Georgia’s insurance commissioner isn’t publicly disclosing dozens of enforcement actions against insurance companies, a practice critics say deprives customers of the right to know if they’re dealing with a firm with a history of questionable practices.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution review found that Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens’ office is only posting to its website a fraction of the enforcement actions his office has taken against Georgia insurers since 2010.
The actions detail the conclusions of investigations into insurers sparked by consumer complaints, issues in other states or regulators’ concerns. They are seen as a crucial check to prevent insurance companies from bilking customers or fixing prices, and critics worry that refusing to disclose them shields the public from key information.
Hudgens spokesman Glenn Allen said public disclosures “aren’t required by any law or regulation to be posted.” In a later email he said, “As a service to our website visitors, we strive to list all enforcement actions once they are finalized. However, there will be times when postings are delayed due to other staffing demands and priorities.”
Check out the AJC’s Tuesday print or tablet editions for the full report.
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