Commissioner Causey announces $142 million saved or recovered for North Carolina consumers in 2025

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that the North Carolina Department of Insurance saved or recovered $142 million for North Carolinians in 2025.<_o3a_p>

The recovered funds include those from insurance fraud restitution, consumer assistance, market monitoring and external reviews, where Department employees helped consumers get needed medical procedures and prescription drugs.<_o3a_p>

"Protecting consumers is a top priority for me and the dedicated employees at the Department of Insurance," Commissioner Causey said.<_o3a_p>

Last year, the Department:<_o3a_p>

n Helped North Carolinians obtain $65.9 million in claims from life insurance policies that had been lost.<_o3a_p>

n Helped policyholders facing hurdles with their insurance companies receive $25.9 million after DOI's consumer experts intervened.<_o3a_p>

n Assisted more than 64,000 Medicare beneficiaries, saving them $41.7 million.<_o3a_p>

n Recovered $6.4 million in fraudulent expenditures. Insurance fraud costs Americans $308.6 billion annually, according to a 2022 study conducted for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Consumers can report suspected insurance fraud by calling the Department's Criminal Investigations. Consumers may report suspected insurance fraud by calling the Department's Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-7940 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684. You may also report fraud at www.ncdoi.gov.<_o3a_p>

n Announced 380 arrests through the Criminal Investigations Division as well as 199 convictions in 2025.<_o3a_p>

n Helped North Carolinians originally denied necessary medical procedures or prescription drugs receive $1.9 million in reviews or appeals through the SmartNC program. SmartNC helps patients with appeals and sets up independent external reviews for such procedures and medications.<_o3a_p>

n Helped consumers receive more than $336,000 through the Department's Market Regulation Division, which routinely monitors the conduct of insurance companies in North Carolina.<_o3a_p>

"As we enter 2026, employees at the Department will continue to put forth efforts to make sure insurance companies or providing the benefits that North Carolina consumers deserve."<_o3a_p>

Consumers who have questions about their insurance can visit www.ncdoi.govor call the Department toll free at 855-408-1212.<_o3a_p>

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