Connecticut Insurance Department Recovers More Than $1M for Connecticut Drivers

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Thomas R. Sullivan has announced that the Connecticut Insurance Department's Consumer Affairs Unit (CAU) has recovered $1,046,798.32 on behalf of consumers in the first quarter of 2010. Each quarter, CAU handles an average of 1600 complaints varying in complexity and relating to various product lines. This quarter, the top three complaint areas were accident and health insurance (40 percent), auto insurance (21 percent) and homeowners insurance (nine percent) complaints.

Not all submitted to the department are subject to recovery. This quarter, 203 complaints resulted in recovery dollars to consumers.

Complaints are made in five categories, according to the department: "marketing and sales," "premiums and ratings," "underwriting," "unfair claim practices," and "other."

Each quarter, the CAU analyzes the complaints received and pays particular attention to trends that may affect consumers. These trends are shared with enforcement, licensing, and market conduct units within the department and are used to continuously monitor and regulate the entire industry and protect consumers.