Department recovers more than $81.3 million for California consumers in 2017

News: 2018 Press Release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today the California Department of Insurance recovered more than $81.3 million for consumers during 2017 through consumer complaint investigations and market conduct examinations of insurance companies.

"As insurance commissioner and the leader of the largest consumer protection agency in the state, my top priority is protecting consumers," said Commissioner Jones. "Thanks to the department's strong enforcement of our consumer protection rules, we recovered over $81 million for California consumers."

Last year the department's consumer hotline received over 147,000 calls for assistance. Through the department's complaint handling efforts, staff recovered more than $62.4 million for consumers in 2017. Additionally, the department performed 125 market conduct examinations, resulting in more than $18.9 million in recovered claims or premiums being returned to consumers.

Since Commissioner Jones took office in 2011, more than $469 million has been returned to consumers through the department's direct intervention.

Commissioner Jones has also used his authority under Proposition 103 to reject excessive rate increases, saving consumers over $271 million in proposed insurance rate increases in 2017 alone. Proposition 103, passed by California voters in November 1988, establishes the Insurance Commissioner's authority to reject excessive rate increases sought by insurance companies. Since his 2011 swearing in, Commissioner Jones has saved consumers over $3.175 billion by rejecting excessive insurance rates or rate increases.

• Consumers who feel they have been treated unfairly by an insurance company, agent or any licensee, are urged to contact the Department's toll-free Consumer Hotline at (800) 927-4357 or visit our web site: insurance.ca.gov.