Minnesota Regulators Attack Medigap Seller

August 12, 2002 at 08:00 PM
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NU Online News Service, Aug. 12, 12:14 p.m. – Minnesota insurance regulators have accused United American Insurance Company of Delaware, McKinney, Texas, of violating Minnesota laws that govern the sale and marketing of Medicare supplement, or "Medigap," insurance policies.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce, which regulates insurers in Minnesota, says United American used frightening, misleading lead cards and directed its agents to say they were calling consumers on behalf of "United American Health Services," rather than disclosing that they were in the business of insurance.

The Minnesota department has also accused United American of misrepresenting the United American policies' benefits; failing to determine whether the new policies sold were suitable for the purchasers; failing to comply with state laws that required it to offer an "extended basic" plan that included prescription drug benefits; and paying commissions that were structured to promote "churning," or the replacement of existing Medigap policies without a substantial favorable difference in cost or benefits.

United American paid its agents high commissions in the first four years that a policy was in effect, the Minnesota department says.

Minnesota department officials argue that paying higher commissions in the early policy years gives agents an incentive to churn existing policies.

Minnesota officials issued a press release and held a press conference to publicize the allegations against United American. The press release described the "board of directors or principal management" of United American as "incompetent, untrustworthy, or so inexperienced that its continued operation is hazardous to policyholders, stockholders, and the insurance buying public."

United American declined to make a representative available for an interview, but it provided a prepared statement noting that the company "has been a nationally recognized writer of Medicare supplement health insurance and other health and life insurance products for many years."

United American has written relatively few policies in Minnesota, the company says.

"Unfortunately, UA has had some long-term differences with certain employees of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Insurance Division," United American says. "While we are disappointed in the DOC's action, we were not especially surprised at (the) news conference, nor the inflammatory language of the news release's allegations. The DOC previously indicated it would likely take this action if we continued to pursue our differences with the DOC. We will continue to proceed to resolve our differences in the proper regulatory and judicial venues."

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