Kansas Insurance Department Recovers $15M for Consumers

The Kansas Insurance Department reports that it helped consumers recover more than $15 million through resolution of disputes with insurance companies in 2009.

This is the second time in three years the department has topped the $15 million figure. The $15,033,290.41 recovered in 2009 is just short of the record $15.1 million recovery in 2007.

Nearly $87 million has been recovered by the department for Kansas consumers since 2003.

Recoveries are funds returned to policyholders through settlement of claims disputes with insurance companies, based on inquiries and formal complaints filed with the department. These funds are above and beyond what companies had offered consumers to settle the claims.

The number of complaints decreased slightly from 2007, while the number of inquiries increased by more than 50. Jim Welch, director of the Consumer Assistance division, pointed to a general downward trend as evidence that consumers are more educated and companies are more mindful about how claims are handled.

Source: Kansas Department of Insurance