Live Insurance News

Health insurance companies may not be complying with Texas regulations

December 17, 2014December 16, 2014 S.Vagus

Some insurers may be ignoring state regulations regarding transparency Many health insurance companies in Texas may not be complying with the state’s new regulations regarding transparency. The regulations require insurers to submit regular reports to the Texas Department of Insurance, detailing information concerning their health care networks. When insurers do not file reports, or if these reports are inadequate, state regulators are meant to take action, but public records have shown that this rarely happens. As such, many insurers may be circumventing regulations and avoiding regulators entirely. Small number of…

Homeowners insurance in Texas is getting more complicated

October 13, 2014October 11, 2014 S.Vagus

Lawmakers have exited a hearing regarding the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association with new insight Texas lawmakers have learned more about the current problems facing the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). The organization is often the last place where people can find homeowners insurance that provides coverage for certain natural disasters in the state. Like other state-backed insurance organizations, TWIA has had to deal with severe financial issues that have threatened its ability to effectively provide coverage to policyholders. Some of these issues have been resolved in recent years, but state…

Homeowners insurance is more expensive in Texas

August 7, 2014August 4, 2014 H. Cutner

Drivers in the state are also paying higher rates for their auto policies. According to an analysis of the latest data from the Texas Department of Insurance, the cost of homeowners insurance and auto policies in the state – particularly in the northern parts – is high and is becoming more expensive, this year. The average rates for both of those types of coverage have increased by double digits for many residents. The analysis, which was conducted by The Dallas Morning News, involved a look at the rates being charged…

Long term care insurance premiums allowed to rise 75 percent in Texas

July 29, 2014July 26, 2014 Julie Campbell

caregiver long term care insurance senior

Regulators in the state have given permission for the increase to stand, frustrating some consumers. The Texas Department of Insurance is taking fierce criticism from two families regarding the 75 percent increase that was allowed to stand for premiums being paid for long term care insurance coverage in the state. The question that they has raised is whether the department is on the side of the customer or the insurance industry. They have also asked about the true power of the agency and whether it actually has the power to…

Texas homeowners insurance companies increase rates

January 10, 2014January 7, 2014 G. Turner

The state is already the third most expensive in the country and now the prices of coverage are headed up again. Three Texas homeowners insurance companies have announced that they will be increasing the premiums that they charge for providing coverage for the properties of the residents of the state. These new and higher rates are going to be going into effect for new and renewal policies. The affected Texas homeowners insurance customers are those who have their policies with Allstate, Farmers, and State Farm. These three home insurers each…

Texas seeks higher requirements for health insurance navigators

December 10, 2013December 7, 2013 Logan B.

Navigators may be held to a higher standard in Texas The Texas Department of Insurance has proposed new requirements of health insurance navigators that will be working in the state’s insurance exchange. These navigators are a part of the Affordable Care Act and exist to provide assistance to consumers that are seeking coverage through the state-based exchange. Navigators can only work with non-profit organizations that have no affiliation with insurance companies and are subject to a federally mandated 40 hours of training before they can assist consumers. Agency wants more…

Health insurance navigators may get more training in Texas

October 4, 2013October 1, 2013 S.Vagus

Texas could require health insurance navigators to receive an additional 40 hours of training Health insurance navigators in Texas may be required to complete 40 hours of training over the extensive instruction they receive from the federal government. Governor Rick Perry has ordered the state’s Department of Insurance to ensure that navigators receive a minimum of 40 hours of training in order to better serve Texans looking for coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange. Federal health care officials claim, however, that the measure is simply creating more barriers for…