Annual Rankings of Automobile and Health Insurance Complaints

Circular Letter No. 1 (1999) January 7, 1999 TO: All Insurers Authorized to Write Automobile Insurance in New York State, All Insurers Authorized to Write Accident and Health Insurance in New York State, Including Article 43 Corporations, and All Health Maintenance Organizations RE: Annual Rankings of Automobile and Health Insurance Complaints In Circular Letter Number 16, 1995, the Insurance Department revised its methodology for calculating annual complaint ratios for automobile and accident and health insurers/HMOs. Beginning with the Rankings issued in 1995, only closed complaints upheld were counted against a company in determining its annual complaint ratio. The Department also gave insurers and HMOs the opportunity to request a computerized listing of closed complaints. Any insurer or HMO that detected an error in the computer listing was given the opportunity to correct such error by writing to the Consumer Services Bureau. The Consumer Services Bureau will continue to provide quarterly listings of closed complaints when requested. Any insurer that detects an error (such as an incorrect line of insurance code) in its computer listing should write to: Paul Orkwis Principal Insurance Examine Consumer Services Bureau State of New York Insurance Department 1 Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12257 Beginning with the Rankings that will be issued in 1999 the Consumer Services Bureau will not entertain any requests for changes to be made that are received after March 1 of each year, regardless of the reason. Questions concerning this Circular Letter may be directed to Paul Orkwis at (518) 474-9837. Very truly yours, Salvatore Castiglione Chief, Consumer Services Bureau