Ohio Insurance Department Returns $24.5M to Consumers in 2014

Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced the Ohio Department of Insurance through its consumer complaint process has helped Ohio consumers save or recover $24.5 million in 2014.

Over the past four years the department has saved or recovered $84 million for Ohioans.

Taylor said denial of claim/adverse benefit determination was the top complaint reason the department received in 2014. Health insurance was the type of coverage consumers most complained about.

The department’s savings and recovery figure for 2014 includes a new program record $18 million by its Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) and $6.5 million from its Office of Consumer Affairs, which addresses non-Medicare insurance matters.

The following lists show the top types of consumer complaints in 2014 for Ohio from the total of 6,450 received by the department’s Office of Consumers Affairs. The national information is closed complaint data as of Dec. 29, 2014, provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Top Types of Ohio Consumer Complaint Reasons:

1. Denial of Claim/Adverse Benefit Determination – 39.7 percent
2. Claim Settlement/Payment Delay – 16.9 percent
3. Claim Settlement/Unsatisfactory Offer – 12 percent
4. Underwriting/Cancellation or Non-Renewal – 6.9 percent
5. Policy Service/Premium Notice Billing – 6 percent

Top Types of National Consumer Complaint Reasons:

1. Claim Settlement/Payment Delay – 19.4 percent
2. Denial of Claim/Adverse Benefit Determination – 16.3 percent
3. Claim Settlement/Unsatisfactory Offer – 10.8 percent
4. Underwriting/Cancellation or Non-Renewal – 5.1 percent
5. State Specific – 4.8 percent

Top Types of Ohio Consumer Complaints by Coverage:

1. Accident and Health – 44.7 percent
2. Personal Auto – 23 percent
3. Homeowners and Renters – 12.8 percent
4. Life and Annuity – 12 percent
5. Other Coverage – 7.4 percent

Top Types of National Consumer Complaint Reasons by Coverage:

1. Accident and Health – 41.6 percent
2. Personal Auto – 29.8 percent
3. Homeowners and Renters – 17 percent
4. Life and Annuity – 7 percent
5. Other Coverage – 4 percent

Source: Ohio Department of Insurance