Ga. Commissioner Directs Insurers Not to Penalize Soldiers for Unoccupied Residence

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has issued a directive ordering property and casualty insurance companies who operate in Georgia to waive certain occupancy requirements on homeowners policies held by armed forces personnel on active duty.

“Many homeowners and personal property policies contain coverage exclusions for property that is unoccupied or vacant for a 60-day period,” Oxendine said. “A soldier who’s doing his or her duty in Iraq or Afghanistan could easily leave their residence unoccupied for longer than 60 days, and I don’t think it’s fair that our men and women in uniform should be penalized for being overseas.”

In March 2005, Oxendine sponsored a resolution to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which asked insurance regulators in all 50 states to review industry practices in their jurisdictions and determine whether regulatory action should be
taken in order to protect our armed forces in connection with policy cancellations tied to property occup ancy requirements.

Oxendine’s directive said that insurers should review underwriting
claims procedures and to waive occupancy requirements for deployed Armed Forces personnel.