Insurance Information for Consumers and Homeowners

July 7, 2010

Author: Barbara van Kerkhove

Below are links to information on insurance for consumers and homeowners. While it is certainly not an exhaustive list, it is a good starting point for those seeking more information about insurance and insurance companies. There also are links for those seeking to file a complaint against an insurance company and seeking coverage through New York’s FAIR Plan.

New York State Insurance Department
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/

New York State Insurance Department Consumer Information page
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/consindx.htm

New York State Insurance Department website homeowners insurance page http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hmonindx.htm

Consumer Shopping Guide for Homeowners and Tenants Insurance http://www.ins.state.ny.us/homeown/html/hmonguid.htm

Homeowners Insurance Price Comparison Tables http://www.ins.state.ny.us/homeown/html/homesg96.htm 

Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/auto/2009/auto09.pdf

Filing a Complaint With the New York State Insurance Department

The New York State Insurance Department licenses insurance companies, brokers, agents, and adjusters to operate in this State. If you believe that one of these licensees has failed to act in accordance with your contract or New York Insurance Law and Regulation, we urge you to file a complaint.

You can file a complaint using our Online Consumer Complaint form.You will receive immediate confirmation and be assigned a file number. Please be aware that a copy of your complaint may be sent to the entity or person that your complaint is against. If you need to submit copies of documents to support your complaint, fax or mail them to us along with the printed confirmation with your file number. Our fax number and address are listed below.

You are strongly encouraged to file your complaint on-line. It is easy and saves the time and expense of mailing a paper form or letter. Complaints that are filed on-line receive an immediate acknowledgement from the Department.

If you must send us a written complaint, please be sure to include your name, current address, telephone number, the licensee's name (carrier, broker, agent, or adjuster), policy or claim number, and an explanation of your concerns. Your complaint can be mailed to the address below. If it is difficult for you to make a written complaint, you should ask family and friends for their assistance. You might also contact your Assemblyperson or Senator to find out about other community resources available to help you file your complaint.

To file a complaint: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/complhow.htm 

Online consumer complaint application: https://awebproxyprd.ins.state.ny.us/onepage/StartForm.jsp?link=/ciims_forms/StartForm.jsp

To download a complaint form: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/acrobat/compl.pdf 

FAIR Plan Insurance by the New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association (NYPIUA)

New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association is a joint underwriting association created in 1968 under the laws of the state of New York to meet the basic insurance needs of the public. Since its inception, the Association has evolved into a true residual market mechanism, responsive to the varied needs of the insuring public.

NYPIUA is a pool of all insurance companies writing fire insurance in New York State. It offers fire and extended coverage, as well as coverage for vandalism, malicious mischief, and sprinkler leakage to consumers who are unable to purchase this type of insurance from individual insurance companies. NYPIUA does not offer liability, flood, or theft coverages.

“Wrap-around” coverage is available whereby fire and extended coverage are provided through NYPIUA and the liability, theft and other coverages are underwritten by a licensed insurer offering such wrap-around coverage. With the fire coverages from NYPIUA and the wrap-around coverages from a licensed insurer, an insured can obtain coverages similar to a homeowners policy.

Since coverage offered through NYPIUA is sold at a higher premium than coverage offered in the voluntary market), you and/or your agent or broker should make every effort to get this insurance from a voluntary insurer.

Detailed information is available from the New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association, 100 William Street, New York, NY 10038, (212) 208-9700, online at http://nypiua.com/ or from any licensed agent or broker in this state. Outside New York City, the toll-free information number is 1-800-522-3372.

Read Empire Justice Center’s report on the FAIR Plan:
http://www.empirejustice.org/publications/reports/how-fair-is-new-yorks-fair.html

To find out about FAIR Plan Insurance by the New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association (NYPIUA)
www.nypiua.com

History of NYPIUA:
http://www.nypiua.com/history.html

Answers to questions on FAIR Plan/NYPIUA insurance
http://www.nypiua.com/faqs.html

To get a dwelling premium quote:
http://www.nypiua.com/prem.htm

On-line application and instructions for basic dwelling policy:
http://www.nypiua.com/nbdinf.html

On-line application and instructions for broad form policy:
http://www.nypiua.com/nbdp2inf.html

Use of Credit Information by Insurers

Standards for Use of Credit Information in Personal Lines of Insurance (including homeowners)
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/r_finala/2006/pdf/rf182txt.pdf

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
http://www.naic.org/

NAIC Consumer Information Source
http://www.naic.org/cis/index.do
This includes consumer complaint data by company and state and insurance company financial information.

Provided as a resource by:

Empire Justice Center
1 West Main Street, Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14614
585-454-4060

Last updated: December 29, 2009