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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 21, 2022 10:58 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Nancy Guenst and Rep. Benjamin V. Sanchez, Rep. Melissa Cerrato |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Insurance Claims During Disasters |
| In early September 2021, Hurricane Ida ripped through Pennsylvania and impacted the lives of thousands while causing millions of dollars’ worth of damages. Residents of Upper Dublin and across southeastern Pennsylvania witnessed their homes and livelihoods damaged, a dreadful scene more and more people are forced to experience as natural disasters become ever more frequent. In the wake of disasters, folks look to insurance companies for relief; after months and years of paying into insurance policies, a person should be able to expect adequate coverage to help with the financial burdens that stem from damages to their homes caused by floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Increasingly, insurance companies offer coverage that is woefully inadequate to cover damages while stalling the process at every turn. Our insurance laws currently enable companies to drag out the process for as long as they need to while our residents await the payout to rebuild their lives. It is for this reason that we plan to introduce legislation that bars insurance companies from doing just that; our legislation will prohibit extensions for investigations when a homeowner’s insurance claim is filed as a result of a disaster. Additionally, this legislation will require insurance companies to notify an insured individual of the consumer complaint process afforded to them by the Insurance Department. By prohibiting insurance companies from dragging out the claims process, we enable our residents to receive the coverage they need to repair their homes and return to normalcy. By requiring companies to inform policyholders of the resources available to them, we empower individuals to hold insurance companies accountable. Please consider co-sponsoring this much needed legislation and let us work together to fix this serious issue. |
Introduced as HB505