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Published: November 2008

Usefulness of state insurance websites varies

Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has released a study of state insurance department websites which found considerable differences in the usefulness of information such as the rates and practices of individual insurance companies.

Below is a summarized excerpt of a press release about the study:

State insurance department websites in 6 states were found to be "excellent" while those in 18 states were deemed to be "inadequate."

CFA is sending the report to all state insurance departments with a personal letter urging the 45 states whose websites are not yet excellent to make improvements. "At a time when consumers are under increasing financial pressure, state insurance departments can do their part by making available current information about the rates, solvency, and complaints of individual insurers as well as tips for consumers to use to secure fairer and faster claims settlements," said J. Robert Hunter, CFA's Director of Insurance (and former Texas Insurance Commissioner). "And it's essential that insurance departments widely publicize the availability of their websites and related information," he added.

Below is a listing of the CFA ratings of websites in all 50 states and the District of Columbia:

Excellent (6 states): California, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah

Good (12 states): Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Maine Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Wisconsin

Fair (15 states): District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington

Inadequate (18 states): Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming

For More Information

State Insurance Department Websites: A Consumer Assessment

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Consumer Protection   ♦   Insurance   ♦