Released: August 14, 2006

Consumers wanting to know what insurance companies are writing business in their parish can now access that information on the Department of Insurance Web site. Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon announced the launch of the Department's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) at a press conference today.

Donelon says CAP is a Web-based system where insurance companies writing business in Louisiana can input their underwriting information into a secure, online database. Consumers can then access that information by parish on the Department's Web site.

As of today, Donelon says 25 insurance companies have responded to the Department's request for information for CAP. Several more companies have indicated they are in the process of adding their information to the CAP database.

Commissioner Donelon says accessing CAP is easy. Visit the Department's Web site at www.ldi.state.la.us and at the top of the home page click on the link "Need Insurance?" The one-page program allows consumers to select from a list of coverages and a list of parishes for which that coverage is needed. Clicking "select" opens the list of companies writing the specified line of insurance in that parish. Company information includes a phone number and a link to the company's Web site. From that page, consumers can also link to a list of insurance agents (producers) appointed for that company.

According to Commissioner Donelon, insurance companies will update their underwriting information as it changes. He says as more and more consumers use CAP, he expects more companies to sign on as well. "I believe CAP will not only be a useful tool for consumers but also for companies wanting to let the public know where they are writing insurance," says Donelon.

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