reform passed, McKenna rushed to join fellow conservatives in challenging the law. Two years later, he seems to be trying hard to distance himself from the potential consequences of the case he signed his name to. Simply put, health care for hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians hangs in the balance.
“Mr. McKenna knows that many provisions of the law – such as letting parents keep adult children on their health coverage until age 26, expanding women's coverage, and barring insurers from denying coverage to sick children – are popular. He maintains that the challenge to the individual mandate will not overturn the entire law.
“The problem is that the case he joined seeks to do exactly that: throw out the entire law.
“About 700,000 Washingtonians stand to get free or subsidized health coverage through the health care reform law, starting in 2014. If the court challenge succeeds, those people will lose hope of coverage anytime soon.
"We cannot afford to play politics with people’s lives. History shows that as a nation, we summon the will to try to address health care reform only about once a generation. Hundreds of thousands of uninsured Washington families need meaningful, affordable coverage now. If the court challenge by Mr. McKenna and his conservative colleagues unravels the entire health care reform law, it will be a travesty. Washington's families cannot wait another 20 years.”
Insurance: Am I covered if I rent an RV?
Q: Does my auto insurance cover me if I rent a large RV for my vacation?
A: Maybe. Some policies will limit coverage to certain-sized vehicles that you may borrow or rent. So talk with your agent or insurer about your plans before you borrow or rent.
This can also be an important consideration if you're moving yourself or otherwise renting a large truck, by the way. Many auto policies exclude large trucks or other vehicles. It's a good idea to check first.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
Updated to correct typo in the question about renting a large TV. Whoops. We meant RV.
A: Maybe. Some policies will limit coverage to certain-sized vehicles that you may borrow or rent. So talk with your agent or insurer about your plans before you borrow or rent.
This can also be an important consideration if you're moving yourself or otherwise renting a large truck, by the way. Many auto policies exclude large trucks or other vehicles. It's a good idea to check first.
Note: This is one of a series of common -- or in some cases, particularly unusual -- questions received by our consumer advocacy staff, who answer questions from consumers.
Got a question or insurance problem of your own? If you live in Washington, feel free to give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-562-6900. We'll do our best to help. (And if you live in another state or territory, here's a handy map that lists the contact info for your local insurance regulatory office.)
Updated to correct typo in the question about renting a large TV. Whoops. We meant RV.
Rabu, 02 Mei 2012
Insurance agent's license revoked: Submitted dozens of bogus life insurance applications
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has revoked the license of a Renton insurance agent who submitted dozens of bogus life insurance policies, apparently to collect the commissions.
Angela M. Scott, a former agent for Primerica Life Insurance Co., lost her license, effective April 9.
"By using fraudulent and dishonest practices and demonstrating incompetence, untrustworthiness and financial irresponsibility, Ms. Scott violated" state insurance law, says Kreidler's order.
From June 1, 2010 to May 2011, Scott submitted 88 term life insurance policies to the insurer. The premiums were to be paid through automatic withdrawals from the applicants' bank accounts.
But of the 88 applications submitted, 76 had invalid bank account numbers. Some 67 had invalid social security numbers. And 52 listed phone numbers that didn't work. When the banks didn't pay the premiums because of the incorrect account numbers, Scott submitted 60 money orders for policies' first payments.
An investigator for Kreidler's office reviewed 15 of the policies and could find no driver's licenses or other information indicating that the applicants were in fact real people. Nor could he find any trace of three people whom Scott claimed had introduced her to those applicants.
Scott has the right to demand a hearing to contest the revocation.
Angela M. Scott, a former agent for Primerica Life Insurance Co., lost her license, effective April 9.
"By using fraudulent and dishonest practices and demonstrating incompetence, untrustworthiness and financial irresponsibility, Ms. Scott violated" state insurance law, says Kreidler's order.
From June 1, 2010 to May 2011, Scott submitted 88 term life insurance policies to the insurer. The premiums were to be paid through automatic withdrawals from the applicants' bank accounts.
But of the 88 applications submitted, 76 had invalid bank account numbers. Some 67 had invalid social security numbers. And 52 listed phone numbers that didn't work. When the banks didn't pay the premiums because of the incorrect account numbers, Scott submitted 60 money orders for policies' first payments.
An investigator for Kreidler's office reviewed 15 of the policies and could find no driver's licenses or other information indicating that the applicants were in fact real people. Nor could he find any trace of three people whom Scott claimed had introduced her to those applicants.
Scott has the right to demand a hearing to contest the revocation.
Selasa, 01 Mei 2012
With dam repaired, program to help Green River Valley businesses find flood coverage ends
Two years after launching a special program to help business owners in Washington's Green River Valley find flood coverage, we're ending the program.
At the time, area businesses said they were having trouble finding insurance due to concerns about slumping in an earthen embankment adjacent to the Howard Hanson Dam. There were serious concerns among local business groups and lawmakers that without flood insurance, businesses in the heavily industrialized valley would start looking for locations elsewhere.
At our request, insurance companies agreed to
Fast forward two years: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has performed repairs on the dam, tested it, and the Corps says it is confident that the dam is again able to operate at full flood capacity. From all indications, businesses seeking flood insurance area again able to get it. That's why we're ending the program, which helped pair businesses seeking coverage with insurers willing to sell it.
Here's a news release we sent out about it, with links to the official letter ending the program.
At the time, area businesses said they were having trouble finding insurance due to concerns about slumping in an earthen embankment adjacent to the Howard Hanson Dam. There were serious concerns among local business groups and lawmakers that without flood insurance, businesses in the heavily industrialized valley would start looking for locations elsewhere.
At our request, insurance companies agreed to
Fast forward two years: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has performed repairs on the dam, tested it, and the Corps says it is confident that the dam is again able to operate at full flood capacity. From all indications, businesses seeking flood insurance area again able to get it. That's why we're ending the program, which helped pair businesses seeking coverage with insurers willing to sell it.
Here's a news release we sent out about it, with links to the official letter ending the program.
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