Texas Department of Insurance Working for You

(October 2007)

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) regulates the state’s insurance industry. We encourage company competition to make insurance available and affordable. We also educate consumers to help them make well-informed insurance decisions. This publication provides an overview of our services and includes a helpful telephone guide. For additional information on how we can assist you, visit our website

www.tdi.state.tx.us

Regulating the Insurance Industry

Licensing and Enforcement

Texas law requires most insurers and insurance-related businesses to be licensed before selling their products or services. TDI licenses insurance companies, agents, third-party administrators, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), premium finance companies, continuing care retirement communities, insurance adjusters, and public insurance adjusters doing business in Texas. TDI also issues rules and regulations for the state’s insurance industry, enforces the Texas Insurance Code, and investigates and takes enforcement action against company and agent misconduct.

Financial Regulation

To ensure that insurance companies have the funds to pay claims and expenses, TDI examines the financial condition of companies licensed in Texas and enforces solvency standards. TDI also publishes company profiles that show a company’s complaint record and other useful information, including enforcement actions taken against the company and company history. For copies of company profiles, call our Consumer Help Line or use the “Insurer Search” feature on our website

1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin

Insurance Fraud

TDI investigates insurance fraud. Examples of fraudulent activities include
• selling insurance without a license
• filing illegal claims
• misrepresenting insurance policies and coverages for financial gain.

TDI refers cases for civil prosecution to the Texas Attorney General and for criminal prosecution to local district attorneys and United States attorneys. To report suspected insurance fraud, call our 24-hour Fraud Hot Line

1-888-327-8818
463-6700 in Austin

Legal and Compliance

TDI may fine or penalize agents and companies that delay payment of claims, misrepresent policies, fail to provide required discounts to policyholders, or engage in other unfair and unlawful practices.

Advertising

TDI reviews most insurance advertising and marketing materials to guard against misrepresentation. Insurance companies and agents engaging in unfair trade practices or deceptive advertising are subject to warnings, fines, license revocations, and other penalties. In some cases, TDI may order premium refunds to consumers.

Technical Analysis

TDI collects and analyzes statistical data, reviews property and casualty rate filings, and reports on rates and markets to assist policy makers and help consumers make insurance-related decisions. The section also supports agency efforts to detect problem insurance companies.

Workers’ Compensation

TDI regulates the state’s system to compensate employees for work-related injuries and illnesses. TDI licenses workers’ compensation insurance companies and networks, enforces workers’ compensation laws and rules, promotes worker health and safety, approves companies that want to self-insure, provides access to medical care for injured workers, administers a dispute resolution system for disputes involving workers’ compensation benefits, and provides services to facilitate an injured worker’s return to work.

Helping Consumers

Complaint Assistance

Note: If you have a complaint about your insurance company, first notify your company. If your problem remains unresolved, TDI can help.

TDI helps consumers recover millions of dollars in refunds and additional claim payments each year. If you have an insurance-related complaint, you can file a complaint on our website and submit it online. You may also e-mail, mail, or fax a letter describing your complaint with copies of documentation to

Texas Department of Insurance
Consumer Protection (111-1A)
P.O. Box 149091
Austin, TX 78714-9091
Fax: 512-475-1771
E-mail: ConsumerProtection@tdi.state.tx.us

Workers’ Compensation Medical & Income Benefit Dispute Resolution

TDI’s Division of Workers’ Compensation resolves disputes involving medical and income benefits paid to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. If you have a dispute involving workers’ compensation benefits, call the Injured Worker Hot Line.

1-800-252-7031
933-1899 in Austin

Public Education and Publications

TDI gives presentations on a variety of insurance topics and trains volunteer counselors to address the insurance concerns of seniors. We offer a variety of free publications and rate guides to help you better understand insurance and to help you shop for the insurance you need. Visit our website to view our publications on-line or call our Publications Order Line to have publications mailed to you.

1-800-599-SHOP (7467)
305-7211 in Austin

Disaster Response Teams

TDI sends response teams to damaged areas after natural disasters. These teams provide information about insurance, help people file claims, monitor the responsiveness of insurance companies, and assist with consumer complaints.

State Fire Marshal’s Office

TDI helps protect lives and property against fire-related hazards. The State Fire Marshal’s Office

• conducts arson investigations
• conducts fire safety inspections
• collects data from fire departments and publishes a summary useful for development of laws, standards, and prevention programs.
• enforces fire extinguisher, sprinkler, and alarm laws
• licenses and regulates fireworks
• educates children and consumers on fire prevention and safety.

To report suspected arson, call our Arson Hot Line

1-877-4Fire-45 (434-7345)

TDI Telephone Guide

General Information and Assistance

Automobile and Homeowners Insurance

 Commercial Property and Casualty

Filings Intake

Financial Program

Inspections 

Life and Health Insurance

State Fire Marshal's Office

Title

Workers' Compensation

Other Helpful Numbers

For More Information or Assistance

For answers to general insurance questions or for information on filing an insurance-related complaint, call the Consumer Help Line between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central time, Monday-Friday, or visit our website

1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
www.tdi.state.tx.us

For printed copies of consumer publications, call the 24-hour Publications Order Line

1-800-599-SHOP (7467)
305-7211 in Austin

Help us prevent insurance fraud.  To report suspected fraud, call our toll-free Fraud Hot Line

1-888-327-8818

To report suspected arson or suspicious activity involving fires, call the State Fire Marshal’s 24-hour Arson Hot Line

1-877-4FIRE45 (434-7345)

The information in this publication is current as of the revision date.  Changes in laws and agency administrative rules made after the revision date may affect the content.  View current information on our website.  TDI distributes this publication for educational purposes only.  This publication is not an endorsement by TDI of any service, product, or company.

For more information contact: ConsumerProtection@tdi.state.tx.us