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Insurance info hard to find
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March 8, 1999: 5:51 p.m. ET
Consumer group says states aren't doing enough to inform public
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WASHINGTON (CNN) - A consumer group says many states aren't doing enough to inform consumers looking to buy insurance.
The Consumer Federation of America issued a report rating all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the information they provide to inquiring consumers.
"Consumers need good information in order to get through the maze of insurance complexity," said J. Robert Hunter, CFA's Director of Insurance and former Texas Insurance Commissioner. "It is the job of the states to provide useable consumer information to assist in this process."
The report highlights seven states CFA says are doing a good job of helping consumers evaluate insurance products. Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin received an "A" for their efforts.
Five states, Georgia, Idaho, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Tennessee, received an "F," or failing grade, from CFA for providing unsatisfactory consumer guidelines or for having none available.
Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Minnesota, and New Hampshire received "I" or "incompletes" for not responding to a request for information.
CFA evaluated the individual states on the responses provided to written requests for information made to the state's Insurance Commissioners. The written material was then evaluated for content and consumer friendliness.
The study covered information on all types of insurance including auto and homeowners.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says the CFA study is flawed because it only evaluated written material, and ignored hot-lines, outreach programs, and Internet material provided by individual states.
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