Ohio Insurance aid saves consumers more than $50M

Ohio Department of Insurance saved consumers $50.3 million in 2023, the state announced.

The efforts of the department’s Insurance’s Consumer Services Division, Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office (MHIA), and Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) saved consumers that dollar amount by helping consumers resolve coverage disputes, outline suitable coverage options, and identify financial assistance programs.

That is according to department director Judith L. French, who made the announcement during National Consumer Protection Week, March 3-9.

The department is a state government consumer-protection agency that regulates insurance companies, insurance agencies, and insurance agents and addresses insurance questions and complaints.

The breakdown, provided via news release, showed that:

– OSHIIP saved Medicare consumers $37.2 million, counseled 160,838 people, and welcomed 454,700 people to educational activities

– The Consumer Services Division, which addresses automobile, homeowners, life, health, mental health, and other insurance-type issues, saved consumers $13.1 million, and handled 17,275 inquiries and 8,780 complaints.

MHIA helps consumers understand their mental health and substance use disorder insurance benefits to access care.

Department staff also conduct critical regulatory work behind the scenes to protect consumers.

This includes licensing insurance companies, agents, and agencies, examining the financial solvency of insurance companies to pay consumers’ claims, monitoring insurance industry business conduct, reviewing insurance products and rates, fighting insurance fraud, and more.

Consumers can contact OSHIIP at 800-686-1578 and oshiipmail@insurance.gov, the Consumer Services Division at 800686-1526 and consumer. services@insurance.ohio. gov, and MHIA at 855-4386442 and getmhia@insurance.ohio.gov.