Date: June 15, 2007
For more information contact: Eileen Mallow, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, (608) 266-7843 or eileen.mallow@wisconsin.gov

OCI Releases Annual Above Average Complaints Report

Madison, WI—According to the 2006 Insurance Complaints and Administrative Actions report issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI), over 8,000 consumers contacted OCI last year to file a complaint. OCI also assisted consumers in recovering almost $4.5 million from insurers.

"OCI is committed to helping consumers with their insurance needs," said Sean Dilweg, Commissioner of Insurance. "And it is important for consumers to continue to voice complaints to our office in order to help us better monitor the insurance industry."

A complaint is defined as any written communication that expresses dissatisfaction with an insurance company or agent. The report lists those insurance companies who have had at least 5 complaints and a complaint ratio that exceeds the statewide average for a specific type of insurance.

The report, which is available in English and Spanish, categorizes complaints by the type of coverage - auto, homeowner's, farmowner's or tenant's, accident and health, or life and annuities, and also by the reason for the complaint - underwriting, marketing and sales, claim handling, policyholder service or "other."

Although the number of complaints about a company can be useful in choosing an insurance company, consumers must consider other factors such as cost, the company's reputation for claims payment and customer service, and the competence of the agents before making a selection.

Also available from OCI is the annual Independent Review Requests for 2006. Each year Independent Review Organizations (IROs) certified to do reviews in Wisconsin are required to submit to the OCI a report for the prior calendar year's experience. The independent review process allows a consumer to appeal some health insurance claims denials to an independent third party. According to the report, in more than a quarter of the cases reviewed in 2006, the IRO ruled in favor of the consumer - fully or partially reversing the insurer's denial of coverage. Full versions of both reports can be viewed on the OCI Web site.

Consumers interested in obtaining a copy of the 2006 Insurance Complaints and Administrative Actions report or other free publications from OCI can visit the OCI Web site at oci.wi.gov, write to OCI Publications, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873, or call 800-236-8517.

Created by the Legislature in 1871, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.