Oklahoma’s Insurance Dept’s Consumer Assistance Recovers $2.6 Million

The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Consumer Assistance Division recovered $2.6 million in benefits for Oklahomans during the first half of the year, Commissioner John Doak announced today.

“Insurance can be a complex and sometimes confusing product,” Doak said. “Often people do not understand to what they are entitled or how to deal with insurance companies during disputes. Other times, mistakes simply occur. That is why we are here.”

During the first half of 2011, the division received approximately 2,600 calls each month. The complaints resolved in favor of the consumers resulted in an additional $2.6 million of benefits for consumers.

In one instance, a woman suffered flood damage in her home and the insurance company turned down the claim based on what a plumber said without the advice of an adjustor. After almost three months, the division was able to get $16,000 from the woman’s insurance company for repairs to her home.

Mischele Denton, the homeowner from Coweta, said, “I would still have a mildewed home that I would not be able to live in had the department not helped me. I don’t know what I would have done.”

Source: Oklahoma Insurance Department