The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) seeks to “impartially enforce the laws and regulations” relating to the insurance industry.1 It does this in part by reviewing and investigating consumer complaints about their insurance companies and agents. If you live in Mississippi and think that your insurance claim or policy has been delayed, wrongly denied, or deliberately underpaid, you can file a complaint with LDI and request an investigation into the matter.
To file a complaint, visit the department’s website and select “File a Complaint,” found under the “Consumers” tab. You will then be prompted to choose if you want to file a complaint against your insurance agent or company. Complaints can be submitted online through the Consumer Portal Login, which requires you to create an account with your name, e-mail address, and a password. If you don’t want to make an account, you can download and print a PDF form. You can send your completed form via fax to MID at 601-359-1077; via e-mail to consumer@mid.ms.gov; or mail, Attn: Consumer Services Division, to P.O. Box 79, Jackson, MS 39205. You can also call (800) 562-2957 to request MID mail you a complaint form.
The complaint form requests your contact information, the name of the insurance company or agent involved, and the applicable policy or claim number. It then asks for the type of coverage at issue, the reason for your complaint, and a description of your problem. The description should be detailed and outline what happened, who was involved, why you think the company was wrong, and what you think a fair solution would be. For the form to be processed, you must fill out all the requested information, and the form must be signed and dated. After submitting your complaint, MID also recommends that you send copies (not originals) of relevant documentation, like your policy, your filed claim, and correspondence between you and your company. All supporting documents must be e-mailed, faxed, or mailed to MID within two working days of filing the complaint.
After the MID receives your complaint, it will send a copy to your insurance company or agent requesting an explanation. Your company or agent has twenty days to respond to this request. The MID will then review all the available information to determine if state laws or regulations have been violated. If so, it can sanction or fine the offending entity. If not, it can answer your questions and recommend other resources to you. Either way, MID will notify you in writing of its findings.
The MID cannot provide legal advice, act as your attorney, resolve factual disputes, or order an insurance company to pay you. Its main job is to investigate, answer your questions, and enforce state insurance laws. If you have questions about the complaint process or want to know if the Mississippi Insurance Department can help you, you can call them at (800) 562-2957 or (601) 359-2453. If you have other questions or concerns about your wrongfully denied, delayed, or underpaid insurance claim, please do not hesitate to contact Merlin Law Group.
(Note: This guest blog is by Liberty Ritchie, a Licensed Legal Intern in our Oklahoma City office)
___________________________________________
1 About Us, Mississippi Insurance Department, (n.d), http://www.mid.ms.gov/about/mission.aspx
