Consumer Guide to Oregon Insurance Complaints: Complaints from Calendar Year 2005

Insurance is an important issue for consumers. Most
families rely on insurance to protect their health,
income, cars, and homes. But for many consumers,
shopping for insurance isn’t easy. Insurance is complex
and highly specialized. How can consumers
make the best decisions about how much and what
kind of insurance coverage to buy?
With the right information, consumers can make
sound decisions. That’s why the Oregon Insurance
Division publishes the Consumer Guide to Oregon
Insurance Complaints, an annual report of consumer
complaints against insurance companies in six
common lines of insurance:
■ Auto (personal)
■ Health
■ Homeowner
■ Life
■ Annuities
■ Long-term care
This report ranks major insurers by their complaint
records, which are based on the number of confirmed
consumer complaints closed by the Insurance
Division and the amount of premium dollars earned
by the insurers. It allows consumers to see at a glance
how a company compares with its competitors.
In addition to consumer complaints, there are
other factors to consider when shopping for insurance.
Cost, claims-handling performance, producer
(agent) service, and the financial health of an insurance
company are all important.
Being an informed consumer can prevent worry and
save time and money. This report will explain how
to comparison shop for insurance and what to look
for. We’ve also included tips to help you learn about
a company’s financial health and how to choose a
reliable licensed producer (agent).
By providing fair, accurate, and useful information
for consumers, this report fulfills an important
part of the Insurance Division’s mission to protect
consumers.