Member Services
What's Hot
- 12-09-2009Windstorm insurer undergoes changes
The state's insurance commissioner appointed a majority of new members Tuesday to the board of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which has come under scrutiny for how it handled claims from Hurricane Ike.
- 09-03-2009State: Texas Windstorm ‘unfair or deceptive’ with insurance claims
HOUSTON-The Texas Department of Insurance has filed a formal complaint against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association , accusing it of "unfair or deceptive" handling of claims. Texas Windstorm is the only insurance option against windstorm damage or hail from hurricanes for consumers who live along coastal sections of the state. The complaint specifically criticizes how the company handles claims related to wind-lifted roof shingles.
TWIA RESPONSE BELOW
TWIA Response - KHOU Story was Unfair, Deceptive and Biased.pdf
Insurance News
- 07-13-2010Mass Settlement Offered in Ike Windstorm Cases
Within the next month, Bolivar Peninsula property owners involved in the insurance fight should get notices from their respective attorneys about whether they want to accept a slice of a $189 million "mass settlement" with the state windstorm insurance pool, attorney Steve Mostyn said.
- 07-07-2010Actuarially Sound Property Rates Remain Elusive Along Texas Coast
Insurance company interests have long complained that the state-backed Texas Windstorm Insurance Association charges rates that are not actuarially sound for the risks it insures, making it impossible for private insurers to compete for business in the areas TWIA serves.
Those critics now have an ally in the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which says TWIA — the insurer of last resort for wind coverage for homes and businesses along the Texas coast — charges "premium rates [that] do not fully reflect the risk of loss and would likely need to increase by 20 to 35 percent in order to do so." - 06-24-2010TWIA Won’t Pay Evacuation Expenses
The governing board of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association this week voted unanimously against paying for evacuation expenses when policyholders flee hurricanes. The nine voting members of the board also rejected paying additional living expenses for policyholders who weren’t able to return to their properties because of damage caused by flood or other perils.
- 06-23-2010TWIA To Move Ahead With 5% Rate Hike
The association’s governing board approved the increases in a 5-3 vote at its quarterly meeting Tuesday in Galveston. The increases do not have to be approved by Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin because lawmakers changed the rules during the 81st legislative session in 2009.
- 06-23-2010TWIA Defers Direct Billing Decision
The nine voting members of the board, composed of five insurance company representatives, two agent representatives and two consumer representatives, directed its staff to provide a clearer “road map” to direct billing at a meeting in September.
- 06-03-2010Losses from Oklahoma’s May storms likely to top $1 billion
Insurance companies will pay out about $595 million to cover losses from tornadoes that swept through central Oklahoma last month. And that total is expected to grow.
- 04-13-2010Most Texas home insurers profitable again
AUSTIN – Texas home insurers returned to profitability in 2009, as property claims were nearly half of those lodged as a result of Hurricane Ike the previous year. New financial reports released Monday by the Texas Department of Insurance indicated that most companies had a solid year, if not a banner one, thanks to the lack of any major weather catastrophes across the state.
- 01-18-2010Texas Windstorm Association Settles 300 Ike and Dolly Lawsuits; 1,000 Remain
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has now settled about 300 lawsuits related to the devastating 2008 hurricane season, but the general manager of the last resort insurer rejects insinuations in Texas that TWIA is now settling because it realized it mishandled claims.
- 01-15-2010Editorial: Is it time to drain the windstorm pool?
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, facing about 1,000 lawsuits from homeowners over its handling of insurance claims after Hurricane Ike, has begun a flurry of settlements.
- 01-14-2010Drivers Like New Insurance Proposal
Measure Would Impound Cars Of Uninsured Drivers. Law enforcement officers have new data verification systems that can quickly check if a driver has insurance. Drivers said they like the proposal.
- 01-14-2010Windstorm insurer picks up pace on Ike settlements
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is accelerating the pace of settlements. “In the past, TWIA mediated possible settlements on an individual basis,” Oliver said. “We are now working with plaintiffs' attorneys to handle mediations in groups and deal with them more quickly, which is to everyone's benefit.”
- 01-12-2010Farmers Insurance, state agree to cut ‘excessive’ rate hike
AUSTIN – Farmers Insurance agreed Monday to scale back a double-digit rate hike for homeowners coverage in Texas. But the company will get to keep millions of dollars it has collected the past six months, even though the state declared those premiums excessive.
- 01-09-2010TWIA board defers decision
The governing board of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association on Friday deferred deciding whether to raise rates and whether to offer coverage that would pay for evacuation expenses when policyholders flee hurricanes.
