Hamm reports $8.49 million recovered for North Dakota consumers in 2008 Posted on 2/24/2009
BISMARCK, N.D.-North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm released a report today that shows $8,492,294.43 was recovered or saved for North Dakota citizens in 2008.
This number represents money recovered on behalf of North Dakotans through the Insurance Department's hotline, through complaints filed by consumers against insurance companies and agents, and through investigations performed by the Department. It also includes benefits received through the Department's State Health Insurance Counseling (SHIC) and Prescription Connection (PC) programs.
"The Department staff and I are pleased to provide services that assist citizens in getting savings and recovery money that would be difficult for them to achieve on their own," Hamm said.
Of the $8.49 million total, more than $6.7 million was relief through SHIC and PC. That number is $1.8 million more than SHIC and PC relief in 2007.
"North Dakotans are increasingly aware of the importance of comparing their Medicare Part D plans during the annual enrollment period, and there were some major changes in the North Dakota market affecting 2009 Part D plans," Hamm said.
"Those two factors had a big impact in 2008. I am very proud of the effort put forth by the Department to assist the growing number of consumers each year."
In 2008, the Insurance Department hotline handled nearly 9,000 phone calls, helped 132 walk-in clients and processed 275 formal complaints. The Department also handled more than 15,900 SHIC contacts and more than 4,100 PC contacts. The number of SHIC contacts is a 67 percent increase over 2007.
The complete 2008 Consumer Assistance and Enforcement Action Report can be found at www.nd.gov/ndins. Consumers are encouraged to contact the North Dakota Insurance Department at 1-800-247-0560 with questions.
