Colorado Division of Insurance lends a helping hand to Puerto Rico
Part of nationwide effort from insurance regulators
DENVER - Think about the effort to deal with your insurance when something happens to your house or car. You make phone calls, or send some emails, or use your insurance company’s website or mobile app. There’s going to be some back and forth as you give them information, the company provides answers, and you work out repairs and the payment of your claim.
Now imagine having to do all of that with spotty phone service and limited internet connectivity. And even if you could connect, you could have an electrical blackout any minute.
This is the situation in which the people of Puerto Rico continue to find themselves, nearly five months after hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the island, its people and its infrastructure. With all of that destruction comes insurance claims, but with the lack of stable communication methods, there are going to be problems.
As the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) kicks off National Consumer Protection Week, we are pleased to highlight the fact that Juan Melendez and Cindy Sanchez of the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) will travel to Puerto Rico to assist the Office of the Insurance Commissioner of Puerto Rico. They will be helping people with their insurance claims. Not only do Juan and Cindy speak Spanish, but they are part of the Division’s consumer services team that handles people’s problems with property and casualty insurance, such as homeowners and auto insurance.
“I can appreciate the challenges when power and services are interrupted,” said Sanchez. “Through my work with the Colorado DOI, I understand that insurance claims can get complicated fast. So I know we can make a difference for the Puerto Rican people.”
“The mission of the Division of Insurance is consumer protection, and through this project we can go beyond our state’s borders to fulfill that mission,” said Melendez. “After natural disasters, many people want to help, and I’m fortunate that I can offer that help.”
“I am extremely proud of these two,” said interim Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “Their willingness to jump in and help the people of Puerto Rico is an example of the kind of employees we have in the Division.”
Juan and Cindy will join employees from other states’ divisions/departments of insurance that are also helping. The effort is being coordinated and financed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC has been providing such support to Puerto Rico (and the U.S. Virgin Islands) since September 2017. This will be the third wave of state insurance regulator employees who are helping Puerto Ricans with delays in the communication, handling and payment of insurance claims.
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About the Division of Insurance
The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) regulates the insurance industry and assists consumers and other stakeholders with insurance issues. Visit dora.colorado.gov/insurance for more information or call 303-894-7499 / toll free 800-930-3745.
About DORA
DORA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado. Consumer protection is our mission. Visit dora.colorado.gov for more information or call 303-894-7855 / toll free 1-800-886-7675.
About the NAIC
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is the U.S. standard-setting and regulatory support organization created and governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer review, and coordinate their regulatory oversight. For more information, visit www.naic.org.
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