- 12-30-2009Texas homeowners’ insurance rates drop to No. 2 in new study
AUSTIN – Texas has slipped to No. 2 in average homeowners' insurance premiums, a new national study. Industry spokesmen said the study supports their often-repeated argument that Texas' hurricanes, tornadoes, ice and hail storms and wildfires drive the state's high premiums for home insurancend.
- 12-14-2009Are Texas’ auto safety inspections worth the hassle?
Texas is one of 19 states left that require a periodic safety review – down from a peak of 31 states in the 1970s. The District of Columbia recently disbanded its inspection program because of high costs and a lack of evidence that the inspections saved lives.
- 12-11-2009Windstorm insurer strikes back at plaintiffs’ lawyers
Under fire for how it handled Hurricane Ike claims, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association sent a letter to lawmakers this week criticizing lawyers suing the association on behalf of homeowners.
- 12-09-200926 percent of vehicles in Dallas County uninsured, state analysis shows
AUSTIN – More than one in four vehicles in Dallas County are uninsured, the highest percentage in any of the state's large urban counties, an analysis released Tuesday by the Texas Department of Insurance shows.
- 12-08-2009Most uninsured drivers in Texas in coastal county
In Kenedy County, south of Corpus Christi, 49.7 percent of registered vehicles could not be matched to an insurance policy, according to figures released to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today by the Texas Department of Insurance.
- 12-03-2009Letter to the Editor From TWIA - Keep suits in perspective
We ask the public, and especially our policyholders, to keep these lawsuits in perspective with the scope of the catastrophe. Were mistakes made? Perhaps, in a very few situations based on the scope of the disaster — but in these cases, we welcome the opportunity to work with our policyholders to resolve any outstanding issues.
- 11-17-2009State Farm ordered to pay Texas homeowners $310 million for overcharging
AUSTIN – State Farm Insurance must repay its customers $310 million for charging them too much for homeowners coverage dating back to 2003, the state insurance commissioner ruled Monday.
- 11-15-2009Number of uninsured motorists up
The number of tickets for failure to maintain financial responsibility of a motor vehicle is on pace to rise this year in Abilene.
Through Thursday, there have been 1,686 cases of motorists without insurance. There were 1,767 in 2008 and 1,858 in 2007. - 11-10-2009Lawsuit says windstorm insurer rigged process
The state windstorm insurer may have unfairly stacked the deck against homeowners with Hurricane Ike claims, according to a lawsuit filed Friday, and that has one lawmaker calling for an investigation.
- 11-10-2009Rate of Workplace Nonfatal Injuries, Illnesses Down in Texas for 2008
Private industry workplaces in Texas reported a total of 234,559 nonfatal injuries and illnesses during 2008. The incidence rate of 3.1 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers marks the sixth consecutive year that the incidence rate has dropped. The rate for 2008 is a 9 percent decrease from 3.4 in 2007. The Texas rate is below the national rate of 3.9 for 2008.
- 11-04-2009Free state program helps with Ike claims
The Texas Department of Insurance has launched a free mediation program to help consumers resolve claims disputes relating to Hurricane Ike, though many claimants may not be eligible because their insurers aren't participating.
- 11-03-2009Letter to the Editor - Good credit ratings
Re: Oct. 18 editorial "Fix the flaws in credit scoring."
There is simply no justification for asking people who strive to maintain a good credit record to pay higher insurance premiums and subsidize those who pose a greater risk by filing more claims. - 10-29-2009Rise in insurance competition favors Texas drivers
Increased competition among insurance companies has caused a drop in Texas insurance rates, according to a recent study.
- 10-25-2009Perry often turns to own staff for appointments
- 10-23-2009Mr. Nice Guy can’t hold rates forever
- 10-22-2009Editorial: Credit scoring is hurting insurance customers
- 10-18-2009Exclusive: Poor credit drives up Dallas-area insurance rates 35% on average
- 10-17-2009Windstorm rate increase denied
- 10-09-2009Mississippi Court Rules Home Insurance Policy Covers Hurricane Wind Damage
- 10-03-2009Agency faults reinsurance purchases - Consumers needlessly pay extra, office says
- 09-28-2009State auto insurance program plans to raise rates
- 09-21-2009Editorial - Coastal insurance subsidies cost Texans inland
- 09-14-2009Auto insurance rates jump 10% in Dallas-Fort Worth
- 09-11-2009Some insurance companies may be shorting Texas homeowners
- 09-06-2009DMN Investigates: Dallas police’s crime stats omit some car burglaries