NC Department of Insurance Press Release
As hurricane season starts this Saturday, June 1, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey urges North Carolinians to prepare now for what forecasters are predicting to be an “extremely active” season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane season in 2024 with a range of 17 to 25 total named storms. Of those, eight to 13 are forecasted to become hurricanes.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that the N.C. Department of Insurance has settled its legal dispute with North Carolina insurance companies over a dwelling rate increase.
Commissioner Causey negotiated an average statewide increase of 8%, which is 42.6 percentage points lower than the 50.6% increase requested by the N.C. Rate Bureau.
The N.C. Rate Bureau, which is not a part of the N.C. Department of Insurance, represents all property and casualty insurance companies writing premiums in North Carolina.
The new rates will take effect on Nov. 1.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Eniya Najeen Smith, 25, of 210 Dogwood Lane, Mount Olive, NC. Smith was charged with one count of insurance fraud and one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense. Both are felonies.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Smith attempted to defraud Progressive Premier Insurance Company of Illinois out of $4,252 by issuing false statements regarding her auto insurance.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Annie Witherspoon Johnson, 40, of 1722 Ninth Avenue NW, Hickory, NC. Johnson is charged with two counts of identity theft, both are felonies.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Johnson used credit card information belonging to another person to make a payment towards her own vehicle insurance. Agents assisted the Hickory Police Department with the investigation.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set April 7, 2025, as the hearing date for a proposed increase in mobile homeowners’ insurance rates requested by the North Carolina Rate Bureau.
The Rate Bureau, which represents insurance companies and is not a part of the N.C. Department of Insurance, has requested an overall state average increase of 82.9% for mobile home fire policies (MH-F) over a three-year period. The insurance companies have requested an overall state average increase of 49.9% for mobile home casualty policies (MH-C) over a three-year period.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will address the media ahead of the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29 at the entrance to the Exchange Nature Center in Kinston, NC.
The center is located within the Neuseway Nature Park, 401 West Caswell St., Kinston. Commissioner Causey is expected to be joined by other state, county and city officials for the event.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Matthew Scott Schuhmacher, 47, of 6211 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington. Schuhmacher was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey urges North Carolinians to be safe on the water during Memorial Day Weekend by offering water, boating safety and insurance tips as part of National Safe Boating Week, which runs May 18-24.
“Beaches, lakes and pools will be crowded this Memorial Day weekend,” said Commissioner Causey. “The best way to stay safe on the water is to always wear a life jacket, follow safe boating practices like avoiding alcohol, and prepare for the unexpected by having the proper insurance plan in place.”
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is cautioning North Carolinians to be on the lookout for door-to-door salesmen posing as agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance who seek to sell fake insurance to unsuspecting consumers.
Agents with the department’s Criminal Investigations Division have been informed of at least two recent instances of this type of activity and are currently investigating the complaints. This is the fourth time since 2020 that there have been reports of NCDOI imposter agents acting as salesmen.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced today the arrest of Scott Christopher Daniels, 48, of 1522 Whispering Wood S. Court, Wilmington, NC. Daniels was charged with one count of insurance fraud, a felony.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Daniels attempted to defraud Peak Property and Casualty Insurance by providing a written and verbal statement that his vehicle was damaged by fire. An investigation later revealed that the fire had been intentionally set.