Top 5 Reasons Insurance Consumers File Complaints Against Insurers

Did you know that you can file a complaint against your auto, homeowners, health  insurance carrier if you feel you have not been treated fairly by the company?  The complaint procedure can be found on the New York State Insurance Department Website.  Click here to access an online complaint form.  

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the top five reasons consumers filed formal complaints against their insurance companies in 2008 were claim delays, claim denials, unsatisfactory settlement offers, premium/insurance rating and policy cancellation issues.

The NAIC collected the data through its centralized electronic Complaint Database System (CDS), through which states voluntarily report "closed" complaints.

A total of 195,669 confirmed consumer complaints on insurance companies were reported in 2008 calendar year.

Accident/health and auto insurance coverages were the target of the most complaints.

Top Five Reasons for Complaints in 2008 and total no. percentage

• Delays 26,844 19.1%
• Denial of Claim 25,851 18.4%
• Unsatisfactory Settlement/Offer 20,021 14.2%
• Premium and Rating 6,644 4.7%
• Insurance Policy Cancellation 5,618 4.0%

Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners www.naic.org

If you have any questions about filing a formal complaint against your insurance carrier, feel free to use the contact form on this website to speak with me.

Long Island Accident Attorney Jeena R. Belil