Which insurers have signed up to Louisiana’s property incentive plan?
“Along with several legislative proposals we will introduce to strengthen the market during Regular Session, these insurers will demonstrate to the wider industry that Louisiana is a viable destination to do business on a go-forward basis.”
House Insurance Committee Chairman, Mike Huval, has agreed to file a bill during the upcoming regular session that will appropriate additional funding for the program to help meet the full amount each company has requested and is eligible to receive.
Mending state-wide woes
The turnout is likely to be seen as a positive sign, with property owners experiencing some of the highest premiums in the country.
Louisiana has been experiencing its most difficult property insurance market since 2005, when hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused colossal damage. Insured losses from the hurricane seasons of 2020 and 2021 have contributed to a mass exit of insurers in the state, while costs associated with inflation have also proved troublesome.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) began reviewing applications as soon as they came in and will continue to do so over the forthcoming days, a press conference heard.
Due to strict standards put in place to receive a grant, there will most likely be several questions that each insurance company must address before they can be recommended for approval to the legislative committee, Donelon said.
Once the LDI has received approval from the Joint Legislative Committee on the budget, it will enter into cooperative endeavor agreements with the interested companies and issue grants accordingly.
If all goes well, the companies will be able to write policies as soon as next month, preparing residents of the states for hurricane season, which typically commences on June 1st.
Which insurers applied for grants from the Louisiana incentive program?
Nine insurers have made applications to the Louisiana incentive program, seeking more than $62 million in total. They are:
Allied Trust Insurance Company – $6.5 million
Applied Underwriters – $10 million
Cajun Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (CURE) – $5 million
Constitution Insurance Company – $10 million
Elevate Reciprocal Exchange – $5 million
Gulf States Insurance Company – $3.6 million
SafePoint Insurance Company – $10 million
SafePort Insurance Company – $2 million
SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (SURE) – $10 million
Advice for policyholders
The LDI recommended that policyholders do the following in order to ensure that they receive a policy is suited to their individual needs:
Contact multiple agents, including both captive and independent agents, to obtain as many quotes as possible for a new policy.
Ask an agent to contact Citizens for a quote if you are unable to find a policy in the private market.
If you do get a Citizens policy, continue shopping around for a new policy as the LDI expects more insurers to begin writing this spring following implementation of the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program. If you cancel and rewrite your Citizens policy with a private company, Citizens will refund any unearned premium.
If you have an open claim with UPC, that claim may or may not eventually be transferred to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA) for adjusting and payment. Continue contacting UPC about your claim unless you are notified it has been sent to LIGA.
Stepping down
Donelon took this opportunity to announce that after 17 years in his current position, he will not be seeking re-election and will be retiring from his career in politics. At 78-years-old, Donelon is stepping down to “remove politics from the vitally important upcoming legislative session, where many significant issues that deal with the future of our state’s property insurance market will be debated and hopefully decided to improve that market.
“I’ve spent almost 50 years serving. I want to enjoy the remaining years of my life with my family, and hopefully, some new hobbies.”
In other news
Louisiana Citizens, the state’s insurer of last resort, will provide an additional 30 days of support after insolvent United Property & Casualty Insurance Company’s (UPC) policies cancel on March 29 for policyholders and their insurance agents, allowing them to get coverage in the private market or bind a Citizens’ policy without losing coverage, it was announced earlier this week.
