On Tuesday June 11 the Texas House Committee on Insurance will have a hearing with invited testimony only. You can watch this hearing at the House video archives. The agenda can be viewed here. It includes agenda item “Study current factors affecting the property and casualty insurance market in Texas. Compare the Texas insurance market to other states with respect to affordability in homeowners’ insurance.”
Usually invited testimony includes members of the Texas Department of Insurance and other government organizations as well as others who have in depth knowledge of the industry. I will provide an update on this hearing on Wednesday. Local State Representative Dennis Paul is on this committee.
Spread the word As of today we have about 400 individuals who have signed up for the newsletter concerning the rising cost of home insurance. Please spread the word and invited your friends to join the list at tinyurl.com/BayAreaHouston. Also you can post this information on your social media platforms including Facebook and Nextdoor.
Community Meeting Make plans to attend our community meeting concerning the rising cost of insurance. Local State Representative Dennis Paul has been invited. He is on the Insurance Committee. Local Senator Mayes Middleton has been invited. He is on the Business and Commerce Committee. This committee has been charged with investigating the rising cost of insurance. I am hoping both will attend or at the very least will send a staff member.
June 27, 2024 7:00 PM Bay Area Community Center 5002 E NASA Pkwy, Seabrook, TX 77586 (Across from Clear Lake Park)
In 2003, as a consumer advocate, I watched as the State Legislature reformed home insurance as promised during the 2002 campaign. After signing the significant reforms in Senate Bill 14 then Governor Rick Perry stated, “This comprehensive reform measure will stabilize the home and auto insurance market, rid the insurance industry of fraudulent practices and ensure Texans have access to fair rates offered in a competitive market”.
So, in the words of Texans across the state: How’s dat workin fer ya buddy?”
It isn’t. Twenty years later insurance premiums are out the roof. Deductibles are so high many wonder if it’s worth paying for insurance. Homeowners in the Bay Area have reported increases in their premiums jumping by 25-100%! Deductibles have risen to over $10,000. Insurance companies are not renewing policies or writing new policies in the area. I’ve talked with homeowners, business owners, Homeowner Associations, insurance agents, realtors, and city and county representatives and the concern is across the board. This issue must be addressed.
And it will. Again. Like in 2002 the Lt. Governor has issued interim charges to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee titled “Addressing the rising cost of insurance” in preparation of the upcoming legislation session in 2025. Unlike 2002 consumers must demand legislation that will significantly reduce premiums and require reasonable deductibles as the Governor promised twenty years ago. That must be the bottom line. We literally cannot afford another round of empty promises.
The legislation of 2003 provided significant changes to the regulations of the industry allowing the insurance industry to raise rates without justifying the increases with the Texas Department of Insurance. Coverage for foundation, water, and sewer were removed from policies making the coverage optional. The value of the home, set by the insurance companies, saw massive increases resulting in higher premiums. These are just a few examples of the reforms of 2003, but the bottom line is that the reforms failed miserably.
In 2003 the industry blamed the mold issue for high increases. This year they will blame inflation, the Texas freeze, and more active storms. They will probably blame lawsuit abuse after companies refuse to pay on claims to consumers. Inflation has taken a toll, but it not only has subsided it shouldn’t be a reason to double premiums. The Texas freeze wasn’t the fault of homeowners, yet the Legislature passed a bill forcing consumers to pay for the failure. We shouldn’t have to pay for it again. In 2003 the legislature passed significant tort reform limiting lawsuits and yet that too has failed. It hasn’t reduced insurance premiums. These failures are not recent. There were significant warnings ever since the reforms passed yet our elected officials did nothing.
It’s time for consumers to take action. The Business and Commerce Committee will be accepting input from the community and will hold hearings concerning the interim charges. State Senator Mayes Middleton, who sits on the Committee, should demand hearings within the community instead of just in Austin. State Representative Dennis Paul, Mary Ann Perez, and Briscoe Cain all sit on the House Insurance Committee. They too should call for local hearings.
In the meantime, consumers are organizing a townhall type of meeting in the Bay Area to address this issue. Elected officials will be invited to participate and provide input on how insurance rates have gone unchecked for so long and what they intend to do about it. We can no longer sit quietly waiting for action to be taken or for promises to be made.
Consumers need to either stand up and be loud or sit down and be quiet. I’m standing.
After decades of the failure of insurance reform the Texas Business and Commerce Committee in the Senate will address the rising cost of home insurance. Sort of. Lt Gov Dan Patrick has issued what is called “Interim Charges” to the Senate. Specific committees are asked to research an issue prior to the upcoming legislation session. Here is what he issued concerning home insurance:
Addressing the Rising Cost of Insurance: Assess the impact of rising property and casualty insurance costs on Texas property owners, real estate lenders, and commercial and industrial development. Identify ways to increase consumer transparency to better inform coverage decisions and make recommendations to ensure a competitive and affordable insurance market for consumers.
The entire list of charges can be viewed here. In the past the staff will solicit input from the community. They will have hearings then issue a report later in the year. I intend to provide input as well as attend the hearings. I would be very cautious about this study. The issue is clear. Our premiums are through the roof as well as our deductibles. This isnt about “transparency” or about learning how to choose an insurance company. This is about the failure of insurance reform back in 2003 that was suppose to “ensure a competitive and affordable insurance market for consumers”.
