Top complaint for insurers? Delayed payments, report says

Insurers’ delay in paying out claims was the most common complaint from consumers last year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Kansas City, Mo.-based regulatory association today posted its list of top complaints for insurers last year, when some 195,669 confirmed consumer complaints were sent to the NAIC’s Complaint Database System. Of the total, 19.1% claims were related to delays, while denials came in second with 25,851 complaints, 18.4% of the total. Unsatisfactory settlements and offers were third, grossing 20,021 of the complaints, or 14.2% of the total. Premium and rating problems made up 4.7% of the total, 6,644 complaints, while cancellation was at the bottom of the list with 5,618 complaints, or 4% of the total. The vast majority of complaints came from accident and health coverage insurance plans, which yielded some 72,351 complaints. Auto came in second with 71,967, followed by homeowners’ insurance at 23,212. Problems with life insurance and annuities generated some 18,594 complaints, while commercial multi-peril coverage had 3,741 complaints.