Ohio Insurance Department Helped Consumers Recover $23.5M

Ohio’s Department of Insurance says its toll-free hotlines, community outreach and counseling helped Ohioans save or recover about $23.5 million last year.

Consumer complaints to the department led to some of the savings.

The department’s Office of Consumer Affairs says it received almost 5,400 consumer complaints in 2013, slightly lower when compared to 2012. The majority dealt with insurance claim denial, claim delay or unsatisfactory settlement offers.

The office recovered $7.1 million for consumer while the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program saved $16.4 million.

The department recommends that to avoid problems consumers should know what their policy says and to file claims as soon as possible.

In 2012, the agency helped save or recover just over $24 million.