TCAIS Initiates Reform Campaign
The Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions, www.tcais.org, an Austin-based alliance of insurance providers, launched an insurance reform campaign to encourage legislators, regulators and other policymakers to study states like Illinois and South Carolina, where regulation is focused on providing consumer protections and allowing insurance companies to compete for consumers’ business.
An advertising campaign built around the theme, “Don’t just get mad, get it right” kicked off the reform effort with ads running in major newspapers around the state on November 10. In addition to meeting with members of the Texas Legislature, plans for the campaign also include media outreach, consumer education, and meetings with business and community leaders.
“We share the frustrations of many consumers when it comes to the insurance market in Texas, and agree that some changes are needed,” said Beaman Floyd, director of TCAIS. “It is our hope this campaign will spark constructive debate as to how we can work together to make the insurance market in Texas a better place for both consumers and insurance companies. We need to reform the system, and it is critical that we get it right.”
The TCAIS ads highlight states such as Illinois, where insurance companies are plentiful, rates are below the national average and the regulatory structure allows companies to compete on products, price and service. TCAIS aims to let Texans know they deserve the kind of regulation that encourages competition while providing strong consumer safeguards, which the organization says is not the case in Texas today.
Insurance reform was a major campaign issue during the recent general election season, and is expected to be a high priority when the Legislature convenes January 14, 2003.
“Now is the time for a constructive debate focused on finding solutions to real problems,” said Floyd. “We have a limited window of opportunity to fix what is broken. We are dedicated to using this time to develop the appropriate regulatory reforms that best serve everyone in Texas.”