While health insurers continue to receive the largest portion (32 percent) of all consumer grievances, the total number of complaints against HMOs actually dropped 24 percent from1,430 in 2001 to 1,084 in 2004, Overall the decrease since 2000 is even more dramatic at a 39 percent decrease. While the exact cause for the drop is unknown, the Illinois DOI says it suspects the lessening of complaints may be partially due to reduced HMO enrollment in recent years.
In 2004, complaints regarding Group accident and health insurance increased by 17 percent from 3,089 complaints in 2003, to 3,602 complaints.
The category of claims handling accounts for 88% of all insurance complaints against HMO’s and 70% against non-HMO companies.
| Nearly one-third of Illinois' estimated 300 home insurers have asked for some type of rate increase this year. |
In 2004, auto insurer, Celtic Insurance Company, had a complaint ratio of 78 per 10,000 Illinois certificates in force. In contrast, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was on the opposite end of the scale with a miniscule rate of 0.18 per 10,000 insured.
In the Illinois property and casualty insurance industry the LM Property and Casualty Company had a 2004 complaint ratio of 12.84 per $1 million of direct premiums written. The next highest complaint ratio was the SafeCo Insurance Company at 3.34. LM Property and Casualty was also by far the smallest P & C insurer in Illinois with just $1.2 million of premium in place.
Officials with Prudential day that while rate increases and coverage changes "appear to have generated increased complaint activity, the actual number of our complaints presents less than one tenth of one percent of all Prudential Illinois home insurance policies."
| The total number of complaints against HMOs have dropped 39 percent since 2000. |
Illinois consumers have a slightly improved relationship with their auto insurers. The Illinois DOI received 3,559 complaints in 2004 down about 9% since the 3,888 complaints against Illinois auto insurers received in 2001.
State Farm Nutual Automobile Insurance Co. earned the lowest complaint ratio among auto insurers, with 0.15 grievances per $1 million of auto premiums. For the fourth year in a row since 2001, State Farm has enjoyed the lowest complaint ratio in the Illinois market. National Heritage Insurance Company saw the highest number of complaints with a ratio of 5.27.
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