Louisiana consumers encouraged to examine their flood insurance policies

New York Homeowners Insurance Rules

Commissioner Donelon advises consumers to make sure they are protected by their insurance policies Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to cause some damage in Belize and Mexico. Though U.S. states are not expected to see any significant impact from the storm, Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, is taking the opportunity to encourage consumers to make sure they insurance policies are capable of protecting them. Commissioner Donelon notes that because Ernesto is not expected to hit Louisiana that it is unlikely for future…

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Citizens Insurance may be reaching the end of lengthy legal battle

Hurricane Katrina insurance industry

Long-standing litigation could be nearing resolution Louisiana’s Citizens Property Insurance is in the throes of litigation due to the actions it had taken in 2005 during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A total of 18,573 plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the state-run insurance company, claiming that it did not properly follow its own claims policies in the wake of the catastrophic hurricanes. The lawsuit has been tied up in the legal process for several years, but the issue may be close to reaching a resolution. Plaintiffs could receive some $3,000 by…

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Farmers to raise homeowners insurance rates in Louisiana

Louisiana homeowners insurance news

Farmers Insurance Exchange, a reciprocal insurance branch of the Farmers Insurance Group, is looking to raise homeowner’s insurance rates in Louisiana. The insurer has approached state regulators seeking approval for rate increases that would affect thousands of residents throughout the country. The Louisiana Department of Insurance is currently investigating the rate proposal. Regulators have not yet issued a preliminary report on whether the rate proposal seems excessive or not. The state is currently determining how the potential rate increase will affect consumers and the overall economy of Louisiana. The insurer…

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Louisiana insurance regulators recover more than $5 million after receiving thousands of complaints from consumers

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has announced that consumers will be eligible to receive more than $5 million in rebates from various insurance companies in the state. State regulators recovered the money after consumers filed an overwhelming number of complaints in 2011. Half of the money comes from complaints regarding life insurance and annuities benefits, while the other half comes from complaints regarding property/casualty insurers. The Department of Insurance has received approximately 3,453 complaints from consumers, down from 4,347 in 2010. Most of the complaints revolve around claims that insurers…

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Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance seeks to raise rates by 10.5% throughout the state

Homeowners in Louisiana may see their insurance rates jump as the state’s own Citizens Property Insurance company proposes new, higher rates. The state-run insurer, which accounts for more than 120,000 policies, is looking to raise rates throughout the state by an average of 10.5%. For some parts of the state – particularly those near the coast – these rates will be higher. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is currently reviewing the rate increase proposal to see if it is needed in the current market. The insurer claims that higher rates are…

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