North Carolinians saw a hefty sum of money—$142 million—saved or recovered in their favor last year, as Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey revealed earlier today. This figure, as announced by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, came about through various avenues including insurance fraud restitution, consumer assistance, market monitoring, and external reviews, the agency detailed.
The breakdown of these funds paints a broad stroke of the Department of Insurance's vigilant work. Consumers in search of lost life insurance claims found assistance with the state's efforts, recovering $65.9 million. There were also significant interventions resolving insurance company disputes, which yielded $25.9 million for policyholders, according to the official announcement from the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
In a statement, Commissioner Causey shared the North Carolina Department of Insurance's unwavering commitment: "Protecting consumers is a top priority for me and the dedicated employees at the Department of Insurance." Further illustrating this commitment, the efforts extended to aiding over 64,000 Medicare beneficiaries, saving them a combined $41.7 million. Awareness and effective action against insurance fraud were also prominent, with the recovery of $6.4 million from fraudulent expenditures and a consequential 380 arrests and 199 convictions in 2025.
Healthcare access and affordability featured prominently in the Department's achievements with SmartNC's assistance in acquiring $1.9 million in reviews or appeals for medical procedures or prescription drugs, originally denied to consumers. On another front, the diligent scrutiny of insurance company conduct through the Market Regulation Division led to more than $336,000 being returned to consumers.
The year ahead shows no signs of faltered vigilance as Causey asserts the ongoing mission to ensure insurance companies hold up their end for consumers' well-being. For North Carolinians with insurance queries, resources are readily available at the Department of Insurance, accessible online or via their toll-free line.