This study will be heavily influenced by the insurance industry and supporting organizations like Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and Texans Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions. TCAIS was the main organization formed to influence the 2003 reforms. They were funded by the insurance industry and claims to be advocating for consumers.
Concerned about the crazy high home insurance prices and out of control deductibles? Let’s team up and take action! I’m gathering the names and emails of Bay Area homeowners worried about the cost of home insurance and those soaring deductibles. We’re getting organized to meet with elected officials in a casual town hall meet-up.
If you want to stay in the loop on this issue, just sign up here with your name, email, and subdivision. https://tinyurl.com/BayAreaHouston
Trustee Eric Dick is an attorney, “an arm of the court”. He files lawsuits against insurance companies. Last week another court, this one in Galveston County, slapped the shit out of him with a $128,000 sanction for filing a “frivolous, groundless” lawsuit made “solely for the purpose of harassment.” against Standard Casualty Co. Last month Dick was fined by a judge in Harris County $137,000 for filing a frivolous and groundless suit against the same company!
What really bothers me is Dick’s comment about the judge in Harris County. According to Insurance Journal:
Dick told Claims Journal in November that the Harris County sanctions were “100% political.” Dick accused the judge, LaShawn Williams, of weaponizing the justice system because she is a Democrat whereas Dick is a registered Republican. “This is how these corrupt judges do it,” Dick said. “This is the same way they are doing it with Donald Trump.”
Galveston County District Court Judge Kerry L. Neves is a Republican and you didn’t say squat about him “weaponizing anything”. You can read both judgements here and here. Believe me, they are both pretty bad including this tidbit:
Ana Nguyen, a licensed public adjuster, was designated as an expert in the Burns lawsuit. Nguyen testified that she had never seen or approved her designation. “As of the date of her disposition, she did not even know what her opinions would be or the basis on which she would rely to support any opinions,” Neves wrote.
After the historic fine by the Texas Ethics Commission of $30,000 the TEC has referred Dick to the Texas Bar for disciplinary action. He has been fined again by the TEC for $10,000. He is under investigation by Hawaii for solicitation of clients after the Maui fires. He has these two sanctions for $250,000 for filing frivolous suits. And yet he is still a Trustee on the Harris County Department of Education.
What does it take for an elected official to be held accountable?
It’s almost funny. Homeowners can voice their opinion at the TWIA meeting July 11 in person or via Zoom. More information is here.
So…back in 2003 I was a consumer advocate and watched as Rick Perry and the Republican Party reformed the home insurance industry. Here is what Perry said after his industry friendly bill passed:
“This comprehensive reform measure will stabilize the home and auto insurance market, rid the insurance industry of fraudulent practices and ensure Texans have access to fair rates offered in a competitive market,”
LOL. How did that work fer ya? Actually not so well. Home insurance rates have since skyrocketed even prior to the post COVID inflationary period. TWIA (Texas Windstorm Insurance Association) has jumped on the opportunity to raise premiums by 20-25%. According to TWIA:
The Rate Adequacy Analysis indicates that TWIA’s current rates are inadequate by 20 percent for residential coverage and 22 percent for commercial coverage.
TWIA was created back in 1971 after Hurricane Celia and was to be the insurance policy of last resort for owners who could not find coverage. At the time insurance companies were removing wind storm protection from their policies. TWIA was created to respond to the situation and was doing just fine until 2003 when insurance reform kicked in. According to the graph provided by TWIA the number of structures covered by TWIA skyrocketed after 2003.
And the rest is history. Luckily our own State Representative Dennis Paul is on the House Committee on Insurance. I am sure he is working hard for those soon to be affected by the TWIA increase. As I said, it’s almost funny.
Glad you asked. Take a seat and read about the history of insurance reform in Texas.
Many years ago I was a consumer activist advocating for consumers with a construction defect in their new homes. I volunteered my time and money beginning in the mid 1990’s up until 2011. During that time I saw the Texas Legislature usher in home insurance reform with promises of lower rates and fair marketing practices. At the time Governor Rick Perry issued this statement:
“This comprehensive reform measure will stabilize the home and auto insurance market, rid the insurance industry of fraudulent practices and ensure Texans have access to fair rates offered in a competitive market,” Perry said during thesigning ceremony at a home construction site in Temple. “For some Texans that will mean significant rate discounts. For all Texans it will mean rate practices that are transparent and fair.”
That was 20 years ago. So how did that work fer ya cowboy?
In the beginning, or about in 2002. In 2002 insurance rates was a huge campaign issue. Rick Perry won reelection promising to reform insurance, releasing the power of the free market to do their thing. Prior to 2003 insurance companies had to justify rate increases prior to raising rates. They also had to provide all inclusive policies covering fire, water, wind, storm etc. For consumers it made it easy to compare rates.
