The Basics
All 50 states have a Commissioner of Insurance. In most states, the governor appoints someone to serve in this role, but in 11 states it’s a statewide elected position. It’s not the most high-profile position in a state government, but it’s crucially important for everyday people, businesses, and the wider economy.
Usually, Insurance Commissioners have two main jobs:
- Regulating the state’s insurance industry
That means creating rules and regulations for how insurance companies can operate, and providing oversight over insurance companies to make sure they’re following those rules and state law - Consumer protection
An Insurance Commissioner has a lot of power to protect people who buy insurance from unfair and illegal actions by companies – stuff like raising prices so much that people can’t afford to pay their bills, kicking people off their insurance plans with no notice, arbitrarily denying claims, or refusing to cover certain customers
As so many communities are more directly impacted by the effects of climate change, the role of Insurance Commissioners is becoming very important. In some areas that are frequently hit by natural disasters, home and flood insurance is becoming more and more expensive and some companies are refusing to offer coverage. The cost of healthcare is also a major concern for millions of people. Insurance Commissioners have an important role to play in managing how states and companies respond to these problems – and ultimately, how much it all costs for everyday people. Whether it’s your home, business, healthcare, or car, your Insurance Commissioner’s decisions can have a direct impact on your budget and finances.
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Source: the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
What have Commissioners of Insurance done?
Insurance policy can have a direct impact on your household budget, especially if you own a home or business or live in a disaster-prone area. Here are just a few examples of actions that have made a big impact:
- Jim Donelon
Louisiana
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Donelon issued an emergency rule to expand hospital bed capacity, by requiring insurance companies to cover care for patients who are transferred to smaller hospitals during their recovery; this freed up ICU beds for patients with more immediate needs - John Morrison
Montana
Led the campaign that created the Healthy Montana Kids program, a massive expansion of health insurance coverage that now covers more than half of Montana’s children - Ricardo Lara
California
Sued the state’s wildfire insurance company, alleging that it illegally denied and limited smoke damage claims from homeowners after the catastrophic Los Angeles fires in January 2025; the goal of the lawsuit is to force changes in how these claims are handled
Case Study: helping homeowners prepare for storms in LouisianaLink
At the end of 2024, the Louisiana Department of Insurance, led by Commissioner Timothy Temple, expanded grant funding for the state’s Fortify Homes program. This program gives homeowners up to $10,000 to upgrade their roofs to the FORTIFIED standard, a set of construction practices meant to strengthen homes against high winds and severe weather, especially hurricanes. Homes that are upgraded to this higher standard are often charged lower property insurance rates, an important benefit at a time when insurance is harder to get in Louisiana – after several major hurricanes, many insurance companies have left Louisiana entirely, or raised prices so much that people can’t afford both insurance and home improvements. This program aims to fill that gap and make homes safer in the long run.
Sources: the Louisiana Department of Insurance; FORTIFIED Program; Roofing Contractor Magazine; Insurance.com
How does it work in my state?
Scroll down and click on your state to learn more about the specifics of the Commissioner of Insurance’s powers and responsibilities where you live. (If your state isn’t here yet, check back often – we’re adding more info all the time. If the Commissioner of Insurance isn’t an elected position where you live, it won’t appear here.)
LouisianaLink
Term limits: none; terms are four years
Eligibility: to run for Commissioner, you must be at least 25 years old, a registered Louisiana voter, and have been a U.S. citizen and resident of Louisiana for at least 5 years.
The Commissioner runs the Department of Insurance, which oversees all kinds of insurance in the state: health, car, home, life, and even boat insurance. Some of their most important responsibilities are:
- Oversight
Making sure insurance companies are playing fair, policies follow the rules, and the insurance market is running smoothly - Healthcare regulations
Overseeing Medicare services and LaCHIP (Louisiana’s health insurance program for kids), and monitoring how health insurance companies handle claims and treat their customers - Disaster response
Giving guidance and resources to the public after an emergency, and issuing emergency rules and changing policy if needed - Serving as chair of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation board
The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is the state’s property insurance company of “last resort” – a state-created insurance option for homeowners who can’t get coverage from any private companies. Serving as Chair of the LCPIC’s board gives the Commissioner the power to directly impact household budgets, because the Board helps decide how much these insurance plans cost.
Sources: the Louisiana Constitution; Louisiana Revised Statutes on the Commissioner’s powers during a declared emergency; the Louisiana Department of Insurance
North CarolinaLink
Term limits: none; terms are four years
Eligibility: to run for any office in North Carolina, you must be at least 21 years old and eligible to vote in the state
The Commissioner of Insurance runs the North Carolina Department of Insurance, which oversees the insurance industry and helps residents with insurance issues. Their most important powers and responsibilities are:
- Regulating the state’s insurance industry
Making sure insurance companies are playing fair, policies follow the rules, and the insurance market is running smoothly - Licensing insurance agents, adjusters, bail bondsmen, and other insurance-related professionals
- Helping insurance customers with all kinds of issues
The Department has a hotline staffed with experts that North Carolina residents can call if they have a question about any kind of insurance, can help you appeal if your health insurer denies a claim, and provides special counseling to people who are eligible for Medicare. Their website also provides a lot of resources and information – it’s a great place to start if you need help with any insurance-related issue. - Investigating complaints of unfair or potentially illegal insurance practices
- Investigating insurance fraud
- Responding to disasters
Immediately after a disaster, the Department’s agents coordinate with local responders and make efforts to connect to individuals and businesses affected. They also provide resources on disaster preparedness
Sources: the North Carolina Constitution, Article III and Article VI; the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 58; North Carolina State Board of Elections; the North Carolina Department of Insurance