Commissioner Jones announces legal action against life insurers to protect 50,000 policyholders
June 12, 2018 by California Department of Insurance
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today the California Department of Insurance has served an Order to Show Cause and Accusation against Accordia Life and Annuity Company and Athene Annuity and Life Company for failing to service over 50,000 policies issued to California consumers and imperiling the benefits to which they are entitled.
The department has received over a hundred complaints from consumers, stating that they are not receiving their statutorily-mandated annual reports or billing statements and are unable to pay premiums or access any policy benefits. The department is seeking an order suspending both companies’ certificates of authority for one year and to cease and desist from practices harming California consumers.
“My first priority as Insurance Commissioner is protecting consumers and the integrity of the insurance marketplace,” said Commissioner Jones. “Consumers should have confidence that companies selling insurance in California are delivering on their promises and are doing so in compliance with our consumer protection laws.”
In 2013, Accordia Life and Annuity acquired a $10 billion book of life insurance business, which included over 50,000 policies issued to Californians. Under the deal, the affected consumers could either consent to have their policies transferred to Accordia or reject the transfer and remain insured with Athene. While those consumers who rejected the transfer remain insured with Athene, their policies are being administered by Accordia under a separate agreement.
Since the acquisition, Accordia has had numerous problems administering the policies, which resulted in consumers being repeatedly harmed by not receiving statutorily-mandated annual reports or billing statements, and being unable to pay premiums or access policy benefits—these issues led the department to take appropriate legal action to protect consumers.
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Media Notes:
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Livestream:
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Digitized replay of conference call scheduled to begin June 12, 2018, at 12 p.m. and end on June 19, 2018. To listen, dial 800-475-6701 (U.S.), 320-365-3844 (International) Access code: 450570
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Consumers with questions about their policies should contact CDI’s Consumer Hotline 800-927-4357 or visit the website for assistance.
The California Department of Insurance, established in 1868, is the largest consumer protection agency in California. Insurers collect $310 billion in premiums annually in California. Since 2011 the California Department of Insurance received more than 1,000,000 calls from consumers and helped recover over $469 million in claims and premiums. Please visit the Department of Insurance website at www.insurance.ca.gov. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800.927.4357. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), please dial 800.482.4833.