Then 2003 happened The state decided to change to a file and use system where companies filed their new rates and started using the new rates immediately. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) could, after the fact, challenge the rate increases. TDI challenged few if any. They also let insurance companies offer just the basic policies that cover only wind, storm, and water events. Some how they let them adjust the cost to rebuild the home which in my case increased by 50% in one year causing the premium to skyrocket. They let the companies remove coverage such as foundation, water, and sewer damage but they didn’t have to adjust the premiums to account for the lost coverage. In my case I had to actually buy it back.
20 Years later Just look at your policy. We are getting royally screwed. Premiums have skyrocketed. Companies have left the area. Deductables are so high you wonder why you have insurance in the first place! Again in my situation I eventually left USAA after they raised my premiums from $4000 to $5000. The cost to rebuild is over $440,000 making my deductible $8800!!!! I have documented most of the years from 2000 to just a few years ago. You can see that information below.
Politically speaking Our State Representative Dennis Paul is on the insurance committee. You might want to ask what in the living hell he has bee focusing on besides insurance rates in his district. Maybe he is too busy protecting guns, praising god, and limiting the rights of gays.
My Premiums Before and After Insurance Reform of 2003:
2000: $783\year $500 deductible HOB policy all inclusive.
2014: $3800\year $4800 deductible HOA with foundation, water, and sewer optional
Historic Increases of my Premiums Since 2000:
Year
Premium
Deductible
Increase
Notes
2000
$783.00
$500.00
0.00%
Before insurance became an issue
2001
$862.00
$500.00
10.00%
Removed mold coverage but did not decrease premium
2002
$1,060.00
$500.00
22.90%
Became an election issue
***2003
$1,375.00
$500.00
29.70%
Includes a 7% reduction and use of HO-A Policies
2004
$1,589.00
$500.00
15.40%
Insurance reform in 2003. Had to add back water, foundation and sewer coverage
2005
$1,352.00
$500.00
-14.90%
No change in policy
2006
$1,363.00
$2,400
<1%
Deductible increased
**2007
$1,600.00
$2,400
15.10%
Rebuild cost 50% higher
*2008
$1,900.00
$2,400
18.00%
Tier II classification
2009
$2,300.00
$2,400
21.00%
No change in policy
2010
$2,800.00
$4,800
24.00%
Doubled deductible.
2011
$4,800
No change in policy
2012
$4,800
No change in policy
2013
$3,300.00
$4800
No change in policy
2014
$3,800.00
$4,800
15.00%
No change in policy
*Reclassifying your home in a “tier zone”. This resulted in an 18% increase to my rates in 2008. The TDI had no comment when this was brought to their attention. Next year USAA could create yet another type of tier zone and the TDI will do nothing.
**Using a different system to determine the cost to rebuild a home. This resulted in an increase of 50% in the cost to rebuild my home, and a 15% increase in premiums. This new cost to rebuild the home was based upon a “new” method created by USAA.
***Removing protection. USAA changed to an HO-A type of policy making sewer, water, and foundation damage optional to save money for those who do not want or can’t afford the coverage. Unfortunately, when they removed the coverage, they did not reduce the rates. When I added the coverage back into the policy it resulted in an 29% increase.
I can’t wait to see my homeowners renewal. That will come in another post.
A few years ago I dumped USAA after being an ignorant loyal customer for over 20 years. They raised my home insurance by over 25% and I had to start looking. You can look at the increases from 2000-2015 here. I eventually found a new policy that was actually better and much less expensive. I also gave GEICO a look for my auto insurance for a lower rate and to take advantage of the USAA Subscriber Savings Account.
USAA has a savings account for all insured members. When you leave the insurance portion of USAA they send the balance of this account to you after 6 months. At that time mine was one $12,000. I gladly left and built a patio in the back yard. If you are currently a USAA member you might want to call them and ask about your “Subscriber Savings Account”. It is different than the yearly check they send you based upon their activity over the year.
Back to GEICO. GEICO has been a pretty good insurance company until now. There is absolutely no way to justify a 50% increase in premiums. Nothing changed on my side. Of course GEICO is using inflation as their reason to increase premiums. It’s a fad. I think it is bullshit.
The time for screwing around is over. Beto needs to hammer Abbott, challenge his lies, and remind voters of his record.
In tonight‘s debate Beto should start every sentence with the following “you’ve been in office for eight years and yet you still haven’t accomplished anything on [the issue being discussed]”.
Beginning a sentence with this phrase can remind voters that after eight years Abbott is still complaining about immigration. You would think after 20 years of republican rule in the state he would’ve found a solution especially since they had a republican president and congress.
The cost of college education has skyrocketed. The cost of a home insurance and health insurance is also through the roof. After eight years of Abbott being governor our state brings up the bottom on education, teacher retirement, teacher healthcare, and quality of life. Texas is ranked number one for mass shootings. We are ranked number one in the number of rapes in the state. We are number one in the number of uninsured citizens.
Abbott has a record of incompetence and failure. Beto needs to say it. Over and over.
Greg Abbott has begun his campaign attacking Beto O’Rourke. It’s all he has. Abbott can’t run on his record but Beto can and probably will. After 20 years of republican rule in Texas with 8 years as Governor, here is Abbott’s record:
Posted by johncoby 
Bay Area Houston 