Residents invited to Raleigh meeting on insurance rates

Sam Walker | January 16, 2012

A group composed of the leaders of 20 coastal counties will be hosting a public meeting Wednesday in Raleigh with state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and legislators, to talk about the high cost of homeowners insurance in the region.

NC 20 is asking for as many residents as possible to attend the meeting starting at 2 p.m. in the Legislative Office Building.

The main concerns from NC 20 are over where money goes from the state run wind and hail insurance program known as the “Beach Plan”, and the disparity in base rates between the coast, the Piedmont and the mountains.
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See what people are saying:

Joe says:

My first reaction is: Why isn’t this held locally, instead of asking those affected to travel to Raleigh?

Let’s talk about this in our own backyard….let them see that we are paying a premium to have our homes meet the stringent building codes, particularly on the coast.

If it takes several days to accommodate the meetings, so be it. But it really needs to be a local discussion, where a handful of politicos travel to the masses and not vice-versa.

Doing something like this in Raleigh will assure a limited attendance. I’m convinced that is part of the game plan.

on January 16, 2012 @ 11:38 pm

obxdad says:

They have to give at least the appearance of caring while they steal from us.

Everyone I know collected far more in car insurance than homeowners last year after Irene… just shows what competition will do, or lack thereof.

on January 17, 2012 @ 7:51 am

OBX Resident says:

I agree with Joe that these meetings should be held locally. Most of us living on the Outer Banks cannot take a day off from work to go to Raleigh and lobby. I thank NC20 for keeping the issue alive.

Secondly, we depend on our elected leaders to represent our best interest. Mr. Paul Tine announced his candidacy for House District 6. Mr. Tine owns a large insurance company. From news articles and discussions with elected leaders, stakeholders who have been working to combat increased insurance rates, Mr. Tine has done very little to combat these increased rates and go against the insurance industry which he is a member of that is demanding these increased rates. He did not mention this issue any where in the op ed piece he wrote for the Outer Banks Voice. It is often easier to focus on utopic goals rather than the ones that actual threaten the community. These increased rates will have a deplorable affect on the local economy.

on January 17, 2012 @ 8:54 am

Delphine Amrhein says:

I would attend, but I can’t do it with just one day notice. It is important for us to fight back, or our premiums will continue to be raised to subsidize the rest of the State

on January 17, 2012 @ 9:41 am

Jon says:

I get my insurance through Tine’s agency and it is *way* cheaper than the beach plan

on January 17, 2012 @ 1:34 pm

OBX Resident says:

@Jon: The Beach Plan is growing. Coastal insurance rates are increasing at unjustifiable rates. You are fortunate that your current rate is “way cheaper that the beach plan.” But instead of thinking about “me” think about the absorbant rate increases that the community is experiencing. The increased rates and the resulting problems are fact. My point is that Tine is running for public office, a role of leadership, he owns an insurance company, and I question his leadership role in working to minimize the disparity in rates of those living at the coast to other parts of the State.

on January 17, 2012 @ 6:38 pm

Allan 2 says:

You know, Delphine, the rest of the state might just think they are the ones providing the subsidies for the high risk costal areas. And, I tend to suspect they would be right.

on January 18, 2012 @ 2:38 pm

Ocean Annie says:

I think it’s necessary to keep the pressure on and remain vigilant. I believe there is a new candidate for insurance commissioner and would like to know where he stands as well as the results of Wed. meeting.

on January 19, 2012 @ 8:32 am

Duke says:

While everyone wants this type of meeting local, which of the 18 coastal counties should it have been held in? The meeting was held to inform our Legislators from the Coastal Coalition of the facts, numbers and information about the Beach Plan. Willo Kelly did an excellent job. Commissioner Judge and County Attorney Outten were both in attendance and spoke. Senator White was there and Rep Tim Spear put the meeting together. Thanks to all for your help. When our legislators are informed they are able to disprove the rhetoric from insurance industry lobbyists and explain to inland reps that in reality we are subsidizing their insurance and not vice versa. Thanks also to NC 20 for putting this meeting together. For information on NC20 and how to join go to http://www.nc-20.com

on January 19, 2012 @ 11:36 am

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Residents invited to Raleigh meeting on insurance rates

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