Tell Lawmakers: Don't Raise My Insurance Rates!

Senate Bill 901 and its companion bill, House Bill 1430, would eliminate Insurance Commissioner Jim Long's authority to set rates; if approved, these changes will lead to higher homeowners, auto, and other insurance rates for all North Carolinians.

Use the form below to send a message to your members in the NC House and Senate that the voters elected the Insurance Commissioner to be a consumer advocate and keep greedy insurers in check. SB 901 and HB 1430 may be good news for Big Insurance, but they are a bad deal for every policy holder in North Carolina.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: SB 901 and HB 1430 are Terrible Bills for Consumers

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I write today in strong opposition to Senate Bill 901 and House Bill 1430. These bills would gut the regulatory authority of the Department of Insurance to protect the public from exorbitant and unnecessary rate hikes.

The Commissioner of Insurance, an elected representative of the people, exists to be a consumer advocate who also understands insurance companies need to profit enough to stay in business.

The current system works well for both consumers and insurance companies. North Carolina has the 5th lowest auto insurance rates and the 20th lowest homeowners insurance rates in the country, and yet, these companies are making plenty of money.

One can scarcely turn on the television or the radio without seeing or hearing an advertisement for how one company can save customers more than "those other guys".

SB 901 and HB 1430 represent a bad deal for every car owner, homeowner, or other policy holder in North Carolina. These bills are an attempt by insurance companies to do through the legislative process what the Department of Insurance, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have not allowed - turning already big profits into even bigger ones - all at our expense.

Please stand with policyholders and against SB 901 and HB 1430.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 18, 2007

Background Information

As the law now reads, if the insurance industry feels the rates Commissioner Long ordered are too low, they can appeal to the Court of Appeals and then to the NC Supreme Court. But every time the industry has appealed, they have lost.

If this legislation is approved, insurance companies in NC will be able to charge consumers whatever rates they choose while making it extremely difficult for the Commissioner of Insurance and the Department of Insurance to dispute these rates hikes. We believe this provides and unfair advantage for the insurance industry and is against the interest of NC consumers.

The current system works well for both consumers and insurance companies, but SB 901 and HB 1430 benefits only the insurance companies.