Topics Related to NCDOI

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Yesenia Vasquez-Gonzalez, 43, of 272 Laurel Lane, Tarboro. Vasquez-Gonzalez was charged with insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies.

According to the arrest warrant, Vasquez-Gonzalez received $1,365.36 in short-term disability insurance payments from Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. by providing fictitious identity documents and filing a fraudulent claim.

The offenses occurred between May 21, 2019, and March 5, 2020.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Bernard Graves, 57, of 4945 Daily Store Road, Burlington, was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Graves of falsely stating that he lost $13,000 in wages over four weeks in an insurance claim with American Hallmark Insurance Co. of Texas.

The offenses occurred between June 19, 2019, and Aug. 29, 2019.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has asked the state’s insurance companies to be economically flexible with consumers in light of the COVID-19 health emergency.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has requested that Governor Roy Cooper determine that financial services, including insurance services, be deemed essential businesses that will remain open to the public throughout the COVID-19 health emergency.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has asked the state’s  insurance companies to unify processes and remove barriers to make it easier for citizens to obtain diagnostic testing and treatment needed for COVID-19.

“It’s critical we have consistency within the industry as we think outside the box to help our citizens,” said Commissioner Causey. “I am also encouraging the medical community and insurers to process claims as quickly as possible.”

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Amanda Antionette Bailey, 32, of 100 Hunt Club Lane, Raleigh. Bailey was charged with four counts each of identity theft, insurance fraud, and obtaining property by false pretense, all felonies.

Special Agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Bailey of using driver’s license information from four other people to obtain four auto insurance policies from Geico.

The offenses occurred between July 17, 2019, and Oct. 11, 2019.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has directed all health benefit plans licensed by the N.C. Department of Insurance to allow for extra prescriptions as a result of the state of emergency declared by Governor Roy Cooper.

This means covered persons may obtain one refill on a prescription if there are authorized refills and not contrary to the dispensing authority of the pharmacy.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Pavel Gurlov, 37, of 2408 River Oaks Drive, Waxhaw; he is charged with one count of felony obtaining property by false pretense.

The incident occurred in Mecklenburg County between Oct. 29, 2016, and Oct. 30, 2016.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have announced the changes to Medicare Parts A and B for 2018. Each year, Medicare costs are reexamined to determine if changes need to be made to deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket maximums.

SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, is available to Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to help them understand how the coming changes will affect their coverage in 2018.

Part B – Medical Insurance

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that the North Carolina Rate Bureau has filed notice with the NC Department of Insurance asking for a statewide average increase in homeowners insurance rates of 18.7 percent for 2018. The NC Rate Bureau represents the homeowners insurance companies in the state in asking for this increase.