Special to IFN

RALEIGH — Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced that the North Carolina Department of Insurance saved or recovered nearly $144 million for North Carolinians in 2024.

This amount represents a record in recoveries since Causey took office in January 2017, eclipsing the $130 million mark set in 2023. The recovered funds include those from insurance fraud restitution and external reviews. The department also announced a total of 406 arrests via its Criminal Investigations Division.

“My number one goal each year is to serve the consumers and policyholders of this state. To that end, I am so proud of the work we do each year for them through our various offices and programs,” Causey said. “As a whole, 2024 was a very successful year for the department, in which we set another record, and I’m proud of the work our team has given in service to the state.”

Last year, the Department:

♦ Helped North Carolinians obtain $70.5 million in claims from life insurance policies that had been lost.

♦ Helped policyholders facing hurdles with their insurance companies receive $18.5 million after DOI’s consumer experts intervened.

♦ Recovered $22.1 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 Division at 919-807-6840 or by going to www.ncdoi.gov.

♦ Announced a total of 406 arrests through its Criminal investigations Division, as well as 218 convictions.

♦ Helped North Carolinians originally denied necessary medical procedures or prescription drugs receive $2.4 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.

“Putting North Carolinians first has always been our No. 1 goal at the department, and we look forward to continuing this sterling record of service in this same manner in 2025 and beyond,” Commissioner Causey added.

Consumers who have questions about their insurance can visit www.ncdoi.gov or call the department toll free at (855) 408-1212.