State recovers $3.4 million for insurance consumers in 2017

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation said Friday it investigated more than 4,000 insurance complaint cases and recovered more than $3.4 million for Oregonians in 2017. Money recovered for insurance consumers typically comes from disputed settlements and underpaid claims.

Claim denials and delays topped the list of reasons consumers filed complaints. Denials and delays accounted for more than 30 percent of all insurance complaints. The two types of insurance that received the most complaints were health insurance (36 percent) and auto insurance (30 percent). Approximately 75 percent of recovered insurance money came from life and health insurance claims.

“Helping consumers understand their policies and making sure they receive the money they are owed is one of the most gratifying and important parts of our jobs,” said Andrew Stolfi, Oregon insurance commissioner. “We want consumers to contact us anytime they have questions or concerns about their insurance or financial products.”

If you have any problems with an insurance or financial product, contact the division, part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The division’s advocacy team can help with a wide range of consumer questions and concerns, such as claim delays, unreasonable settlement offers, and unfair loan terms.

Oregonians with questions or concerns about their insurance or financial products are encouraged to contact our advocates one of three ways:

Call the advocacy team at 888-877-4894 (toll-free)
Visit http://dfr.oregon.gov/gethelp/Pages/file-a-complaint.aspx
Email cp.ins@oregon.gov