Insurance lobbyists and industry-friendly lawmakers routinely say Louisiana needs to deregulate to become more attractive to insurers. But recent revelations make it clear that Louisiana needs more accountability and transparency when it comes to insurance, not less. The Advocate's Sam Karlin recently published a four-part series on Louisiana's insurance crisis, detailing the dark truth behind the collapse of our insurance market (Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4). The depth and expansive nature of the impact insurance companies have had on Louisianans starts with 11 insurance companies - 1/6th of insured policies - of which the state sent hundreds of millions of dollars, going belly up, leading to Louisiana homeowners’ premiums increasing up to 111%. Unpaid claims from these insurers are in purgatory, exacerbating homeowners’ suffering. The Department of Insurance has found that insurers have failed to follow state laws and forced policyholders to litigate their claims. Louisiana cannot afford to continue listening to the insurance industry about how to solve the insurance crisis. That's putting the fox in charge of the hen house. We must protect the rights of policyholders.

Louisiana desperately needs real insurance reform that lowers rates, holds insurance companies accountable, and ensures transparency for policyholders.