The Louisiana Department of Insurance ("LDI") has reported that it helped consumers collect $9.1 million in payouts in addition to the original amounts offered by insurance companies last year.
These additional funds, the LDI said in a statement, were the result of consumers filing complaints with the LDI's Office of Consumer Services, whose staff reviewed the complaints and worked with company representatives to resolve disagreements.
"Consumers reach out to us when they have questions or concerns about their insurance, whether it's in regards to understanding what their policies cover, or being unhappy with the claim settlement offered." Commissioner Jim Donelon said.
In 2017, the LDI received 3,479 complaints and helped consumers recover $9,111,303 in additional payments from insurers. By comparison, in 2016 the LDI helped consumers recover $7,604,380 from 4,369 filed complaints. The decrease in complaint numbers was a result of the 2016 flooding events that struck the state, according to the LDI.
Funds recovered were from formal complaints regarding property and casualty, health, and life and annuities products, as follows:
Consumer Insurance Dispute Settlements (January 1 – December 31, 2017)
| Insurance Product | Complaints Filed | Funds Recovered |
| Health | 964 | $1,573,681 |
| Life & Annuities | 626 | $3,759,845 |
| Property & Casualty | 1,889 | $3,777,777 |
| Total | 3,479 | $9,111,303 |
Learn more: www.ldi.la.gov.